OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[TigerBurnsy]

If the Tigers didn't have such a loyal fan base we would've folded by now, literally the only thing the club has over other teams and lucky to have any fans by now tbh

 

[Pringle Gold]

That was my first thought, its he fans fault now lol. This club is dying a very slow and painful death and it 100% HBG fault

This CEO will come on here and blame fans for division when our HBG owners refuse to call our NSW cup team the Wests Tigers and force the team to wear away jerseys at home games.

HBG sacked the independent board over a jersey being too orange then were forced to reinstate them after NRL intervention but it’s the fans fault.

We’ve had some of the biggest scores put on us in the game yet it’s the fans causing division and angst.

We’ve even had the NRL having to appoint independent board members after the 2014 yet he blames the fans.

It’s beyond farcical.

 

[Pringle Gold]

Liltiger - I am doing this and agree that there are some systemic challenges at the club that is keeping us in this loop. I can guarantee you that I am currently looking into the issues as I see them and more importantly looking to focus on how to fix them. I'll be honest I don't have the answers right now but I'm am not going to stop until it is clear for everyone where we need to get to.

One of the biggest challenges is bringing all the fans together - it's actually one of the most significant rifts i have ever seen in a club and does have an impact on the entire organisation.

Is there ever a world where fans who are either Wests Tigers only, fans who are West Tigers and Wests Magpies fans and fans who are Wests Tigers and Balmain Tigers could all be in collective support of the club? I initially thought that the only way to achieve this was to win football games on the field - however there is a connection here between the two and when i see the younger generation of fans coming together and not caring if the jersey being worn next to them has a Pepper, Victor or Phillips brand on the front it gives me a lot of hope for the future.

Just a thought for one of the items we need to find a way to resolve if the club is ever going to truly move forward.

How can you possibly sit here and blame Wests Tigers fans for abysmal on-field performances and division?

It’s beyond disrespectful.

The Wests Tigers fans are the most loyal and passionate fanbase in the comp. We’ve stuck solid through 25 years of ineptitude, on-field flogging, board room drama, administrative incompetence, media gaffes, instability, and constant leaks.

We’ve been ridiculed by the NRL media, players and NRL fans alike and still show up and support the club.

Before you point the finger at fans, maybe you should re-examine the independent review that found HBG weren’t up to running an NRL club. Richo himself said they would squabble about things like the colour of socks and the size of rhe magpie on the jersey.

Seems not much has changed given the club plays home games in the away strip and there’s been zero rationale put forward by yourself or the board about it.

You talk about fans driving division when our State Cup Team is named the Magpies and plays home games out of Lidcombe or when board members put up a Magpies chant at Campbelltown home game.

The fans deserve better than the constant stream of incompetence dished up by yourself, the players, the board and the owners.

Have fun dealing with record low membership and merchandise sales, and crowd numbers next year because fans aren’t going to keep copping this.

Particularly when the CEO is making us scapegoats for division and poor player performances.

 

[Pringle Gold]

I’ll just add 98% of Wests Tigers fans just want to see Wests Tigers be a successful, united club. We don’t care about Balmain or Wests and just want to see the best interests of the Wests Tigers being reflected in our pathways, branding, and strategic decision-making.

Unfortunately that’s not been the case and we’re forced to watch this club be in constant turmoil because there’s a rank culture of self-interest and pettiness.

Maybe the CEO and everyone involved in the club should look inward before blaming fans.

 

[tigerbenji]

Shaun, I am an 18 year member & love Wests Tigers. Please tell me why I should join again, I am a supporter not a fan, just give us supporters some hope for the future.

 

[Telltails]

Hi Shaun,
To be fair any division within the fan base has been perpetuated by historical dysfunction.at board level.
If the board were all pulling in the same direction the fans would have no reason to take sides.
The board has a history of factional infighting that has created a sense that personal agendas, and self interest by those in privileged positions on the back of an antiquated election process, take precedent ahead of what is needed to run a successful sporting organisation.

With due respect the management is responsible wholly and solely for our lowly position in a professional sporting competition and until they own that, make change, you should be more concerned about holding on to fans, rather than trying to bring them together.

Good luck with membership sales I think that will be your next biggest challenge.

 

[shiretiger]

19 year member here Shaun.

Please pass on my thanks to the lads for their epic 59th birthday present on Saturday.

I have a very simple question: why should I become a 20 year member in 2027?

Shaun, don't bother with a response. Decision made. I'll let you speculate as too what it was.

 

[clontarfkid]

And am sure you noticed yesterdays crowd..sub 10000 against a Sydney based team!!
Less thn one third of capacity at the best viewing stadium in SydneyThe team and management have lost cred with the supporter group
Over to you

 

[Carefactor]

Shaun, don't bother with a response. Decision made. I'll let you speculate as too what it was.

