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In Fairyland:
Wests Tigers adamant they are on track for top four NRL finish in 2017
Adrian Proszenko
Published: July 25, 2015 - 2:57PM
Wests Tigers chair Marina Go is adamant the club can still achieve their lofty goal of becoming entrenched in the top four within three years despite the latest loss all but consigning the joint venture to its first wooden spoon.
The merged outfit recently released its three-year strategic plan for the period to 2017, with a raft of targets for performance on and off the field. Those included the ambition of making the top four and having 12 local juniors in the current squad, although the 16-page document went public before the Tigers discovered the full extent of its salary cap dramas. The club is over the limit for next year after years of rostering mismanagement, although the release of Keith Galloway to take up a three-year deal with Leeds in the Super League will provide some relief.
A string of losses, the latest to the Roosters on Friday night, have left the Tigers on the bottom rung of the ladder and will make their commercial goals of boosting membership and attendance even more difficult to achieve. However, Go is confident the club can emerge from a difficult period to fulfil all of its publicly stated objectives, including playing finals football in 2017.
"Yes, we believe we can still get there," Go said.
"We believe we have some of the best young talent in the game, everyone tells us that, we believe it and we are committed to that. We have great faith in our players. I know it's challenging because of where we sit on the ladder it is difficult for our members. Of course we want to go out there every week and win. We're also taking the long game with this.
"That's why [coach] Jason [Taylor] is committed to sticking with the team he's got because, if not, we won't have that winning team in three years, which is when we expect to have it.
"We are not wavering, we're not moving from our position of believing where we can get to. We believe in the group, we believe in our coach and we believe in where the business is heading.
"We always knew the first year was going to be tough and it has been. We were up for it and we're not afraid of [the challenge].
"We honestly believe in the future of these young guys. We want to make the finals in 2017, absolutely."
Complicating the cap issue is the fact that boom halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses are effectively free agents from November 1. The pair are signed until the end of 2017 but the final year of their contract is an option in their favour. They are entitled to $600,000 each in their final season should they exercise the option, with the big salaries an indication of the size of the gamble the Tigers have taken on them maturing into established playmakers.
While the political infighting between joint-venture partners Balmain and Western Suburbs is a thing of the past, there is still a leadership void at Wests Tigers. The club is yet to settle on a chief executive officer to replace Grant Mayer, with a shortlist of candidates expected to be prepared by the end of the week.
"The candidates have been amazing, it's really encouraging to see the quality of people who want to run our club," Go said.
"It's clearly a good brand and an opportunity a lot of people want and it's testament to the brand, the club and everyone who went before us."
Taylor said he was hopeful of negotiating releases for more players in coming weeks to alleviate salary cap pressures.
"[Galloway's departure] does help us with our salary cap issues," Taylor told Triple M. "Hopefully a bit more of that can happen between now and the end of the year."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...25-gikd52.html[FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]Real world of cut-throat results orientated club[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Newcastle sacks coach[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Newcastle have sacked coach Rick Stone, effective immediately, according to a club source, with Knights legend Danny Buderus replacing him at the helm.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Stone took the reins for his second stint as head coach this season after Wayne Bennett returned to Brisbane.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Knights started this season strongly but have experienced a massive form slump to sit in 14th place on the NRL ladder following Saturday night's 52-6 thumping at the hands of South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The club issued a statement on Monday which said Stone's position as head coach was "untenable".[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buderus will step in as interim coach until season's end while club officials work out who will get the role on a permanent basis next year.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"We thank Rick for his efforts and loyalty over a long period of time and while these decisions are never easy, it was made in the best interests of the club," CEO Matt Gidley said. "The club will now undertake a formal review process of our entire football operations, of which the playing group are a key part, and all have the opportunity to demonstrate over the next seven weeks why they should retain their position.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The club strives to build a consistent, competitive and entertaining team and this formal review process will help us achieve this."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/newcastle-knights/newcastle-knights-sack-coach-rick-stone-with-danny-buderus-his-replacement-20150727-gild2g.html#ixzz3h88iXzDv[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]After sacking coach gives players a dose of reality- perform or else[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Chief executive Matt Gidley will read the riot act to Knights players at training on Tuesday morning to express his disappointment in their lack of support for sacked coach Rick Stone.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley said Stone deserved better from his players during their miserable run of 12 losses from their past 14 games, culminating in a record 52-6 loss to Souths last Saturday night.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Knights directors discussed the coaching position in a telephone hook-up around 11am on Monday, during which they decided to sever ties with Stone and appoint Danny Buderus as caretaker coach for the rest of the season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley walked into Stone's office in the club's Mayfield headquarters around 1pm to deliver the unpalatable news in person, as he had promised during their regular discussions this year.