WT Ownership, The Board & Senior Management - MEGA Thread

[The Fresh Oil]

It’s the last three years that are rock bottom… not the previous decade… 10 wins out of 60 games

Man, when you put it like that…

 

[finnzo]

To an extent, it’s kind of tough shit for them. They might not have been responsible for where we are at, but we are staring down the barrel of our 13th season in a row without finals. 3 in nearly 25 if you want to go a step further. Being told to be patient after that is laughable. And why should anyone have blind faith that things will magically improve. History is against this club in every way. I remember people telling me to be patient in 2014. 10 years later, how has that patience been rewarded? We’re in an even worse position.

Alright then what are you going to do? Start a petition to get richo sacked? Sack the coach after 1 poor start to a season? In reality we have to be patient we have no other choice

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Alright then what are you going to do? Start a petition to get richo sacked?

No? But I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’m tired of the lip service. I’d rather him say nothing than what he did say.

 

[Sco77y]

To an extent, it’s kind of tough shit for them. They might not have been responsible for where we are at, but we are staring down the barrel of our 13th season in a row without finals. 3 in nearly 25 if you want to go a step further. Being told to be patient after that is laughable. And why should anyone have blind faith that things will magically improve. History is against this club in every way. I remember people telling me to be patient in 2014. 10 years later, how has that patience been rewarded? We’re in an even worse position.

The plus, is that the only way we can do worse now is get booted out of the competition altogether.

 

[Tom Shines]

Alright then what are you going to do? Start a petition to get richo sacked? Sack the coach after 1 poor start to a season? In reality we have to be patient we have no other choice

It doesnt have to be all or nothing with Richo …he has just re-signed for 4 years so he is going no where …

He needs to spare us the BS to “be patient” and ”the juniors are coming soon”… we have heard that for years …meantime they have so little confidence in the juniors that they have the same 20 player pool being rotated from each week due to injury …including the repeatedly tried and failed plods like Toa , Naden and now back to Kepoa this week no doubt ….

 

[magpies forever]

I've no doubt that now he is permanent in his role, he and others are starting to put a line through those that just aren't cutting it in terms of the squad both NRL and State Cup. The coaching staff is another issue with Benji being new I don't see any changes to those he has picked in his first full year. What I don't recall seeing is a coaching director which can assist all the coaches. That could/ should be the next chess piece. Who though?

 

[innsaneink]

No? But I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’m tired of the lip service. I’d rather him say nothing than what he did say.

Yeh but then it's the old damned if you do... Damned if you iu don't

 

[liltiger]

Phill Gould often mentions once you start rebuilding the rite way it takes time and it doesn’t matter how long you have ahead failure before that. You have to start again even if you have failed for 10 years you still need to do it properly or it won’t work

10 years of terrible management has left us in a huge hole Richo has the shovel out and he’s just starting to dig our way out of it we just have to stick with him and give him time we have no other choice

How long do you think Richo gives Benji. All the players we signed want to play for him, but if at the end of next season results havnt improved, will Richo persevere with Benji for another 2 years ?

 

[InBulaWeTrust]

Successful development outline;
1. UpgradeBoard/Senior management ✔️
2. DevelopJunior pathways ✔️
3. RecruitCoaching team✔️
4. Update playing roster✔️
5. Results xxx
We’re on track but we really need to convert change to impact on the field.
( and yes I’ve left out home ground, sponsors, corporate etc but they all come through No 1).

Oh, and I forget, let’s change the jersey, that should do the trick - imho the whole jersey discussion on here is a woke crock of shit ! Sorry to you guys who worry continually about that sort of thing but it’s just fluff to me.

I wouldn't tick the number 1 then though, because our sponsorships aren't looking promising, we have a large chance of moving to accor for home ground which is going to be piss poor.

 

[Tom Shines]

I wouldn't tick the number 1 then though, because our sponsorships aren't looking promising, we have a large chance of moving to accor for home ground which is going to be piss poor.

Whats the issue with the sponsors ?

 

[cqtiger]

How long do you think Richo gives Benji. All the players we signed want to play for him, but if at the end of next season results havnt improved, will Richo persevere with Benji for another 2 years ?

My guess is Benji has next year to climb the ladder. If next year is result poor he may not see 2026

 

[Harvey]

Successful development outline;
1. UpgradeBoard/Senior management ✔️
2. DevelopJunior pathways ✔️
3. RecruitCoaching team✔️
4. Update playing roster✔️
5. Results xxx
We’re on track but we really need to convert change to impact on the field.
( and yes I’ve left out home ground, sponsors, corporate etc but they all come through No 1).

Oh, and I forget, let’s change the jersey, that should do the trick - imho the whole jersey discussion on here is a woke crock of shit ! Sorry to you guys who worry continually about that sort of thing but it’s just fluff to me.

