Hey everyone
I've got some time today and checking back in. It looks like I may have missed a lot of posts since my last visit and I really do appreciate the honestly and also the moderation. It is why I do value the forum because it is a place for genuine debate and discussion in an effective environment. It is impossible to have these discussions on general social media as it brings a whole world of trolls, out of touch people, politics and also hits home where family members and kids can get exposed.
I do have 4 sons and yes they do have to live everyday with their mates, teachers and schoolyard interactions all talking about the Wests Tigers and my job. It comes with the territory but highlights for me why i do appreciate the effectiveness of this space. So thanks Suzie Q and Krissy, i don't know what I missed and trust you guys have a handle on what should and should not happen here.
My main purpose being on here is to show to proof that the voices, opinion and debate here is valued - even when the criticism is harsh and deserved i need to hear it. Personal attacks however should not happen on any online platform but i truly value that the forum gives me a safe environment to have meaningful and sometimes challenging conversations or debate.
From what I can see there are some key themes that i'll touch on here and then i'll jump back on tomorrow and answer what I can that comes through today and tonight. I suppose the overall key theme from me is that right now is a time of "stay tuned" as we get through the internal end of season processes.
Membership for 2027:
Pretty obvious that there are a lot of members wondering what their options are for 2027 and if they will decide to continue their membership. The club has a big job to do here in communicating with members on what 2027 looks like on and off the field. I'm acutely aware that actions by the club are more important than marketing campaigns, press conferences and social media posts to answer this properly. We will keep communicating on the 2027 membership as it roles out and also keep communicating on the steps we are taking on and off the field to keep taking the club forward.
Stadium and home game questions:
A few stadium questions have come through. 2027 will be aimed to be evenly split between Commbank and Campbelltown but we won't truly know until November the exact breakdown. Magic round is already contracted as well. 2028 is the same principle but will have Leichhardt and Commbank and whilst Magic round is not yet contracted it will be considered.
2029+ is the long term model of minimum 7 games Campbelltown, minimum 3 games Leichhardt and flexibility to increase at both and consider global round, magic rounds etc etc
Trial games for 2027 are yet to be determined but as a Vegas team we will play in the earlier weeks and expecting to be playing against Parramatta and or Titans - venues are also not determined as this process in underway with the NRL who make the call here.
Fan Unity discussion:
One of my biggest take aways from the last couple weeks is on the fan unity topic and to achieve this we have to start with alignment at board and pathways. This is important feedback for me to receive in a forum like this because it matches the direct feedback we get from members via membership department and allows me to highlight this at all levels of the club. Also that whilst there is some strong support for the foundation clubs there is a lot that are not fazed or worried about others and they just support Wests Tigers and look forward.
I know this is a challenging topic and your feedback does help me shape my understanding as I appreciate that whilst I have been in the club for a couple of years now it goes a long way back.
Pathways:
I just want to echo that this remains a huge priority and focus for me, I truly believe that this is a fundamental piece of the puzzle for our long term success and vital for our on-field performance. We will take some steps forward in 2027 with the resources and application to the coaches and pathways. I know there is a lot of feedback from members about the branding of teams and the structures of our pathways - we are going through a process here that will take time. There are lot of stakeholders and layers involved in this and getting the right model for our club to the maximise the potential of the southwest.
NRL structure:
A review has been ongoing since I started as GM of Football and then CEO to continue to find improvements here. Pat Richards appointment and role is a vital component as the period where I was wearing two hats as an interim was not effective. To answer some questions here there was a recruitment process for Pat's role and several candidates were interviewed and considered. Pat had been working for me directly in the club for the last couple of years and since starting has had a lot to deal with. He has handled this with great leadership and strength. I am very confident we will all see Pat grow and deliver as a vital figure in our club.
Further changes to coaching structures personnel is not appropriate to discuss publicly however I do want to recognise the wish for this to be discussed and when we can talk about this we will.
Jerseys:
A few questions on jerseys and heritage jerseys. It is an important communication piece that we have to get right on the jersey plan for 2027 and beyond. I can't steal the thunder for our marketing department on jersey release dates, designs and colours but I will ensure that we better communicate what jerseys are being worn when and why. It is important to note that the club drives the jersey plans for colours, designs and match allocations - not the boards. We work closely with the kit manufacturer on achieving the best commercial outcomes, we learnt a lot last year with the new provider and confident that we will continue to improve. Once the draw has been confirmed we will then look to confirm the allocation of jerseys for the season - I would like to make sure everyone knows what jerseys are being worn before the teams run out from the tunnel.
Whilst here I do want to give a huge shout out to the amazing performance of our NRLW team and department. This has been a shining light and gives us confidence to know that we drove change here and the results are because of this - the more support we can give here does do a heck of a lot for the club at all levels.
Again thanks everyone I will jump back on tomorrow and try to answer a few direct questions - i hope that the above post has covered a few questions that was there.