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I can see deep down it hurts him, that he hasn't got a response from them, because there's nothing more that he could have done," Gidley said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He was at work again at six o'clock this morning trying to work out a way to turn things around, and we've had these conversations for a number of weeks now.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"But I think he's absolutely gutted that the players haven't responded to what he's been looking for them to achieve.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's the first in the office every day, without doubt. He's in his office most days at 6am.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He couldn't have done any more, he's got a wonderful work ethic, he cares deeply, but for whatever reason, the players haven't responded to that. I'm disappointed for him for that, and I'm very, very frustrated that the players haven't been able to buy into that."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Fairfax Media tried to contact Stone for comment but he did not reply to messages.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley's last season as a Knights player was in 2006 the year Stone joined the club as an assistant to Michael Hagan. They have maintained a friendship since then, and have worked together in the Knights' front office since Gidley returned from England in 2011.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Players were unaware of the events that were to unfold later in the day when they participated in beach games and a swim at a recovery session at Newcastle Beach on Monday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley said players were told of the decision shortly after he broke the news to Stone.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Because there was no training or team activity scheduled for Monday afternoon, some players were alerted via mainstream or social media but Gidley planned to address them in person before training on Tuesday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Though the finals were out of reach, Gidley said Stone was determined to turn the team's fortunes around in the last six weeks of the season, starting with the game against the Dragons at Jubilee Oval next Sunday.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He understands it's been a difficult season and we haven't been performing to our best," Gidley said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's been working as hard as he can to turn that around so we're both disappointed, because he deserved better performances from the team, and ultimately wasn't able to achieve that.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"In terms of his passion for the club, his care for the club and the hours that he put in, I think he deserved more consistent performances from the team.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Coaches back their players, and they're loyal to their players, but when the players aren't loyal back to you in terms of their performance, ultimately it's your job that's on the line, so he'll be disappointed that certain players haven't been able to repay his loyalty in them."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Meanwhile, back-up hooker Danny Levi will undergo scans on his jaw and he and winger James McManus will be assessed this week after suffering concussion in the loss to Souths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Halfback Tyrone Roberts was charged with a grade-one dangerous throw for his lifting tackle on Dylan Walker but if he pleads guilty he will escape suspension and be available for selection against the Dragons.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="][FONT="]http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/newcastle-knights/newcastle-knights-players-on-notice-after-coach-rick-stone-sacked-20150727-gilpmi.html#ixzz3h88yRNvO[/FONT][/FONT]
Wests Tigers adamant they are on track for top four NRL finish in 2017
Adrian Proszenko
Published: July 25, 2015 - 2:57PM
Wests Tigers chair Marina Go is adamant the club can still achieve their lofty goal of becoming entrenched in the top four within three years despite the latest loss all but consigning the joint venture to its first wooden spoon.
The merged outfit recently released its three-year strategic plan for the period to 2017, with a raft of targets for performance on and off the field. Those included the ambition of making the top four and having 12 local juniors in the current squad, although the 16-page document went public before the Tigers discovered the full extent of its salary cap dramas. The club is over the limit for next year after years of rostering mismanagement, although the release of Keith Galloway to take up a three-year deal with Leeds in the Super League will provide some relief.
A string of losses, the latest to the Roosters on Friday night, have left the Tigers on the bottom rung of the ladder and will make their commercial goals of boosting membership and attendance even more difficult to achieve. However, Go is confident the club can emerge from a difficult period to fulfil all of its publicly stated objectives, including playing finals football in 2017.
"Yes, we believe we can still get there," Go said.
"We believe we have some of the best young talent in the game, everyone tells us that, we believe it and we are committed to that. We have great faith in our players. I know it's challenging because of where we sit on the ladder it is difficult for our members. Of course we want to go out there every week and win. We're also taking the long game with this.
"That's why [coach] Jason [Taylor] is committed to sticking with the team he's got because, if not, we won't have that winning team in three years, which is when we expect to have it.
"We are not wavering, we're not moving from our position of believing where we can get to. We believe in the group, we believe in our coach and we believe in where the business is heading.
"We always knew the first year was going to be tough and it has been. We were up for it and we're not afraid of [the challenge].
"We honestly believe in the future of these young guys. We want to make the finals in 2017, absolutely."
Complicating the cap issue is the fact that boom halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses are effectively free agents from November 1. The pair are signed until the end of 2017 but the final year of their contract is an option in their favour. They are entitled to $600,000 each in their final season should they exercise the option, with the big salaries an indication of the size of the gamble the Tigers have taken on them maturing into established playmakers.
While the political infighting between joint-venture partners Balmain and Western Suburbs is a thing of the past, there is still a leadership void at Wests Tigers. The club is yet to settle on a chief executive officer to replace Grant Mayer, with a shortlist of candidates expected to be prepared by the end of the week.
