Article in the Australian - WT Salary Cap Problems

[mightymagpie]

Can the whingeing regarding buying players and Salary Cap dramas NOW be put to bed?

Seriously. That's fantastic work by Marina Go to be that transparent without being unprofessional and laying the books open for our competition to see.

A new major sponsor creates a chance for Harry Triguboff to become a major TPA player at the WT's :wink:

That's what I got out of the article as well.

Just looking for any bit of good news right now

_Posted using RoarFEED 4.2.0_

 

[rex2ce]

Bet the oxygen thief Blair is laughing, probably win a premiership this year and we are still paying some of his wage

 

[yeti]

As has been well documented in the past, the ineptness of the previous Board(s) has led to this mess. I think it is safe to say, that for the next year particularly and to a lesser extent 2017, the Weststigers will be at or near the bottom of the table.
I can live with that - I'm not happy about it, but it is understandable.
A line had to be drawn in the sand - and the new Board has done that. I congratulate them on it. And the fact that a new sponsor is prepared to help finance a team that will be at or near the bottom of the table for a year or two indicates to me that they can see a bright future for the Tigers - albeit someway down the track.
So suck it up people. The tough times are here to stay for a year or two. What's new? What's new, is that there should be real confidence among us that at the end of this phase, we should have a team we can all be proud of and one that is continually competitive at the top end of the competition!

Go you Tiges!

 

[hybrid_tiger]

OK, hang on a second. So Marina comes out today and is quoted as saying: "It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited".

Yet out "Strategic Plan", released only a couple of months ago, states that our Performance Measure in 2017 is to make the NRL TOP FOUR.

Um… Does. Not. Compute.

 

[Tiger_In_The_Gong]

How easy is it for current management to sit back and blame everything on previous administration?

While I have no doubt they've left us in a mess, putting their hands up and saying everything is to blame on previous admin is too convenient.

It is what we have seen all year, From coach to management.

This is a nice well placed piece timed to temper the growing discontent not to mention the loss of Martin and others still to come.

Yes the salary cap is a mess but that does not mean mistakes arent still being made.

One thing they are getting right though is the united front and releasing of information. Its very business like and a big improvement on recent years.

The timing of the loss of Martin for instance could not have been handled better. Drip feed the media to the point where there is acceptance it is going to happen rather than might happen, then make public that information during the lull of our bye week.

Its clever, that kind of clever if used right might eventually get us somewhere.

 

[batboy]

OK, hang on a second. So Marina comes out today and is quoted as saying: "It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited".

Yet out "Strategic Plan", released only a couple of months ago, states that our Performance Measure in 2017 is to make the NRL TOP FOUR.

Um… Does. Not. Compute.

Strategic plan was announced by the CEO - Under the old board.
He probably (At the time) Didn't know how bad the future was.

- We have no money now - Imagine we still had Benji at 1 mil a season….

 

[hybrid_tiger]

OK, hang on a second. So Marina comes out today and is quoted as saying: "It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited".

Yet out "Strategic Plan", released only a couple of months ago, states that our Performance Measure in 2017 is to make the NRL TOP FOUR.

Um… Does. Not. Compute.

Strategic plan was announced by the CEO - Under the old board.
He probably (At the time) Didn't know how bad the future was.

- We have no money now - Imagine we still had Benji at 1 mil a season….

Um, no it wasn't.

It was released by Marina Go only a couple of months ago: http://www.weststigers.com.au/content/dam/tigers/documents/Wests%20Tigers%20Strategic%20Plan_FINALv2.pdf

 

[jctiger]

ok, so I understand we are paying some of Blairs contract, but I still can't see what players we are paying out that have left us and left our cap in such a state.

B Thomson
B Austin
M Koirobete
N Brown
J Gavet
J Miller
M Groat
B Murdock Masila
B Anasta
J Ready
P Polotini
M Iosefa
S Spence
Surely none of these players have sent us broke !

 

[stevetiger]

OK, hang on a second. So Marina comes out today and is quoted as saying: "It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited".

