for what its worth i did ask chatGPT plus this prompt: how would you fix wests tigers if you took over as ceo
and this is what i received:
Fixing the Wests Tigers as CEO is a massive but not impossible task—it would require strong leadership, ruthless honesty, long-term vision, and short-term accountability. Here’s a structured plan for turning the club around:
🔧 STEP 1:
1.
- Clean out ineffective board members and streamline decision-making.
- Appoint a Head of Football with premiership experience, not ex-players on sentiment.
- Rebuild a functional front office with data-driven executives (see Penrith or Brisbane models).
2.
- Are we Balmain or Western Suburbs? Decide.
- Rebuild a unified culture—new mission, values, and identity.
- Commit to being either a development club (Penrith-style) or an aggressive recruitment club (Roosters-style). Not both.
🏋️ STEP 2:
1.
- Hire a modern tactical coach—someone who understands man management and analytics.
- Back the coach fully with non-negotiables: no interference, but performance benchmarks must be hit.
2.
- Appoint an elite head of recruitment with runs on the board.
- Fix the pathway leaks. Too many juniors leave (e.g., Josh Addo-Carr, Ryan Papenhuyzen).
- Stop overpaying for average players. Tear up the old contract culture.
3.
- Clean out toxic elements.
- Identify future leaders (e.g., Apisai Koroisau, if he buys in) and build around them.
🌱 STEP 3:
- Partner heavily with Western Sydney schools and clubs.
- Invest in junior coaching, mentorship programs, and education.
- Build a West Sydney Centre of Excellence for juniors.
- Make staying at Tigers the dream—create a Penrith-style loyalty pipeline.
💰 STEP 4:
- Rebuild trust with transparency: regular CEO updates, open fans forums.
- Fix Leichhardt and Campbelltown split—play strategically at both but push for a long-term home base.
- Target new sponsorship via Western Sydney business networks.
- Improve game-day experience (cheap tickets, family zones, fan interaction).
🧠 STEP 5:
- Invest in sports science, recovery, analytics, and mindset coaching.
- Players must meet strict fitness, discipline, and off-field standards.
- Build a winning mentality—reward effort, not just talent.
⏳ Measurable Goals
- Year 1: Off-field reset, talent pathways realigned, recruitment improved.
- Year 2: Outside finals but with clear signs of improvement (10–12 wins).
- Year 3: Play finals footy.
- Year 5: Become a top-4 club with stable leadership and elite pathways.
❌ No-Go Tactics
- No ex-players coaching without credentials (nostalgia is killing the club).
- No panic signings.
- No blaming the media or fans—take accountability.
TL;DR: Rebuild leadership, define identity, overhaul recruitment, develop juniors, reconnect with fans, and build a culture of elite standards.
