OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[Vicious]

5. Can we see Koe and Flegg all played at the same ground once in a while.

That would be fantastic, but keep in mind that no NRL team currently does it and no NRL team plays many KOE Cup games before their NRL games either.

 

[Fainu Brothers]

Shaun,

You are a straight shooter. Was there an issue between HBG and Shane Richardson when he was trying to make the NSW Cup Team Wests Tigers?

Honestly feels like as a club we have take. 1 step forward and 2/3 steps back and feels worse than winning 3 wooden spoons. I am gutted, but i do not see that in the playing group.

Pathways, i look at clubs like the Warriors/Knights/Storm why is when they debut players the look physically ready for NRL? When the majority of WT debut their physicality and defence is not up to NRL standard. How do you fix that?

You are new, but majority of the people here are suffering from 15 years of pain. 95% of people want the club to succeed as Wests Tigers not Balmain or Wests. The current game plan of high competition and hope for the best is not working. You were part of the conversations but as fans we were led to believe a player sat out due to standards, looking at his game on the weekend he didn’t meet them as a senior player. Would that happen with Sticky or Bellyache? We need to be better in so many ways.. To finish the year with 11 straight loses is unacceptable, we are the dragons from last year and look how they went this year.

 

[Chunk]

Apology accepted Champ. Unfortunately, as it is in the blood, I will be supporting the team, just like I have done since 1967.

On the other hand, after 19 years I have chosen not to donate my hard earned.

Back under your rock Champ

No worries, relax, I simply have a different opinion. I think the football club desperately need funds and I’m willing to fork out a paid membership to support the club and if you don’t want to that’s fine.

And when we start winning again you might get your non ticketed membership back again and we’ll see you at a game or two.

See ya

 

[Chunk]

I’m not done supporting them, I just refuse to pour hundreds of dollars into them for shithouse performances, if you had told me in 2011 we would go the next 15 years without making finals I think most would say you’re dreaming

That’s cool but don’t you think the football club needs money and support more then ever?

Is HBG really going to care if our membership drops by 15-20%?

No, the people who will care are involved in the football club.

I’m willing to be proven wrong

 

[hammertime]

That’s cool but don’t you think the football club needs money and support more then ever?

Is HBG really going to care if our membership drops by 15-20%?

No, the people who will care are involved in the football club.

I’m willing to be proven wrong

Yeah, agree. HBG debenture holders are already unaccountable for spending their members money. They will still get their blazers.

Can't be memberships. Needs to be viewership with the media deal negotiations. Need PVL to take action if the debenture holders won't do the right thing.

 

[Terry T.Nuts]

Hey Shaun, this club is beyond repair. We have had multiple coaches through the doors, some of a very high quality and the results have never changed, bar three seasons. I firmly believe that the club needs to be dissolved and relocated, it is an disgrace and a stain on the NRL, the sooner this is done the better for all of the longsuffering supporters, sadly there is no hope for this dumpster fire.

 

[Chunk]

Can't be memberships. Needs to be viewership with the media deal negotiations. Need PVL to take action if HBG won't do the right thing

But the concern is, he might take the licence off us. He would be expecting us to stand on our own two feet.

We need to show we’re strong without HBG, memberships, sponsors etc

 

[Pringle Gold]

Yeah, agree. HBG debenture holders are already unaccountable for spending their members money. They will still get their blazers.

Can't be memberships. Needs to be viewership with the media deal negotiations. Need PVL to take action if the debenture holders won't do the right thing.

It’s got to be everything - memberships, viewership, merchandise, and game attendance.

Honestly the best way to send a message would be to boycott Vegas.

But supporters cannot continue to put money into a club that openly disrespects them.

 

[Tom Shines]

Hey Shaun, this club is beyond repair. We have had multiple coaches through the doors, some of a very high quality and the results have never changed, bar three seasons. I firmly believe that the club needs to be dissolved and relocated, it is an disgrace and a stain on the NRL, the sooner this is done the better for all of the longsuffering supporters, sadly there is no hope for this dumpster fire.

Where there is life there is hope ..

You can always walk away Tezza … it’s not a prison …

 

[Papacito]

What a thread.

My condolences to the mods.

 

[Jolls]

That would be fantastic, but keep in mind that no NRL team currently does it and no NRL team plays many KOE Cup games before their NRL games either.

When the KoE side played after the NRL in Canberra the stands were empty. Even less than I expect you would get as Lidcombe. There was hardly anyone there in below zero supporting either side. The reason it was after the NRL was so the unused benchies could get a run. From a HBG POV having them play in front of the a mediocre crowd at Lidcombe is brings in more cash.

Perhaps it was the temperature and Canberra but I can see why, given the reserve rules for NRL, that the clubs want the KoE to play elsewhere.

 

[shiretiger]

No worries, relax, I simply have a different opinion. I think the football club desperately need funds and I’m willing to fork out a paid membership to support the club and if you don’t want to that’s fine.

And when we start winning again you might get your non ticketed membership back again and we’ll see you at a game or two.

See ya

Glad I got your approval Champ. Coming from a real supporter like you, it means the world to me.

 

[Vicious]

When the KoE side played after the NRL in Canberra the stands were empty. Even less than I expect you would get as Lidcombe. There was hardly anyone there in below zero supporting either side. The reason it was after the NRL was so the unused benchies could get a run. From a HBG POV having them play in front of the a mediocre crowd at Lidcombe is brings in more cash.

Perhaps it was the temperature and Canberra but I can see why, given the reserve rules for NRL, that the clubs want the KoE to play elsewhere.

I totally understand the rules introduced this season to allow 6 players on the NRL interchange bench has caused chaos as clubs do not want to risk playing these players named on their interchange bench before the NRL game due to fatigue and potential injury.
Hopefully the NRL recognises this is a big problem that is effecting the game time and in some cases development of players who spend far too much time sitting on the bench and not getting any game time and come up with a solution in addition to the players named 14-17, why not allow each club to name another 4-6 players to sit on the NRL bench as interchange options on the proviso that these additional players play at least some game time in NSW Cuo prior tj the NRL game.
This worked perfectly fine once upon a time and it was considered a privilege for players to play in two grades, sometimes 3 grades on the one day.

 

[tigerbenji]

A few weeks ago, I went to Belmore Oval to watch Javon Andrews play in person.
One thing I will never understand is how we can possibly ever be a truly united entity when our reserve grade team is fully represented only by one side of the merger. If you play for the Wests Tigers and you are a contracted player, you should play for the Wests Tigers. Not Balmain and not Wests.

What made it even more concerning for me was that there were ex-players/club officials in Wests polos, rain jackets and hoodies.

We need to unite, fully, completely and totally.

If we have 12 home games, play six at Campbelltown and six at Leichhardt.
Once revamped, there is no longer an excuse.

We can have a heritage jersey, if necessary or play one game in the bush/magic round but from next season, enough is enough.

Forward looking from now on only.
Let's remove the rear vision mirror once and for all.

You speak to much sense.

 

[Speed2burn]

That’s cool but don’t you think the football club needs money and support more then ever?

Is HBG really going to care if our membership drops by 15-20%?

No, the people who will care are involved in the football club.

I’m willing to be proven wrong

you’re right, thanks for the reality check

Go Tigers!