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But they found $300m for Penrith?
Good post.
Lol the tigers know what it's like to be a Labor politician, getting smashed by the dog Rupert and all the grubs on sky
A more cynical man would suggest that the 'Leichhardt Oval needs money for redevelopment' comes from 1 person only and that's Darcy Byrne. He's Labor aligned with the inner west greenies and doesn't want to put $1 into Leichhardt, knows it's a dump and wants the government to pay. Who do you call when it's time to bring up the issue? West Tigers, journalist loves it, it's bashing the tigers once again, Byrne doesn't get Football Australia (or whoever administers the A-Leagues) to attend the same media gab-fest. Point being, the next game following the Tigers V Sharks was the A-Leagues Women game on Sunday afternoon.
Richo basically said that on sen. Reckons the south West will increase in population by 500k over the next 20 years.
If that’s the attitude, they can all go for mine.Bateman tells Tigers he’s coming back as CEO lashes laughing players
By Michael Chammas
September 13, 2024 — 3.40pm
John Bateman’s agent has informed Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson of his client’s intention to return to the club for the next two seasons.
The Tigers had been privately hoping Bateman, who still has two years to run on his deal worth close to $600,000 a season, would remain in England or join another NRL club to free up a roster spot and salary cap space.
It comes as an irate Richardson lashed out at a group of injured and fringe NRL players in the aftermath of last week’s defeat to Parramatta in the “spoon bowl”.
Richardson noticed a number of players sitting in the players’ dugout laughing after the defeat consigned the Tigers to a third consecutive wooden spoon, prompting an angry response from the CEO.
Sources with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity in order to speak freely told this masthead that Richardson, who was also sitting in the designated Tigers dugout to the side of the tunnel, told players they should be embarrassed and at least pretend to care about the plight of the club.
The players who were sitting behind the Tigers’ bench included Brent Naden, Aidan Sezer, Justin Olam, Jayden Sullivan and Tallyn Da Silva. The fans sitting nearby allegedly heard the exchange between the CEO and the players.
A visibly angry Richardson also demanded the players make their way around the ground to thank the fans who had turned out to watch their team earn the dubious honour of finishing bottom of the ladder for the third year in a row. Richardson declined to comment when contacted on Friday.
In the days immediately after the team’s poor showing against the Eels at Campbelltown, the club received a phone call from Bateman’s agent, Isaac Moses, to clarify misconceptions around the veteran back-rower’s future given the widespread impression the Tigers did not want him next season.
Bateman, who signed a four-year deal at the start of 2023 when Tim Sheens was head coach of the Tigers, has struggled to live up to his price tag since returning to the NRL.
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He was granted permission to leave the Tigers mid-season to play under former England teammate Sam Burgess at Warrington in the Super League.
Richardson has a close relationship with Burgess from their time together at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Under the terms of the release, the Tigers had to terminate Bateman’s existing contract. Under NRL rules, any payouts would have had to go into this year’s salary cap.
The Tigers and Bateman then drew up a new contract to replicate the final two years on his deal. The NRL would not have approved the contract termination-renewal unless Bateman went into the salary cap for 2025 and 2026 at the value of the original deal.
The Tigers, who were willing to release Bateman to free up salary cap space this year, were hopeful he would decide not to return to the club after his stint in England.
But Moses this week contacted Richardson to confirm his client’s intention to see out the remaining two years of his contract.
Several Tigers players have been told they are free to explore options at rival clubs – including Sullivan, Naden and Charlie Staines – but are yet to secure deals elsewhere.
Bateman tells Tigers he’s coming back as CEO lashes laughing players
The Tigers had privately hoped John Bateman wouldn’t return from a stint in England. But his agent has told them the back-rower will return for the last two years of his contract.www.smh.com.au
The wretched isaac Moses is his manager which unfortunately means he will b returning
Re: Jack.
It’s not 2 or 300k, he’s on $750k, so unless someone takes him, we are stuck with a shut deal.
I guess we are all hoping Luai changes a lot of things for us when he arrives, we have a lot of good kids coming up, but imo, are still a year or two away from being ready.