Yet out "Strategic Plan", released only a couple of months ago, states that our Performance Measure in 2017 is to make the NRL TOP FOUR.

Um… Does. Not. Compute.

Strategic plan was announced by the CEO - Under the old board.
He probably (At the time) Didn't know how bad the future was.

- We have no money now - Imagine we still had Benji at 1 mil a season….

Um, no it wasn't.

It was released by Marina Go only a couple of months ago: http://www.weststigers.com.au/content/dam/tigers/documents/Wests%20Tigers%20Strategic%20Plan_FINALv2.pdf

That is an interesting read. I don't like stuff like that. I think a better process is to focus on what you are going to do rather than dream about happening.

 

[Kul]

I'd much rather endure the pain now.
I recon she's exaggerating things a bit and there's probably a bit of room, but if the Board have a policy of clearing backloaded contracts then I'm happy to cop the pain now for the long term pain.

 

[Shaneandmaddy]

I don't disagree that the business has been run poorly, I think that is evident since the inception of the club, but it is easy to blame old coaches and previous Board of Directors when things are going badly and they cant defend themselves and haven't a forum to do so.

Even if this is the case it doesn't excuse the inept play we have seen through the majority of the year, I don't believe we have a top 8 side, but our performances seem to be lacking and that's the real shame

 

[Spartan117]

Wests Tigers chairwoman Marina Go has urged the club’s supporters to keep the faith as they wade way through a salary cap mess that could take three years to fix.

In the lead-up to the Tigers’ game against the table-topping Broncos, Go revealed the full extent of the cap issues which have hamstrung the club’s attempts to strengthen their roster for next season.

Their plight was rammed home again yesterday when Penrith announced they had poached young star Te Maire Martin. Martin played for the Junior Kiwis earlier this year but the Tigers were forced to let him go, his departure coming only a matter of days after winger Pat Richards confirmed he would join Super League side Catalans next season.

“It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited,” Go said.

“Every day, every week there’s a new thing we look at and go ‘oh my God’. It’s a serious issue. It’s a serious challenge.

“Fans and members just want to win every week. They don’t understand, and neither should they, that we have massive challenges around what the playing squad will look like next year and the year after given the salary cap challenges we have inherited.

“What we’re trying to do is work with that. Over the last 10 months the board has not entered into contract negotiations with players — that’s not our place.

“In the past, that’s not the case. In the past various members of the board were negotiating with player managers. There was clearly no overarching strategy. I can feel the pain for members and fans.

“I want to be able to say to them that was in the past. I can only tell you that in the future every decision that is made will be with a long-term club in mind. Unfortunately we have inherited a couple of years of pain.

“We’re going to do our best within that. But unfortunately there is going to be some pain. People are saying to us ‘you keep releasing all of these players and you’re not buying any others’.

“That’s because we know what next year’s contractual arrangements look like and we’re freaking out.”

The Tigers will be given a reminder of their cap problems on Sunday when they meet the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Among the opposition will be Adam Blair, a player the club let go at the end of last season but continues to carry on its salary cap.

Amid the difficulties behind the scenes, Go voiced her unqualified support for coach Jason Taylor and confirmed the club was edging towards the appointment of a new chief executive.

The Tigers are also on the verge of announcing a new major sponsor, replacing Meriton on the front of the jersey.

Meriton owner Harry Triguboff has been a long-time supporter of the club and Go hopes to keep him involved on another level.

“Harry has always said year in, year out, I am only there because they need me,” Go said.

“He said it again this year. The reality is we have somebody else who wants to be our major sponsor. It’s very exciting for us. It’s fantastic Harry has been with the club and supported it all these years.

“We value him and want to try to work with him in another way.”

The Tigers head to Brisbane in 15th place, locked in a battle with Newcastle to avoid the wooden spoon. Yet Go stressed better days were ahead.

“I know it doesn’t look like it from the outside but things are going well,” Go said.

“We inherited something that needed fixing and you can’t fix these things overnight. We’re very committed to where we are heading. The first year was always going to be difficult and it has been. the first year has been very, very difficult.

