‘I don’t do Trumpian threats’: Wests Tigers threaten to walk away from Campbelltown Stadium unless funding demands are met

The Wests Tigers are ready to walk away from one of their spiritual homes unless their CEO’s $100 million demands are met.

The Wests Tigers are ready to walk away from Campbelltown Stadium unless they receive a $100 million commitment to upgrade facilities at one of their spiritual homes.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has gone public with the club’s demands amid concerns that Campbelltown Stadium doesn’t meet the standard expected for a professional rugby league team.

While Richardson made it clear the club wanted to continue playing games at Campbelltown Stadium, he also insisted they could not do it unless there was a firm commitment for investment in the venue.

“I don’t do a Trumpian thing of making a statement and then backing off,” Richardson said.

“I go straight up front honestly to people and tell them what we require for them to be part of what we are doing. We did that with Leichhardt Oval.

“We are well on track to be playing a number of games at Leichhardt (Oval). Then we get to the bigger picture and that is Campbelltown.

“We have made no secret of the fact that we are committed to the southwest. We have had lengthy discussions with the NRL, with Campbelltown, with the stakeholders in the area …. about Campbelltown Stadium and what we need to do to play there.

“Unless it improves, it is a very simple thing. As I said before, I don’t do Trumpian threats, we won’t play there. At the moment it is not at the standard required to be an NRL ground.

Shane Richardson says Campbelltown Stadium isn’t up to NRL standard.

“As the game continues to evolve, so must the Wests Tigers. If we want to compete at the highest level against other NRL clubs based in modern venues, we need to address the financial advantage those clubs currently have.

“The importance of a stadium can never be underestimated when you are trying to grow a club.”

The Tigers are scheduled to play four games at Campbelltown Stadium this season and Richardson said they wanted to host up to nine games every season across the NRL and NRLW over the decade.

However, for that to happen, he said money needed to be spent on the ground. Ideally, they want $50 million spent in the short term and $100 million over the next decade.

In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers said they needed to lock in a plan for the future by June 30.

The club added that if the commitment could not be given, they would need to reconsider their commitment to the stadium.

“The opportunity for Campbelltown is they have a team that wants to play there,” Richardson said.

“All they have to do is provide a stadium to a standard that we can make money out of. They are wanting to help us …. but the bottom line is it is time to deliver.

Wests Tigers have made no secret their future belongs in the south west of Sydney. Picture: Izhar Khan/Getty Images

“We want to lock in the number of games. Really I am telling you clearly up front, despite the talks and the assistance of the NRL, talk is cheap and things that aren’t signed off on don’t happen.

“We know where we are going with Leichhardt and the number of games we are going to play there. We have no idea what is going on with Campbelltown. No idea how much money is going to be spent.

“The reality is that the stadium must be locked in for an upgrade for us to lock in for any period of time. We want to do it. If we can’t do it we have a plan B and we will enact the plan B after June 30.”