"The candidates have been amazing, it's really encouraging to see the quality of people who want to run our club," Go said.
"It's clearly a good brand and an opportunity a lot of people want and it's testament to the brand, the club and everyone who went before us."
Taylor said he was hopeful of negotiating releases for more players in coming weeks to alleviate salary cap pressures.
"[Galloway's departure] does help us with our salary cap issues," Taylor told Triple M. "Hopefully a bit more of that can happen between now and the end of the year."
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...25-gikd52.html[FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]Real world of cut-throat results orientated club[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Newcastle sacks coach[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Newcastle have sacked coach Rick Stone, effective immediately, according to a club source, with Knights legend Danny Buderus replacing him at the helm.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Stone took the reins for his second stint as head coach this season after Wayne Bennett returned to Brisbane.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The Knights started this season strongly but have experienced a massive form slump to sit in 14th place on the NRL ladder following Saturday night's 52-6 thumping at the hands of South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The club issued a statement on Monday which said Stone's position as head coach was "untenable".[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Buderus will step in as interim coach until season's end while club officials work out who will get the role on a permanent basis next year.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"We thank Rick for his efforts and loyalty over a long period of time and while these decisions are never easy, it was made in the best interests of the club," CEO Matt Gidley said. "The club will now undertake a formal review process of our entire football operations, of which the playing group are a key part, and all have the opportunity to demonstrate over the next seven weeks why they should retain their position.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The club strives to build a consistent, competitive and entertaining team and this formal review process will help us achieve this."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/newcastle-knights/newcastle-knights-sack-coach-rick-stone-with-danny-buderus-his-replacement-20150727-gild2g.html#ixzz3h88iXzDv[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]After sacking coach gives players a dose of reality- perform or else[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Chief executive Matt Gidley will read the riot act to Knights players at training on Tuesday morning to express his disappointment in their lack of support for sacked coach Rick Stone.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley said Stone deserved better from his players during their miserable run of 12 losses from their past 14 games, culminating in a record 52-6 loss to Souths last Saturday night.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Knights directors discussed the coaching position in a telephone hook-up around 11am on Monday, during which they decided to sever ties with Stone and appoint Danny Buderus as caretaker coach for the rest of the season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley walked into Stone's office in the club's Mayfield headquarters around 1pm to deliver the unpalatable news in person, as he had promised during their regular discussions this year.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I can see deep down it hurts him, that he hasn't got a response from them, because there's nothing more that he could have done," Gidley said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He was at work again at six o'clock this morning trying to work out a way to turn things around, and we've had these conversations for a number of weeks now.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"But I think he's absolutely gutted that the players haven't responded to what he's been looking for them to achieve.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's the first in the office every day, without doubt. He's in his office most days at 6am.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He couldn't have done any more, he's got a wonderful work ethic, he cares deeply, but for whatever reason, the players haven't responded to that. I'm disappointed for him for that, and I'm very, very frustrated that the players haven't been able to buy into that."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Fairfax Media tried to contact Stone for comment but he did not reply to messages.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley's last season as a Knights player was in 2006 the year Stone joined the club as an assistant to Michael Hagan. They have maintained a friendship since then, and have worked together in the Knights' front office since Gidley returned from England in 2011.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Players were unaware of the events that were to unfold later in the day when they participated in beach games and a swim at a recovery session at Newcastle Beach on Monday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Gidley said players were told of the decision shortly after he broke the news to Stone.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Because there was no training or team activity scheduled for Monday afternoon, some players were alerted via mainstream or social media but Gidley planned to address them in person before training on Tuesday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Though the finals were out of reach, Gidley said Stone was determined to turn the team's fortunes around in the last six weeks of the season, starting with the game against the Dragons at Jubilee Oval next Sunday.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He understands it's been a difficult season and we haven't been performing to our best," Gidley said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"He's been working as hard as he can to turn that around so we're both disappointed, because he deserved better performances from the team, and ultimately wasn't able to achieve that.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"In terms of his passion for the club, his care for the club and the hours that he put in, I think he deserved more consistent performances from the team.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Coaches back their players, and they're loyal to their players, but when the players aren't loyal back to you in terms of their performance, ultimately it's your job that's on the line, so he'll be disappointed that certain players haven't been able to repay his loyalty in them."[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Meanwhile, back-up hooker Danny Levi will undergo scans on his jaw and he and winger James McManus will be assessed this week after suffering concussion in the loss to Souths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Halfback Tyrone Roberts was charged with a grade-one dangerous throw for his lifting tackle on Dylan Walker but if he pleads guilty he will escape suspension and be available for selection against the Dragons.[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="][FONT="]http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/newcastle-knights/newcastle-knights-players-on-notice-after-coach-rick-stone-sacked-20150727-gilpmi.html#ixzz3h88yRNvO[/FONT][/FONT]
