Long-suffering Wests Tigers fans are taking strong action this week after the latest in a decade-long string of debacles, this time a 0-74 loss at the hands of the North Queensland Cowboys – a club they have matched up well with historically, most notably in their famous 2005 Grand Final victory.
The records came thick and fast on Saturday night as the Cowboys piled on 13 unanswered tries. The Tigers were without playmakers Api Koroisau and Luke Brooks, but not even that can excuse a lacklustre effort.
Questions must be answered about club culture as similar performances are repeated regularly. Last year, the Roosters beat Wests 72-6 in an eerily similar match.
Since they last tasted playoffs in 2011 it has been a stretch of dark seasons and dark weekends for fans.
In a show of their growing anger and frustration, a group of fans have set up an online petition asking the club’s owners to bring in an outside expert to review where it’s all gone wrong under CEO Justin Pascoe’s custodianship. Hundreds of fans have so far signed on.
Fans are especially unhappy at this latest form rut. Just a few weeks ago, the constant media scrutiny had somewhat eased after encouraging signs from the perennial strugglers, beating premiers Penrith, St George Illawarra and then the Cowboys in a 66-18 rout at Leichhardt Oval, one of their many home venues.
But the month since has been a predictable return to the misery Wests Tigers fans are so accustomed to. I won’t repeat the many failings of the leadership at Wests Tigers which have been documented too many times and rugby league fans don’t need a woeful history lesson.
Maligned halfback Luke Brooks recently joined this list of players to opt for another jersey over the black and gold one he has toiled in for so long.
Fans are now demanding to know why the club is so consistently poor. Players and coaches continue to cycle through the establishment, while the club’s main decision makers always escape unscathed.
There is anger that the plan communicated by the club is often changed shortly thereafter, leaving the supporter group more and more disillusioned.
The recent decision to undermine head coach Tim Sheens by replacing his trusted recruiting guru Warren McDonnell was the latest in a pattern of bewildering decisions.
Unlike some other clubs, Wests Tigers don’t allow their fans any voting rights when it comes to their decision makers. Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis this week asked supporters to “keep faith” following the club suffering the third worst loss in Australian rugby league history.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
With all due respect Mr Hagipantelis, I know many supporters lost faith in our administration years ago and they have lost trust in yourself and your peers to correct the position the club is in.
If you’d like, sign the petition to hopefully pressure the club into finding some answers.
The Tigers play Cronulla tomorrow night and will do so without recognised first grade halves, the most important position in the team. They don’t have anyone to fill those positions on their books for next year.
This alone would be enough for any strong club to turn the microscope on itself.
…Written by a 10 year Wests Tigers member and lifelong fan.
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