OFFICIAL Q&A Club discussion with Shaun Mielekamp

[ShaunMielekamp]

Thank you for clarifying that. Everyone on this forum is incredibly passionate about our club and have so been for many years.

Can you give us one change that the Tigers will make next year to ensure we make the top eight in 2027?

Hey Leck, one change (not the only one) but is a big focus on internal standards both on and off the pitch. This combined with some stability for the season will see us have better results.

Hey @ShaunMielekamp I love your work, love your willingness to connect with our fans, you are a genuine man of the people and I am extremely happy and grateful you are the man leading Wests Tigers in a positive direction,
You are 💯 genuine and displayed these exact same traits during your extremely successful time at Central Coast Mariners and I believe we are extremely fortunate to have a man of your integrity leading our club.
Are you able to please clarify your involvement and role with our recruitment and retention?
My understanding is that Benji and Shannon Galkant are largely in control of this with guidance and assistance from Bronson Harrison and Brad Speechley mainly with our pathways and emerging players, is that correct?
Do you have any direct input and does anyone to do with our board have any direct input?
Do we have a Salary Cap manager who keeps track and ensures the money we are offering to retain or recruit players fits in with our current and future salary cap planning?

Recruitment and retention whilst led by the names you have mentioned who have the lifelong football acumen still very much involves myself. I mainly aim to over-see the process and ensure alignment with the clubs strategy, it is my role to engage with the board and Chairman on key decisions. The salary cap is managed by our COO who hold the role as CFO - very experienced administrator who has been in the NRL for well over 14 years

This process is continually reviewed and adjusted where we find gaps or need other resources.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hi Shaun,

Just curious if we're active in the overseas player market?

Are we looking at players in the Super League, Rugby Union, Japanese rugby etc?

It seems like it's been forever since we've signed a good Pommy or other international player who wasn't already playing in the NRL.

Considering we've had stars like Patty Richards and Gareth Ellis, it seems crazy that we wouldn't be..

Are there any challenges with these kinds of signings that fans may not be aware of, such as transfer fees, salary cap implications, relocation concerns etc?

hey Blooey
We are looking to improve resources here to increase our visibility on the overseas markets. It's important that we have the ability to be in the conversation when real raw talent starts to emerge in foreign markets. I'll be honest we have a long way to go here and have focused on pathways resources in first instance. There are challaneges such as visa's and relocations but they are pretty easy to overcome when the player is the right one.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hi Shaun,
There has been a lot of discussion on this forum & elsewhere regarding the lack of access to players after games for the young fans.
Clubs like Warriors will go out & sign autographs & take selfies with the kids for ages but it doesn’t seem to happen with Wests Tigers.
It would be nice to see the players express their thanks for the long suffering fans. Those little kids are the future of the club and whilst I know it is tough to smile after a loss they seem to have no problem joking around with the opposition so why not make some kids day & spend some time signing some autographs.

I 100% agree - some may have noticed that there was an improvement in the last couple of games with this. It's an area we have flagged for improvement in 2027

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Apologies Shaun to clarify on my earlier question it was about if you have begun looking into what was causing the club to never have had long term sustained success. In your response you replied you had begun looking into it and were going to do everything in your power to resolve it. By toxic what i meant was whatever that element is thats stopping that sustained success. Not that the club, players, staff or the work envirinment is negative in any way. My apologies instead of toxic i think perhaps stymie would be a better word for what i meant. Iv no doubt everyone, you, Benji and the coaching staff, the players and everyone else at the Tigers are working your hardest to reach the goal of success. Apologies for miscommunicating what i meant.

Yep I have been working very hard in understanding at the most granular level how we got to where we are as a club and what are the factors that cause the handbrakes here. There is a lot and its easier to talk about than fix, I will continue to build through our strategy and long term planning to resolve and address many of these. I can say that the appointment of a coaching director is one of those key long term initiatives that will see the club build the playing style and culture that aligns right through the entore pathway.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Would you be able to comment on how you have allocated the funding to help with this?

I understand we can't go over $20k in the benefits but hiring better off field staff that are available full time to entire pathways would be under the cap and also give the players better benefits?

Like what Sydney roosters do which is to give access to mortgage brokers, real estate agents, career advisors, psychologists, physios etc?

Overall, I feel this is where most of the funding is required. Do we have the funds for that or do you think we are still a few years away in properly investing in this?

We have invested in a dedicated staff member for this and will make sure that we show positive growth from this allocation of resource that hopefully will unlock more in the future. Matt who runs this area is great and we will keep it going. Currently i feel that we have enough budget here for this are but will keep reviewing

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Shaun, what is the situation with Benji’s assistants? Is it a coincidence that the best available are all of Benji’s ex teammates?

you probably have seen that we have heavily advertised for a defensive coach. I can say that the candidates who have applied actually expressed their support for being able to contact the club direct rather than having to employ and agent just to get their resume on my desk.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hi Shaun.
Like many others thank you for giving up your time on the forum, a few years ago under Richo, Benji and the coaching staff were in shirts trousers and nice jacket on home game days, it actually looked really professional. I know it doesnt help us win matches, just for me personally I thought it looked really good and made us look like a professional outfit compared to the tracksuits.