“There is so much work to do but it is exciting because none of it is insurmountable. Once we appoint a new CEO it is going to be a smoother transition. We have been walking and it will be time to run.”

 

[Spartan117]

WTFers

Remember that the Subject is super Important

 

[TrueTiger]

I don't disagree that the business has been run poorly, I think that is evident since the inception of the club, but it is easy to blame old coaches and previous Board of Directors when things are going badly and they cant defend themselves and haven't a forum to do so.

Even if this is the case it doesn't excuse the inept play we have seen through the majority of the year, I don't believe we have a top 8 side, but our performances seem to be lacking and that's the real shame

Well,I think that you are right in that the mess was created some time ago and it has to be cleaned up before we can recruit….
The performances reflect our inability to purchase quality players and we have to rely on youth and inexperience to make up a team,most are still learning about structures,while the senior players are getting frustrated with having to play to a structure..

Time will tell if Go and the new board are having to tidy up the business while also trying to get the finances in place so as we can purchase quality players..oh well short time pain for long time gain....I'm willing to stick it out,because I love the WESTS Tigers....

 

[Tigermama]

Wests Tigers chairwoman Marina Go has urged the club’s supporters to keep the faith as they wade way through a salary cap mess that could take three years to fix.

In the lead-up to the Tigers’ game against the table-topping Broncos, Go revealed the full extent of the cap issues which have hamstrung the club’s attempts to strengthen their roster for next season.

Their plight was rammed home again yesterday when Penrith announced they had poached young star Te Maire Martin. Martin played for the Junior Kiwis earlier this year but the Tigers were forced to let him go, his departure coming only a matter of days after winger Pat Richards confirmed he would join Super League side Catalans next season.

“It’s probably about three years before we unravel the mess we have inherited,” Go said.

“Every day, every week there’s a new thing we look at and go ‘oh my God’. It’s a serious issue. It’s a serious challenge.

“Fans and members just want to win every week. They don’t understand, and neither should they, that we have massive challenges around what the playing squad will look like next year and the year after given the salary cap challenges we have inherited.

“What we’re trying to do is work with that. Over the last 10 months the board has not entered into contract negotiations with players — that’s not our place.

“In the past, that’s not the case. In the past various members of the board were negotiating with player managers. There was clearly no overarching strategy. I can feel the pain for members and fans.

“I want to be able to say to them that was in the past. I can only tell you that in the future every decision that is made will be with a long-term club in mind. Unfortunately we have inherited a couple of years of pain.

“We’re going to do our best within that. But unfortunately there is going to be some pain. People are saying to us ‘you keep releasing all of these players and you’re not buying any others’.

“That’s because we know what next year’s contractual arrangements look like and we’re freaking out.”

The Tigers will be given a reminder of their cap problems on Sunday when they meet the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Among the opposition will be Adam Blair, a player the club let go at the end of last season but continues to carry on its salary cap.

Amid the difficulties behind the scenes, Go voiced her unqualified support for coach Jason Taylor and confirmed the club was edging towards the appointment of a new chief executive.

The Tigers are also on the verge of announcing a new major sponsor, replacing Meriton on the front of the jersey.

Meriton owner Harry Triguboff has been a long-time supporter of the club and Go hopes to keep him involved on another level.

“Harry has always said year in, year out, I am only there because they need me,” Go said.

“He said it again this year. The reality is we have somebody else who wants to be our major sponsor. It’s very exciting for us. It’s fantastic Harry has been with the club and supported it all these years.

“We value him and want to try to work with him in another way.”

The Tigers head to Brisbane in 15th place, locked in a battle with Newcastle to avoid the wooden spoon. Yet Go stressed better days were ahead.

“I know it doesn’t look like it from the outside but things are going well,” Go said.

“We inherited something that needed fixing and you can’t fix these things overnight. We’re very committed to where we are heading. The first year was always going to be difficult and it has been. the first year has been very, very difficult.

