https://www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/finals-breakthrough-and-latrell-s-signature-top-tigers-boss-wishlist-20191113-p53ab9.html
**Finals breakthrough and Latrell's signature top Tigers boss' wishlist**
By Adrian Proszenko
November 13, 2019 — 4.01pm
New Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis says there are no excuses for the club not to break its finals drought and he hopes Latrell Mitchell will be part of the team when it happens.
Hagipantelis had already been actively involved in the Tigers as the principal of its major sponsor, Brydens Lawyers, and now the joint-venture outfit can further tap into his legal and commercial acumen after he succeeded Barry O’Farrell as chair.
Hagipantelis believes he has taken up the role at an opportune time, pointing to the club’s financial stability, plans to open a centre of excellence by 2021 and the fact the Tigers have a $1.7 million war chest to spend on players for next season.
“The club is on the verge of achieving some great success over the next few years,” Hagipantelis told the Herald.
“No doubt about it [playing finals] is all that remains now. We have the right premiership-winning coach, we have a great roster we are looking to supplement during the off-season and a very talented and successful board. All the ingredients are there for a successful 2020.
“We think 2020 will represent a top-eight berth, I have no doubt about that. This club has enormous potential, the foundations have been established.
“There are no more excuses, this is the time to deliver.”
The medical retirement of Ben Matulino, coupled with the departures of Ryan Matterson and Esan Marsters, has freed up the salary cap space required for the Tigers to nab a marquee player. At the top of the wishlist is Mitchell, who the Roosters would be prepared to release immediately from the final year of his contract.
Hagipantelis has a relationship with Mitchell via his law firm's sponsorship of the NSW Blues and hopes the star centre considers making Concord home.
“We think 2020 will represent a top-eight berth, I have no doubt about that. This club has enormous potential, the foundations have been established.
“There are no more excuses, this is the time to deliver.”
The medical retirement of Ben Matulino, coupled with the departures of Ryan Matterson and Esan Marsters, has freed up the salary cap space required for the Tigers to nab a marquee player. At the top of the wishlist is Mitchell, who the Roosters would be prepared to release immediately from the final year of his contract.
Hagipantelis has a relationship with Mitchell via his law firm's sponsorship of the NSW Blues and hopes the star centre considers making Concord home.
“He is a quality young man for whom I have enormous respect and I know he will make the best decision for himself. If that turns out to be the Wests Tigers, I will be extremely elated. He would be an incredible acquisition for any club.
“Quality players like that are hard to come by, they are an enormous asset to the organisation on and off the field. It’s such an injection of enthusiasm for the club that marquee players of that calibre would consider the Wests Tigers.
“It’s no secret that any club would like to have Latrell in their roster. To what extent discussions have progressed, if at all, I am currently unaware.”
The Tigers are only just emerging from a number of setbacks that have cruelled their performance. Former coach Ivan Cleary was released after expressing a desire to return to Penrith and it has taken time for coach Michael Maguire to begin reshaping the roster to his liking.
“There have been some challenges for the Wests Tigers in previous years, not all of them of their own making,” Hagipantelis said.
“A change of coach for example and other issues. The salary cap issues that have emanated from the previous administration are largely resolved and the Tigers have control of their own destiny, which hasn’t happened for some time.”
