New Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson faces some huge decisions after taking on the NRL’s toughest job

If Wests Tigers are fair dinkum about becoming an NRL powerhouse, Shane Richardson has some huge decisions to make. Starting with - where the club should be based.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, DECEMBER 13, 2023 Wests Tigers Media Conference with new interim chief executive, Shane Richardson, addressing the media for the first time since the board was swept out in a radical overhaul. Picture: David Swift

If Shane Richardson is fair dinkum about making Wests Tigers an NRL powerhouse he has to bite the bullet and start the transition to make Campbelltown the club’s permanent base.

It’s an absolute no-brainer to jump in boots and all and take advantage of the growth in Sydney’s south-west, instead of continually trying to please everyone by training out of the ridiculously situated $75 million centre of excellence at Concord, while dividing games between two outdated grounds at Leichhardt and Campbelltown.

Here we examine the burning issues facing Wests Tigers.

1. SHOULD RICHO’S FIRST JOB BE HEAD-HUNTING HIS OWN SUCCESSOR?

Smart people around the game reckon it’s going to take at least two or three years to get the Tigers back on the road to sustained success, not six months.

Taking that into account, Richardson is also not getting any younger (he’s believed to be aged somewhere in his 70s). And as it did with Sheens (who is 73) you can guarantee this job is going to test his stamina.

That is why Richardson will also have to seriously consider immediately headhunting an experienced head of football, and training him up to potentially take over.

A feeling of disappointment is something Wests Tigers players and fans know all too well. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

The name that continues to be linked to a Tigers return is current Parramatta football boss Mark O’Neill, who is also a former premiership-winning teammate of Benji Marshall’s.

There is no question Richardson has the track record that suggests he could be the Tigers’ best buy in 20 years, since Tim Sheens took over in 2003 and led the club to its first and only premiership in 2005.

Richardson is a proven winner with the well-documented background of transforming clubs from turmoil to success.

He did it at Cronulla, Penrith, Hull in the Super League, and at South Sydney.

But don’t be fooled by Richardson downplaying the enormity of the job during his opening shootout with the media this week.

The reality is Richardson arrives on the back of 12 seasons of the club not playing finals football, which has resulted in the demise of six head coaches, capped off by back-to-back wooden spoons.

And regardless of how good Richardson is, he is not a miracle worker who can simply stride in and knock over this job in six months, which is the initial term he has signed up for.

One of Wests Tigers' home grounds at Campbelltown Stadium. Picture: NRL Imagery

2. CONCORD AND LEICHHARDT V CAMPBELLTOWN

Tigers fans are entitled to ask what was the point of building a $75 million centre of excellence at Concord when it has been clear for some years that the growth in Sydney’s south-west market is the future?

The independent review carried out by Tony Crawford has even identified that there has been a lack of progress in this region, not that it comes as any great surprise.

The Tigers have been working on establishing a junior academy/centre of excellence at Campbelltown for some time.

The famous hill at Leichhardt Oval has a great history, but is it the future? Picture: NRL Imagery

But it has to go beyond that and really prove to the people of the area that they are serious about making a statement, not only to the junior talent but the community.

It’s all well and good banging on about the tradition of Leichhardt but it is no good wanting to be a development club if you don’t have the huge presence within the area on a day-to-day basis, as a club like Penrith does in its community.

3. IDENTIFYING AND KEEPING THE TALENT

Everyone talks about the great kids to come through at the Tigers and Magpies, and right now they have a ripper crop with the likes of Lachlan Galvin, Josh Feledy and Tallyn Da Silva leading the charge.

But it is no use developing these outstanding kids if you don’t keep them.

Think James Tedesco. Ryan Papenhuyzen. Mitchell Moses. Aaron Woods when he was still a Test prop. Now Luke Brooks.

Benji Marshall watches young guns Lachlan Galvin (right) and Will Craig at pre-season training. Picture: Tigers

Richardson said on Wednesday you have to create a pathway that doesn’t put a roadblock in front of the best talent, and they should be the priority to build the future around.

The trouble is for too long too many talented young players have had their spirit broken by a club that has set them up for failure by not having the required experience and structures around them.

4. IS BENJI THE REAL DEAL?

Depending on who you listen to, Marshall is a super coach in the making, or he has been thrown in way ahead of his time and is just not ready for this challenge so early in his career.

Even so-called rookie coaches like Cameron Ciraldo and Craig Fitzgibbon have had a hell of a lot more experience than Marshall who only retired from playing in 2021.

Now, with a year working under Sheens, he’s been handed the game’s toughest coaching gig.

Marshall has the personality and background to make a successful transition, but that often takes years to get right.

Benji Marshall is a young coach with a huge job. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

So while Richardson came out this week and said he would give Marshall all the support he needs, how long will the Tigers be able to remain patient if things don’t turn around in 2024?

Richardson also has a proven history of making the tough calls when things don’t work out.

You only need to think back to Michael Maguire’s term at the Rabbitohs.

Maguire was basically assured a job for life after the 2014 premiership. But within three years was punted to make way for Anthony Seibold.

5. CAN BENJI AND FULTON CO-EXIST?

It’s not the fault of either Marshall or head of recruitment Scott Fulton that they have struggled to get along so far because they had this relationship forced upon them. Fulton was appointed by the previous management without the consultation of either Sheens or Marshall.

Regardless, it’s no secret the two are still butting heads despite what the club would love you to believe.

You also have to wonder how Richardson will go working with Fulton given Richardson’s hands-on type of management, backed up by the comment during the week that he won’t sign a player that Marshall doesn’t want at the club.

We all know Marshall and Fulton haven’t always seen eye-to-eye when it comes to recruitment and retention, but this suggests the coach is now holding the position of power.

Does that make Fulton vulnerable?

Time will tell.