New Tigers’ interim CEO Shaun Mielekamp has called for unity and backed Benji Marshall’s long-term extension as club fans plan to march amid the turmoil the club has brought on itself.
On Saturday fans and members will front up for a march against the Holman Barnes Group after their decision to sack four directors, who have since been re-instated, and CEO Shane Richardson.
Speaking with The Sydney Morning Herald, newly appointed interim CEO Mielekamp called for the club and the fans to stick together.
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“There’s a collective agreement that Benji is vital in keeping the unity and stability of the club, and we’re backing him,” Mielekamp told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The reason I’ve got confidence is everybody I’ve met – every board and every stakeholder – they all want the same thing.”
Marshall will be the club’s coach until 2030 after inking a three-year extension on his existing deal, but they also need star spine players Jahream Bula and Jarome Luai to commit long-term.
“It’s at the top of the pile,” Mielekamp said of Luai and Bula.
“We’ve got two guys who want to be here, who want to be with the coach.
“We’ve got good people, so I’m sure that things will work out pretty positively. Let’s just take a breath and just move forward.”
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Despite being appointed interim CEO, Mielekamp is focused on being at the club for the long-haul and turning it around.
“I’m really excited about the interim role, and I’m going to really lean into it and embrace that,” Mielekamp said.
“It is in my DNA, so I will work extremely hard and of course I want to do such a good job that it’s impossible for me not to be the CEO long-term.
“What I do know is if I do a tremendous job and they appoint someone else, they’re going to be brilliant because they’re going to have to do a better job than what I’ve done.
“But absolutely – do I see that I’m going to deliver so well in this job that I’ll be the long-term CEO? That’s the goal.”
“I was put off!”: Benji on new deal | 07:37
However, the club reinstating the directors and appointing Mielekamp won’t stop the fans marching on Saturday.
Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne has confirmed Saturday’s ‘Save the Wests Tigers’ rally will proceed.
Byrne says the return of the board members “represents no improvement at all” as the HBG are set to maintain a majority representation on the board with the fourth board member, Charlie Viola not expected to return to his role.
“Saturday’s rally to save Wests Tigers will proceed with a demand for real change and a real say for fans at the club,” Byrne said on SEN radio.
“The reported reinstatement of the sacked independent directors to Wests Tigers board will make zero difference to the governance of Wests Tigers if the board is stacked with a majority of Holman Barnes Group appointees.
“Without a majority-independent board of Wests Tigers, this manoeuvre is just a fig-leaf to cover up the coup that has been conducted by the powerbrokers at Holman-Barnes Group.
“Or to put it another way, Holman-Barnes Group seem to be trying to put lipstick on a pig.
“While, if confirmed, this is an acknowledgment of how appalling the treatment of the sacked independent directors was, reappointing them to a board which they no longer have any control over is meaningless.
Tigers to return sacked board members | 00:39
“These independent directors would simply be toothless tigers, and this would leave Wests Tigers in the same chaotic and dysfunctional state.
“Our rally to save Wests Tigers will proceed this Saturday at Pratten Park from 10:30am because without real change, the team we love will be out the back door.”
On Friday Mielekamp took the step of calling members to listen to their concerns after some asked for money back on their memberships for 2026.
“I’ve actually spent all morning calling members, every second I get a gap,” he said.
“I’ll call every member that’s asked for a refund, that’s written in and made a complaint. I’ve got through some, I’ve got a lot to get to.
“My message to the members is every member can come and meet me directly. As part of your membership you do have a voice and you have the opportunity to come and meet me … All our members want the same thing. So let’s communicate.”
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