Yeh it is an interesting one - I will say that Benji is probably a bit better at leading fashion trends for us rather than myself. It does help us sell merch but your point has merit for discussion.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hi Shaun, Just finished watching the Youtube media conferences with Benji, Fonua (congrats 100) Bula & Api.

Mate, the Club and investors spent a fortune on the COE, but week after week we see these media grabs that are obliterated by the overhead noise of 747's hovering around the joint. So why persist with this amateur hour approach and not set up the Media in a better sound environment indoors? The players can't concentrate at the best of times due to their mates geeing them up. Why not show some professionalism - afterall they are the faces of the squad each week and only look like "gooses" when the distractions (noise and banter) kick in. And whilst you're at it, how about getting the media to use a microphone to ask their questions. Not the biggest issue, but it's the 1% ers mate thay make all the difference! 🐯 🛫✈️🛬🐯

good call and this should be improved. I do know that one of the benefits is that you dont have the journo's walking the halls of the club speaking to who they want to and seeing things that might not be for their eyes. But surely we can do better so I'll add this to the off season list for review. I also want to see more media from c-town and ensure the journos make the trip is they want the content.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

@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)

It's just the shoulders that have been done, Doueihi, Bula, Herbert - all slightly different but all aim to be ready for round 1.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

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.🤔☹️

the rugby league world cup meant that we needed to move earlier to ensure players got a holiday and had a break - otherwise they would not be able to acheive their mandatory holidays before the start of the season. you will see that a majority of clubs did similar.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hi Shaun
Wishing you a productive off season

In regards to membership what are the benefits of say an extra 5000 memberships and what would the money be spent on.

yeh wow an extra 5000 members would see us spend around another $1m on our football program. this would also increase areas like scouts, pathways resources and coaching. This growth would see all boats rise with the tide of the club. Also is revenue that is ours to allocate how we best see is needed.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

@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.

It is just the Easter Monday vs Parramatta because of the revenue - I can't hide that the revenue from this game is vital to ensure we have the resources to support our growing football requirements.

in saying this though what I do not want to see in the future is the non-easter Monday matches vs the Eels. this is one that we don't need to do like we did this year.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

I hope they do not allow any of the soccer to set up,office anywhere near our nrl men or ladies , HBg would not surprise me to test it out ,

We don't have the space or the appetite - I do not see this happening.

 

[innsaneink]

you probably have seen that we have heavily advertised for a defensive coach. I can say that the candidates who have applied actually expressed their support for being able to contact the club direct rather than having to employ and agent just to get their resume on my desk.

Hey Shaun can you give an approximate of when the new defense coach will be announced?

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

What gets your rocks of about sports administration, there is easier paths

Apart from having a few screws loose I suppose when i was growing up sport through participation and support meant a lot to me. i made lifelong connections that had a massive impact on my life through tough times. If I can play a role in improving this club then i know that there will be many people that will smile more and possibly experience what i did. Thats worth the craziness.

 

[ShaunMielekamp]

Hey Shaun can you give an approximate of when the new defense coach will be announced?

They will start on Nov 1 - the announcement will be dependant on when the candidate also might want this to be announced - hopefully not too far away.,

 

[426Tlgerland]

Hi Shaun , as Ink above has asked , update on new defence coach Please and also are we getting attack coach as well or are we stuck with Hodgo and Heighno again , it’s ok to fix the defence but we still need attack to be way better , and are we looking to bring in help part time for our half’s ( Cooper Cronk , Andrew Johns type help

 

[Leck]

Hey Leck, one change (not the only one) but is a big focus on internal standards both on and off the pitch. This combined with some stability for the season will see us have better results.

Recruitment and retention whilst led by the names you have mentioned who have the lifelong football acumen still very much involves myself. I mainly aim to over-see the process and ensure alignment with the clubs strategy, it is my role to engage with the board and Chairman on key decisions. The salary cap is managed by our COO who hold the role as CFO - very experienced administrator who has been in the NRL for well over 14 years

This process is continually reviewed and adjusted where we find gaps or need other resources.

Thanks, but that’s a very political response. You said a lot without actually saying anything.

Can you please answer my initial question - How will you and HBG ensure we make the 8 in 2027?

I can guarantee that Tigers supporters are stunned that the Knights have gone from the wooden spoon to the grand final.

As fans, we’ve been waiting for similar success. However, each year seems to produce the same results.

So, what will actually change next year to ensure we see a different outcome?

 

[achilles]

Yep I have been working very hard in understanding at the most granular level how we got to where we are as a club and what are the factors that cause the handbrakes here. There is a lot and its easier to talk about than fix, I will continue to build through our strategy and long term planning to resolve and address many of these. I can say that the appointment of a coaching director is one of those key long term initiatives that will see the club build the playing style and culture that aligns right through the entore pathway.

How will that appointment help the fist grade team in the short term ?

Could you please explain the role and if it has any oversight with the first grade team?

 

[Littlebittipsy]

Hi Shaun. Why hasn’t the club released the departing players list? Seems all the other clubs have done this.