Shane Richardson has been appointed as the full-time Wests Tigers chief executive on a four-year deal, ending speculation he could return to South Sydney.
Richardson was appointed in an interim capacity in December after wholesale changes were made at the joint venture following an independent review. The Tigers were keen to extend the services of the former Rabbitohs, Panthers and Sharks boss amid conjecture Souths were keen to lure him back.
There has been speculation the Rabbitohs were considering making a play for Wayne Bennett should they part company with embattled coach Jason Demetriou. Bennett and Richardson have a close relationship and there were suggestions the premiership-winning mentor would only consider a return if he was reunited with the veteran administrator.
However, that has been put to bed after Richardson made a long-term commitment to the Tigers.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me to assist this club win its second premiership, and I look forward to working with [coach] Benji [Marshall] and the team to achieve that goal,” Richardson said in a statement.
“Wests Tigers is a family club with fiercely loyal members and a huge supporter base.
Shane Richardson speaks after opening the Tigers’ new Campbelltown office earlier this month.Credit: Oscar Colman
“We’re on a journey, come with us.”
Earlier this month, Richardson delivered the club with a strategic plan for the next two years and will now get the chance to oversee it. In it, he stated an ambition to surpass Penrith as the world’s greatest junior nursery, as well as to become a top-four club.
The Tigers are coming off back-to-back NRL wooden spoons but have been active in the player market, luring three-time Penrith premiership-winning playmaker Jarome Luai to Concord from next season.
This week they also added Luai’s teammate Sunia Turuva to the roster from next year.
Coached by former player Marshall, the Tigers sit outside the finals spots heading into their round-eight clash with Brisbane on Saturday, but have already banked two wins this season – half of their returns from both the 2022 and 2023 seasons after just seven starts.
Interim Tigers chair and former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell described Richardson’s appointment as a “no-brainer”.
“Shane has done a tremendous job since taking over as Interim CEO, impressing supporters, staff and sponsors,” O’Farrell said.
“It was a no-brainer for the board to secure his services for the future. No club can afford to let champions go, whether on the field or in the front office.”
More to come
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