Above all of this sit the same deficient owners. Deckchairs on the Titantic

 

[davey_farrell]

My guess is Benji has next year to climb the ladder. If next year is result poor he may not see 2026

yup my feelings exactly and to be fair that reasonable enough time for me

 

[Lestronge]

I agree with both of you in some respects. I don't believe there is any particular intention or agenda to keep certain teams down. I think any suggestions to this effect are ridiculous and cannot point to any reason WHY the NRL would benefit from having only certain teams ever do well.

But I do believe there is a mechanism in play that is gradually concentrating the talent at certain clubs and making it very difficult for the lower clubs to claw their way to the top. And it's not an intentional mechanism, it's a natural side-effect of the self-image focus of the current sports market - this includes elements like social media, personal sponsorship, geography, wage sacrifices.

It goes like this: I think modern players are increasingly focused on self-brand and career opportunities than the success of a specific club. So even though salary cap pressures do force some top players out of top clubs, overall the net movement is towards successful clubs because the players want to be "winners", rather than specifically creating an enduring club-focused legacy. In other words I don't think as many players want to win for their junior club as much as they want to win for themselves, their own brand and their mates.

I think if you look at the best players of previous eras, they are primarily one-club players and heavily identified by their club brand as much as their own career. For example Meninga, Daley, Johns, Bozo, Wayne Pearce, Lockyer, Gasnier, Churchill, Sterling, Dally M, King Wally, Thurston, Norm Provan etc.

But now? I think many more of the best players are less club-oriented. Not to say there are not top-tier one-club stalwarts, but many of the best players going around have split careers. For example Tedesco only just in 2024 has accrued more first-grade seasons at the Roosters than at Wests Tigers.

And because player salaries are at record levels, players can more afford to take pay cuts to stay at clubs where their playing conditions are superior. So if you choose to join a club like Tigers, you know for sure it's going to be a rough ride and the compensation needs to be big, which puts Tigers at a competitive disadvantage. Jerome Luai isn't joining Tigers because of his love for the club, he's doing it for his own brand and desire to breakout as a second-fiddle player at Penrith.

A similar thing plays out in the top soccer leagues, which have been experiencing talent consolidation for decades. Those top clubs aren't bound by salary cap like the NRL, but there is definitely a dollar-value to the prestige of playing for a top club and experiencing success and playing at the highest levels. Harry Kane didn't leave Tottenham because they couldn't afford him, he left to win trophies and gather personal glory.

Tedesco identified as a roosters player mate . It was well known that his family were mad roosters supporters . When they came knocking the lure of playing for his childhood club was too strong .
I think it’s why we got Luai and Turuva / Benji being thier hero .
But generally I think you are right .
I’d say we can blame Michael Jordan . He figured out a way to make a brand as a player bigger than a club and even the league itself . But the whole”I support players not clubs” stuff really shifted with Lebron /Ronaldo .

 

[liltiger]

My guess is Benji has next year to climb the ladder. If next year is result poor he may not see 2026

Reckon your right. Personally can't see Richo keeping Benji if results don't improve, Richo only has a 4 yr deal I can't see him wasting time if things aren't working out.

 

[Tom Shines]

Reckon you’re right. Personally can't see Richo keeping Benji if results don't improve, Richo only has a 4 yr deal I can't see him wasting time if things aren't working out.

So where do they need to finish next year to keep Benji?

The Top 8 is a pipe dream running back this team back plus Luia

 

[Spartan117]

Reckon your right. Personally can't see Richo keeping Benji if results don't improve, Richo only has a 4 yr deal I can't see him wasting time if things aren't working out.

Disagree, the previous management would crack. Not Richo.

I think benji will have the next 2 years to achieve improvements.

He is one of the reasons people are coming here.

 

[jadtiger]

Disagree, the previous management would crack. Not Richo.

I think benji will have the next 2 years to achieve improvements.

He is one of the reasons people are coming here.

Geez @jadtiger sorry to hear your health isnt good, hang in there champ.

I guess patience and hope is all we have, it does get bloody titing hearing it year after year...but what else can we do...other than quit

I didnt watch the whole game last weekend as I was a bit crook, 2nd half just checking for updates occasionally as weve seen it all before and I didnt need anything else making me feel worse

Agreed,Benji should have until near the end of 2026 until questions should to be asked.

 

[BAGNF05]

It’s great political speak. I remember as far back as 2007, we’d sign players, and the players would cite how we are a club on the up. Well aside from two years where finished top 4, we’ve made up the numbers ever since. I’m past the point of caring or thinking a CEO deserves credit for acknowledging the results aren’t acceptable. Same old song and dance.

Better than Gadget and Pascoe telling us we had a strong roster and a new gym so we’re sweet.

 

[BAGNF05]

the only green shoots I am seeing is the defence .. it’s something but not enough …their attack is as poor as ever .. and their.discipline non existent…

The make up of the squad worries me … too many plodders on the books the next two years…

We are two elite backline players (and improved squad depth) away from beating most teams in the comp. Stay the course. At least good players will come here now.