“There is so much work to do but it is exciting because none of it is insurmountable. Once we appoint a new CEO it is going to be a smoother transition. We have been walking and it will be time to run.”

Thanks DA1.. :slight_smile:

 

[fairdinkum]

How easy is it for current management to sit back and blame everything on previous administration?

While I have no doubt they've left us in a mess, putting their hands up and saying everything is to blame on previous admin is too convenient.

I agree mate, it just doesn't make any sense. Our cap situation just doesn't add up on any level.

As fans we've already endured recent garbage for 3 seasons '2012-2014 (don't get me started on the johnny cronk era 2007-2009)

So now we have to bend over for an additional 3 years??? 6 years in total!!! What happened to the re-building 2015, make the top 8 in 2016 and top 4 in 2017? Thanks Wests Tigers for continuing to move the goal posts year in, year out. Whats the bet that next year all of a sudden 2018 starts to drop into these statements, it just keeps stretching out. 2017 was only ever mentioned as success now all of a sudden it too will be a re building year, and then 2018 but hold on fans keep buying those memberships because we will be successful by the 2020's…..maybe closer to 2030....

I don't care what meaningless fluff pieces they want to put out there, this statement doesn't give any answers just stuff we already knew. We are over the cap! We support the coach, The last board is to blame, yada yada yada. The only thing fresh is that Harry T is freed up to do other things with the club, he can finally become a TPA so maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel due to this point alone.

The whole situation just doesn't add up and they still come across as inept as the last government we had. i.e you seriously cant negotiate release contracts better then what they obviously are. You cant release 10-20 players sign Kevie and still whinge about cap issues. Why are we still paying so much of other players contracts that we have cut. We are jamming 40 players into our top 25 why the hell not keep a few of them. It just doesn't add up. Even with back ended contracts it still doesn't make sense with the amount of players let go. If we are now in such dire straits thus we had to release so many to alleviate the situation they are essentially saying in those lean years of 2012-2014 we were well over the cap?? I hate comparing us to Parra but geez, if you are rorting the system you'd expect results.

The deck chairs have been cleared for next year, a few wont be re-signed on top of whats already gone this year and with no signings we are still having cap issues for another 2 years?? WTF!! I just cant believe it. Farah must be on 2mill a year, Woods on 1mill, Rowdy on 1mill and the dynamic dud...I mean dynamic duo halves must be taking up 750K each, ahhh ok, it all makes sense now.

 

[Spartan117]

Reading through,

I remember the howling and the Pain that the Penrith Panthers went through 3 years back when they released Luke Lewis and Jennings.

We have a good crop of youngsters and they need time to grow and mature into seasoned 1st graders.

I'm going to echo True Tiger and Stick Solid because I don't just love the Wests Tigers, I Live, Breath and Bread My Wests Tigers.

 

[fairdinkum]

ok, so I understand we are paying some of Blairs contract, but I still can't see what players we are paying out that have left us and left our cap in such a state.

B Thomson
B Austin
M Koirobete
N Brown
J Gavet
J Miller
M Groat
B Murdock Masila
B Anasta
J Ready
P Polotini
M Iosefa
S Spence
Surely none of these players have sent us broke !

Agree, it just doesn't add up however you look at it

 

[happy_tiger]

Reading through,

I remember the howling and the Pain that the Penrith Panthers went through 3 years back when they released Luke Lewis and Jennings.

We have a good crop of youngsters and they need time to grow and mature into seasoned 1st graders.

I'm going to echo True Tiger and Stick Solid because I don't just love the Wests Tigers, I Live, Breath and Bread My Wests Tigers.

Talking of that , I liked the Bulldogs banner they ran through on Saturday

It said born and bred on one side facing the crowd and the side facing the field had the open mouth of a Bulldog that the players ran out of

Why can some clubs have simple ,cheap ideas like that and we seem bereft of any ideas similar to that

 

[Geo]

I really don't get the Blair payment ..It was a player requested release…madness..I don't buy it but notice it is the jurno's blurb not directly from Go...