Surprised you lasted that long, well done. I threw my membership in years ago .

 

[Roar_Power]

This CEO will come on here and blame fans for division when our HBG owners refuse to call our NSW cup team the Wests Tigers and force the team to wear away jerseys at home games.

HBG sacked the independent board over a jersey being too orange then were forced to reinstate them after NRL intervention but it’s the fans fault.

We’ve had some of the biggest scores put on us in the game yet it’s the fans causing division and angst.

We’ve even had the NRL having to appoint independent board members after the 2014 yet he blames the fans.

It’s beyond farcical.

Wait for the next few weeks. Its going to be record setting....

 

[Roar_Power]

How can you possibly sit here and blame Wests Tigers fans for abysmal on-field performances and division?

It’s beyond disrespectful.

The Wests Tigers fans are the most loyal and passionate fanbase in the comp. We’ve stuck solid through 25 years of ineptitude, on-field flogging, board room drama, administrative incompetence, media gaffes, instability, and constant leaks.

We’ve been ridiculed by the NRL media, players and NRL fans alike and still show up and support the club.

Before you point the finger at fans, maybe you should re-examine the independent review that found HBG weren’t up to running an NRL club. Richo himself said they would squabble about things like the colour of socks and the size of rhe magpie on the jersey.

Seems not much has changed given the club plays home games in the away strip and there’s been zero rationale put forward by yourself or the board about it.

You talk about fans driving division when our State Cup Team is named the Magpies and plays home games out of Lidcombe or when board members put up a Magpies chant at Campbelltown home game.

The fans deserve better than the constant stream of incompetence dished up by yourself, the players, the board and the owners.

Have fun dealing with record low membership and merchandise sales, and crowd numbers next year because fans aren’t going to keep copping this.

Particularly when the CEO is making us scapegoats for division and poor player performances.

The worst run Australian sporting organisation over the last 15 years.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite, that not what I said at all and very apologetic if something I wrote could be interpreted this way. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution. My question was is this possible? I believe it is.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.

The best part of the club is the loyal fans and the strength in numbers is what I gives me great hope that there is a way through this.

 

[Blooey]

Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.

Hi Shaun,

The fans are more united than any other club's. We all want success, and we all suffer together every year through false hope and unfulfilled promises.

The club's owners are the ones who aren't united.

 

[Pringle Gold]

Please guys I am not blaming the fans at all - it is exactly the opposite. I am trying to find a way despite everything that has happened to bring fans together as I know it is part of the solution.

There is no way at all this is the fans and members fault - absolutely was not what i was trying to say.

You quite literally said:

“One of the biggest challenges is bringing all the fans together - it's actually one of the most significant rifts i have ever seen in a club and does have an impact on the entire organisation.”

You’re just being obtuse now and cowardly. You don’t even have the conviction to stand behind your own words.

 

[innsaneink]

More than 1300.registered clubs in NSW Shaun and only one operates under a debenture system

There is no accountability with HB, they took.away what seemed to be working for their own gain.

We had their members over summer abusing fans online and telling them to support another team

"If you cant acknowledge the history of our club since 1908, then f**k off and go support someone else" Allan Fallah 13/12/25

And as telltails above correctly points out the division has been perpetuated by this board for years

“The only contention that regularly arises is the fact Wests Magpies have never been respected in the joint venture and always tainted as the bad guys. An opportunity to discuss a fairer representation would go a long way in ending 25 years of war.” Leo Epifania 12/12/25

Many many fans believe HB do not have WTs best interests at heart, nothing theyve done supports this...the mistrust is off the charts.
The fans members and supporters hurt while HB sit at Ashfield sipping free middies.

And I might add this has been an ongoing thing with Wests Ashfield since the 70s

Good luck next year, it will be nothing like youve seen yet

 

[Telltails]

Hi Shaun,
Playing a home game at Parramatta against Parramatta should never happen again nor should we have played StGeorge at a neutral stadium - it makes us a mockery.
Three wins at Leichardt this year - packed out- that's a message from the fans, and a response from the team.
Do we want to win games with a true home ground advantage or do we disregard that because it might be considered favouring one side of our past more than the other - despite that it is positive for the here and now.
There is a difference in acknowledging/ respecting the past to preserving it. Home ground games are seen as an advantage for every club.
Yet we get the token 3 games once the ground is improved - equal to if not better than the suburban home grounds good enough for other Sydney based teams who value a true home ground advantage.
It makes no sense not to utilize it. It fosters connection and gives the team an advantage. If you want to bring fans together get fair dinkum about the impact of home grounds on the fanbase..