OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[innsaneink]

@ShaunMielekamp

Hi Shaun

If Benji is fined by the NRL (which I dont believe he should be) for his comments on the refereeing in last nights game, will the club cover that or does Benji pay that himself?

While no one wants to use refereeing as an excuse, all the commentators on Fox and many many social media comments on the game supported Benjis views on the officiating

 

[innsaneink]

@ShaunMielekamp

One more Shaun, can you tell us if anymore players require off season surgery?

....and the clubs Injury Update section really needs work...some players are out yet we get no info on them (Latu)

 

[LukeyTuiaki]

I appreciate the feedback - We will keep working and building here to deliver the best match day we can. C-town next year will have a huge emphasis on this. My motherhood statement is that we need to turn match days into events and events into festivals.
As far as never tear us apart it did show some promise for a while, these initiatives only ever work long term when they align with on field success. I did have to take a breath myself with never tear us apart because not only was Port using this but the Newcastle Jets as well. the team here were passionate to give it a go and I will always back passionate staff to have a crack at something new.

Thanks for your thorough reply Shaun, really appreciate the time you’ve taken to interact with members and fans on here. I really like your direction of turning match days into events, and events into festivals. When I’ve been to festivals, what you get is a lot of one thing, e.g. rock music festivals = lots of different music acts. To that, can I suggest the best way to turn match days into festivals is having multiple grades/games to accompanied the nrl men’s game. Many on here have suggested the same, and in an ideal world - each match day would feature at least 3 grades/games. I know V’landys was spruiking this a few seasons back but it seems to have fallen away. That scheduling change would do a lot I feel to make match day feel like a festival.

 

[LukeyTuiaki]

And… I would like to remind you what the nrl chair said in 2019 when selected to take on the role: “we need to improve our refereeing… That’s our single biggest problem at the moment. You can’t have fans walking away thinking they’ve been ripped off, so we need to fix our systems and do whatever we can, that the fan walks away happy and content that they’ve had a fair crack. And not walk away that he’s been ripped off.”
Needless to say I feel ripped off after the cowboys v tigers result, and feel as though there’s been many results in the last 7 sevens that I feel ripped off about. My question is, what can I do to support change at the officiating level of the NRL?

 

[poopy_diaper]

Hey Shaun.

Flegg making finals and the girls on a tear. I would love to see the club do a lot more promotion and put their shoulder behind these two sides.

We have an Instagram group with all the podcasters and Tigers social media accounts and are keen to push to try to get as many fans as possible out to the rest of the games.

What say the club open the gates for the last two rounds for the girls and try to pack out Cambo and Leichhardt as much as possible? It's already cheap but if you just open the gates and promote doing so you could get thousands of long suffering Tigers fans along and really generate some energy for the NRLW side who deserve it.

And get some of the NRL players, Luai, Bula even Benji to do some social content to encourage fans to get out and back them?

Get the PR message out and really try to get people who haven't had a team to root for in the finals to adopt these sides.

 

[hsvjones]

Hi Shawn,

Thanks again for coming on here and communicating with the fans as it does go a long way.

One thing that has always been frustrating to me is how often this clubs gets the wrong end of the stick from the ref's / Bunker. I know the normal response is we need to do better etc etc.. But sometimes like Saturday it's just beyond a joke and they wonder why fans are turning off.
We know we need better backup players etc but all us fans want is a fair go and I for one was very happy that Benji spoke out at his PC (club might not like it due to a poss fine) the other night. It's not just sticking up for the Players but IMO it's the fans that it hursts the most as we live and breathe it.

It's the same as suspensions - Api got suspended for like 3 weeks early in the year and the player got up after the penalty and was right to go and the same weekend another game a worse hip dropped happened and no sin bin or suspension for that player.

Question re recruitment:
We have done a great job with the re-signings but are we expecting any more extensions or new players announced before Nov 1 ? (Would love to hear we have wrapped up Sam F as he is a top talent.)

Congrats to all the teams that made the finals and the NRLW women have been excellent this year. Well done to all involved.

Thanks again

 

[Tigers82]

Hi Shaun,

Is it right we only have 6 middles signed for next year (May, Pole, Sione, Hunt, Twal and Seyfarth) and CTP on dev contract. Out of the middles used this year only Royce has had a significant injury with May, Pole, Sione and Seyfarth pretty much playing the whole year and and Twal only missing a handful. Chances are it won’t go so well next year. Are we looking for forward depth with NRL experience for 2027?

