Filtering Down Within the Ranks - By Kat

@LadiesWhoLeague have had a massive day today so a big thank you to everyone who has made what we have achieved so far, possible. We have had some fantastic posts on the site and over 8000 visitors in less than 2 months. Thank you everyone for visiting and enjoying us.

Today, @mary__kaye was also featured on @theroarsports - you can read her story here. We were also featured on @WeLoveLeague. You can read that story here. We also welcomed two new bloggers to our family, Sharon and Kat.

Kat was a bit apprehensive about writing this story, so make sure you send her a message on twitter at @kat9379 to let her know how much you loved it.

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This is my very first blog and to be perfectly honest, I’m very daunted by it. I suppose it’s because I’ve always been a pretty private person but by writing I’m putting my thoughts and opinions on display for people to agree/disagree with or simply comment on. Anyway, here goes. I hope it’s OK and generates even a small amount of interest.

I’ve deliberately avoided twitter over the last few days because I had become fed up reading about all the negativity surrounding the Wests Tigers recently. I couldn’t scroll through my timeline without reading discrediting reports about the club, coach and players. Even fans began to turn on each other out of sheer frustration at what appears to be internal dissention impacting upon all involved especially results on the field.

Money creates power but can also be the sole cause of conflict. I will refer to this statement later on in my blog.

In any organisational structure when there is a lack of unity at the top then ill feeling filters down through the ranks. I firmly believe this has been the case at the Wests Tigers which has ultimately contributed to poor on field performances.

The governance of the Wests Tigers is made up of 50% from the Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club and 50% from the Balmain Tigers DRLFC.

In order to make Wests Tigers a solid, robust, competitive rugby league club that appeals to both coaches and players alike, a strong internal governing body is imperative. It would seem however that this joint venture is souring, where one party claims to be outlaying more funds than the other causing feelings of unfairness and resentment, which brings me back to my earlier point of money creating power but also conflict.

Ideally, from the onset, the Board should have comprised of members who had a vested interest in Wests Tigers rather than in the separate entities that presently make up the governing body. Having separate entities is just a recipe for division and until Wests Tigers is seen as a whole from its Board members, this division will always rear its head.

Due to the dysfunctional dealings and attitudes from the powers that be, the rifts have spilt out and affected all concerned within the club. In this instance, it has been Mick Potter who has had to unfairly endure the majority of the flack but the issues most certainly go above and beyond the rookie NRL coach. The issues are stemming from the governing body and working their way down the hierarchy. It has been unfortunate that Potter has been made the scapegoat and copped the blame for conflict beyond his control.

That said, Mick Potter’s mission of taking over the reigns as head coach was always going to be an arduous task. His predecessor, Tim Sheens, had almost become part of the furniture. Players, personnel and fans had become familiar with the “Sheens way” but like all things, permanence is an illusion and change was inevitable but I’m sure there would have been some resistance.

To dismiss Potter however because it’s the easiest option would be terribly unjust. He is responsible for the first grade squad but he is not responsible for the kerfuffle within the boardroom. Perhaps this needs sorting first because the reality is that until issues are resolved from the top down; the Wests Tigers will always be a club that struggles on the field, a club that will not entice elite players or coaches.

Thanks for reading.

Love,

@LadiesWhoLeague