NRL 2023: Under-fire Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe still has ‘full support of the board’ | What’s the Buzz
They’re about to cop a second straight wooden spoon, but Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe still has the full support of the board despite a decade of failure, writes Phil Rothfield.
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“We are embarrassed by what appears to be two consecutive wooden spoons.”
So says Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, yet in the same breath he launched a defiant defence of embattled chief executive Justin Pascoe despite a decade of failure.
“Justin has the full support of the board,” Hagipantelis said.
This is a remarkable show of support amid calls from angry members who want Pascoe gone.
The Wests Tigers have for too long been an NRL basket case.
In the past 14 months, they have had four coaches – Michael Maguire, Brett Kimmorley, Tim Sheens and now Benji Marshall.
No wonder departing player Luke Brooks said last week: “I don’t really know who makes the decisions here.”
Despite roster improvements, they’ve lost 29 of 33 games since Maguire was sacked.
Yet Hagipantelis refuses to apportion any of the blame to Pascoe.
“I accept that he’s been the CEO of a club that has performed poorly for a decade,” he said.
“That can’t be denied, but is that sufficient grounds in itself?
“There’s no argument Justin has been here a long time and we haven’t had success for a long time.
“What role has Justin played? The board appoints and terminates coaches, not him. Recruitment and retention are the coaches.
“The coaches made the decision to move (Jackson) Hastings on, not Justin or the board.
“He gets the blame for things in areas where he has no authority.
“There are no assurances or guarantees in life, but at the moment Justin is fulfilling the expectations of the board in the role that he plays.”
Hagipantelis also says he has no plans to quit.
“Until we see this through and enjoy premiership success, I’m not going anywhere,” he insists.
“I’ve never quit in my life. Getting the first wooden spoon in our history was bad enough, let alone compounding that with a second.
“We take heart that other clubs have managed to turn it around very quickly.
“The Broncos won the wooden spoon in 2020. They made some strategic changes and now they are competing for a premiership.
“There’s no reason to suggest we can’t do that ourselves.”
MEDIA BUZZ
Adam Peacock, Age 45
Code and Channel 7
First job? Delivering the old afternoon edition of the Telegraph Mirror through the streets of Brookvale as a paperboy.
Sporting Heroes? Never let down by the way Roger Federer played tennis and carried himself. Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer and Cliffy Lyons are honourable mentions.
What league team do you follow? Manly Sea Eagles tragic. Grew up near Brookvale Oval and even the bad days were good on the hill. Also, forever and always Newcastle Utd (EPL), Socceroos and Matildas!
What sports did you play growing up? Everything, but a lot of touch footy, soccer and cricket as a kid. Worked out really early on I was only going to get paid reporting on sport, not playing it.
How do you spend a day off? Start with a coffee, check out the beach, hopefully time for a hit of golf, but most likely driving the kids somewhere.
Career highlights? Recency bias, yes, but covering the past two World Cups for Code Sports. Watching the Socceroos pull off the impossible in Qatar, and now in our own backyard watching the Matildas inspire a nation.
CHANNEL 10 CUP BLUNDER
Lots of questions are being asked internally at Channel 10 about the network’s failure to secure the TV rights to show for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Channel 10 has a five-year $200 million deal to cover the A League and W League competitions in conjunction with Paramount+.
That agreement has been a complete flop with terrible ratings.
Ten’s TV deal includes coverage of the Socceroos and Matildas games, outside of World Cup finals.
SBS stepped in for the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar and Channel 7 grabbed the Women’s World Cup.
Seven boss James Warburton picked up the World Cup rights for under $5 million.
The coverage has been a smash hit ratings success.
Channel 10 was offered the rights along with Nine and Seven but wouldn’t go above $4 million — a paltry amount compared to its A League spend.
ONLY WINNING CAN STOP NEGATIVITY
Eddie Jones has been around rugby union for a long time.
He should know better than most that the media will always point the blowtorch at underperforming sporting outfits, their coaches and officials.
Ask Brad Fittler, Greg Alexander or Tim Sheens.
In January this year Jones signed up as coach of the Wallabies, negotiating secretly behind Dave Rennie’s back to get the gig. He’s had four games for four losses.
On Thursday journalists at Sydney airport grilled Jones as he left for the World Cup.
The line of questioning was strong but fair.
Jones’ response was: “I know what’s wrong with Australian rugby and you blokes are part of the problem because you’re so bloody negative.”
And he kept going: “Thanks for the worst press conference I’ve ever had in world rugby. Give yourselves an uppercut.”
He then toddled off to jump on his plane for Europe.
Whether Jones gets the positive press that he craves will be determined by one thing – and it’s called winning.
Australian Rugby is now struggling to survive as a mainstream sport. It is so far behind NRL, AFL and now soccer it’s not funny.
Next time he heads overseas there might not be any media there due to a lack of interest.
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