 

[Suzie-Q]

Hi Shaun,

Just a question around the presentation event. What's the thinking behind it being on a Tuesday night? That's certainly ruled me out, as it would mean at least 2 days off work to come from rural NSW. I guess this is just another weird Wests Tigers decision that has me again rethinking if my wages are worth spending on a Wests Tigers Membership in 2027.🤔☹️

 

[batboy]

Hi Shaun,

Just a question around the presentation event. What's the thinking behind it being on a Tuesday night? That's certainly ruled me out, as it would mean at least 2 days off work to come from rural NSW. I guess this is just another weird Wests Tigers decision that has me again rethinking if my wages are worth spending on a Wests Tigers Membership in 2027.🤔☹️

Ridiculous!
Same with being a top tier member, They'll put functions on a Wednesday morning at 9am.
Who the hell can squeeze in a Football team engagement on a mid week morning?
They already get the Weekends usually, Seems like it's also ever sorted only a couple weeks prior
(Sometimes not even)

Certainly makes it very harder to justify.

 

[terriaa]

Ridiculous!
Same with being a top tier member, They'll put functions on a Wednesday morning at 9am.
Who the hell can squeeze in a Football team engagement on a mid week morning?
They already get the Weekends usually, Seems like it's also ever sorted only a couple weeks prior
(Sometimes not even)

Certainly makes it very harder to justify.

Exactly. My daughter missed the VIP training because she was at work on a Tuesday like most people. It was on during school holidays but that level of membership has few children. We pay not only for the seats but what is included. I just laughed when I saw when presentation is on.

 

[Odessa]

In regards to jerseys I am keen to get everyone's thoughts on what the long term should look like. I am curious when I look back at the history of the club the most common Wests Tigers jersey is the mainly black jersey with white and orange V. Many past administrators that I have spoken to about this was because black is the shared colour from both histories - not sure if this is correct or opinion of a small sample?

With no Leichhardt next year what and how should be the balance of the playing jerseys played in which colours at which grounds?

Over the last 26 years the main jersey has been primarily Black 18 times, Orange 6 times & White 2 times.

The Alternately jersey has been Orange 15 times, black 2 times, white 9 times

I find this website really helpful to understand the journey and the era's that the club has gone through: https://galleryofleague.com/austral...tra-premiership-history/wests-tigers-history/

I think it is fair to say that we have never really embraced a true Home and Away jersey like other clubs - we need to define our own narrative here I think, hence why I am keen to get various thoughts and opinions.

Love the Orange jersey and black jersey the white no to keep on

Next year if the main jersey could be Orange that would be great then the year after Black and just rotate it every year it would be nice to see the Orange jersey at Campbelltown for a night time game

I don't like the black jersey on afternoon games think it's to hot for the players so orange or white would be better

 

[happy_tiger]

I don't understand the love for Black jerseys

I have probably mentioned this before but a study was done in the NFL about teams wearing black jerseys being penalised more heavily than sides wearing lighter colours jerseys
I noticed even Carlton in the AFL wearing the white jerseys far more often these days
Stick to the Tangerine and the white jersey
But if it's purple with pink polkadots and we are winning 75% of our games I won't care

 

[hammertime]

Hi Shaun,

Are there any moves by HBG to re-implement the report's findings and bring back some higher-level expertise and experience to the board?

I don't think anyone wants to make them the enemy - we all want to be one team and rowing together! But surely they recognise it would be in the club's best interest and that it would go a long way in uniting us all under a culture of selfless sacrifice.

God knows the fans have already sacrificed their health and money for this club for a long, long time!

 

[Joel Helmes]

Hi Shaun,

Are there any moves by HBG to re-implement the report's findings and bring back some higher-level expertise and experience to the board?

I don't think anyone wants to make them the enemy - we all want to be one team and rowing together! But surely they recognise it would be in the club's best interest and that it would go a long way in uniting us all under a culture of selfless sacrifice.

God knows the fans have already sacrificed their health and money for this club for a long, long time!

Seconded!

 

[blakewp]

Hi Shaun,

Re - jersey feedback

I am on my hands and knees, begging you to bring back our proper gold jerseys instead of the carrot orange ones we currently wear.

I have attached a photo with our original gold jerseys on the top row and the current orange colour on the bottom row. The original gold we used was 1000 times better. Pleeeeease bring it back.

Regarding the jersey design, my personal opinion is that the 2019 version of the jersey looks best, with a strong chevron design and mostly black. But I am an adult and I like subtlety. Children- the future- are naturally drawn to bright colours. So I think a mostly gold jersey for away games and LO games would be ideal.

Also, do the jerseys have to be called “Home” and “Away” jerseys? There was a bit of a stink earlier in the year about the gold jersey being the “Home” jersey. Calling one jersey a “Home” jersey implies it has more meaning than the “Away” jersey. Why not call them “Main Jersey - Dark” and “Main Jersey- Light”?

Another idea would be to use the primarily black jersey for Campbelltown, the primarily gold jersey for LO and the white jersey for away games.

Cheers, Billy.

 

[innsaneink]

@ShaunMielekamp

On the move to play most our games at Campbelltown next year, youre quoted as saying;

"It is about genuine engagement. The advantage we have is our region and our area is the fastest growing in NSW."

Surely having our KOE Cup reserve grade team ...many of them Cambo local jnrs...playing before 1st grade is what engagement is about...not them playing 40km away at Lidcombe.

However we know the entire club is not all on the same.page with our owners putting their selfish desire first and foremost.
Prove me.wrong.

 

[king_sirro]

Hi Shaun,

Re - jersey feedback

I am on my hands and knees, begging you to bring back our proper gold jerseys instead of the carrot orange ones we currently wear.

I have attached a photo with our original gold jerseys on the top row and the current orange colour on the bottom row. The original gold we used was 1000 times better. Pleeeeease bring it back.

Regarding the jersey design, my personal opinion is that the 2019 version of the jersey looks best, with a strong chevron design and mostly black. But I am an adult and I like subtlety. Children- the future- are naturally drawn to bright colours. So I think a mostly gold jersey for away games and LO games would be ideal.

Also, do the jerseys have to be called “Home” and “Away” jerseys? There was a bit of a stink earlier in the year about the gold jersey being the “Home” jersey. Calling one jersey a “Home” jersey implies it has more meaning than the “Away” jersey. Why not call them “Main Jersey - Dark” and “Main Jersey- Light”?

Another idea would be to use the primarily black jersey for Campbelltown, the primarily gold jersey for LO and the white jersey for away games.

Cheers, Billy.

Good call

 

[Flippedy]

@ShaunMielekamp

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not as the thread is too long to read, but I have noticed that next season we will, once again, be playing our home game against Parramatta on Easter Monday at Commbank Stadium, which is in effect Parramatta’s home ground. Why on earth do we keep giving Parramatta the advantage in this match year after year? It makes no sense at all.

 

[Dr_Ice]

@ShaunMielekamp

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not as the thread is too long to read, but I have noticed that next season we will, once again, be playing our home game against Parramatta on Easter Monday at Commbank Stadium, which is in effect Parramatta’s home ground. Why on earth do we keep giving Parramatta the advantage in this match year after year? It makes no sense at all.

Considering how bad our overall record has been the last few years, our record against the Eels at CommBank has exceeded expectations

 

[TurnStyle]

In regards to jerseys I am keen to get everyone's thoughts on what the long term should look like. I am curious when I look back at the history of the club the most common Wests Tigers jersey is the mainly black jersey with white and orange V. Many past administrators that I have spoken to about this was because black is the shared colour from both histories - not sure if this is correct or opinion of a small sample?

With no Leichhardt next year what and how should be the balance of the playing jerseys played in which colours at which grounds?

Over the last 26 years the main jersey has been primarily Black 18 times, Orange 6 times & White 2 times.

The Alternately jersey has been Orange 15 times, black 2 times, white 9 times

I find this website really helpful to understand the journey and the era's that the club has gone through: https://galleryofleague.com/austral...tra-premiership-history/wests-tigers-history/

I think it is fair to say that we have never really embraced a true Home and Away jersey like other clubs - we need to define our own narrative here I think, hence why I am keen to get various thoughts and opinions.

Omg... Don't get me started! 😂

But firstly, I've never replied to you here, so want to say Thank you very much for taking your time to reach the real fans. It's pretty awesome.

I'm very curious how this year's orange strip has sold compared to previous years?

I've supported wests tigers and Balmain prior for over 40 years, and this is the first season I have bought a jersey that wasn't a Balmain retro.

Orange is unique to the club - you could name practically every other club and they'd have black and/or white in their colours.

I don't care where they play. Wear white jerseys at Leichhardt (when open again), wear orange at Campbelltown; it should have no bearing.

I'm so glad they've gone away from the horrid chevrons (although still there, it's more subtle now), and personally I don't like black jerseys!

I would honestly be happy if the black was replaced by a more contemporary grey/blue, or very dark navy blue.

I'd say I'm very much in the minority on this, but I really think what sells is more important than the common colour of the legacy clubs.

I am in my mid 50's, was a die hard Balmain supporter, but I really believe the club needs to at least take steps towards forging a new, modern identity.

Those chevroned, 'old school appeasing both sides' jerseys were so boring! Each year it was an extremely underwhelming jersey launch of a slight alteration of the preceding year's boring strip.

But we have all heard all too often the bickering from the front office, old out of touch people desperately clinging to the past...

Apocryphal or not, the "jersey is too orange" thing stuck and made the club look puerile.

But most importantly to me:
It is WESTS TIGERS. I'm sick of seeing the magpies on the sleeves, as well as the legacy club logos on the back. It is no longer Balmain. It is no longer Western Suburbs.

It also really annoys me that the NSW cup team identity is basically Western Suburbs!

So. Rant recap:
* Orange is unique and marketable
* thank god for the updated design!
* no magpies or Balmain and Wests logos on the back
* same jumper representing Wests Tigers for all (adult) grades
* I got started... 🤪