Tigers’ legend Steve Roach admits he has nearly lost all emotion and faith in the club amid their continuing infighting, which is hurting their chances of success on the field.
There is no prouder Tigers supporter than Roach, who played 185 games for the club and lost two Grand Finals, while also playing 17 Origins for the Blues and 20 Tests for the Kangaroos.
But the latest board saga, which has seen four board members sacked before being reinstated in a remarkable backflip and CEO Shane Richardson forced out, has made Roach pessimistic about the chances of the joint venture club getting it right off the field.
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Speaking on The Fox League Podcast before the decision to reinstate the directors was reported, Roach lamented he has nearly lost all hope for the club to return to its glory days.
“You know what I am almost run out of emotion,” Roach said on the Fox League Podcast.
“Do you know what I mean? I’m all of a sudden rats ass about it, to tell you the honest truth. It’s been going on for so long now and nothing’s gonna change.
“I do believe that the Holman Barnes group has 90% of the ownership. I don’t know how they’re gonna change it.”
Roach believes the biggest losers in the messy board saga are the players, the coach and the fans, who work so hard to take pride in their team.
“Look, the people I feel for is Benji Marshall, the team and the fans,” Roach said.
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“Now, the fans marching is a great idea, but for what reason? If someone owns 90% of something, boy, it’s not gonna make any difference.
“It’s the same as the fans asking for some money back after they’ve got their membership.
“Do you think the Barnes-Holman group care about it?
“Now you understand why I’m worn out. I’m like everyone, I’m a fan. But I feel for the players, I feel for Benji, I feel for the fans.”
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Roach is furious that the Holman Barnes Group are allowed to operate under the name of a club great and still do things to destabilise the Tigers from within.
“The thing that really gets me down is this would not be happening if Keith Barnes was running it and they’re using his name, the Barnes Holman group,” Roach said.
“And no one’s ever said this, but I’m gonna say it. He was like a father figure to all of us. He kept us all together. He was a wonderful mentor for us all.
“There was always harmony in the club and none of this back-fighting and infighting and getting rid of directors.
“I believe that they paid to get these independent directors in. A lot of money to get them in, and then they sacked them. I don’t know what they want.”
Roach also took issue with the Tigers’ decision to axe Richardson and while he is not fully supportive of the ex-CEO, he believes he was doing good things for the club.
“I’ve had my blues with Shane Richardson, but I’ll tell you what, if you’re sitting back and looking at it all now, he’s done some good things for the Tigers, and now he’s gone,” Roach said.
The legendary prop understands the game has changed in the modern era, but believes if the fans are not held in the highest regard, it is not a game he wants to be a part of anymore.
“If it’s changed now, well, leave me out,” Roach said.
“If it’s all about money and sponsorship and all that, and it’s not about the fans, leave me out.”
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Like the Titans who have recently undergone an overhaul, Roach believes the Tigers are a sleeping giant that would have so many more fans if they were successful on the field.
“Can you imagine if they become successful?” Roach said.
“I’ll go to the country a fair bit and you wouldn’t believe the amount of people that follow the Tigers.
“Oh! Man, I’m telling you, if they were up in the top four. The Tigers I’m telling you, the emblem and the colours capture people’s imagination.”
The club’s state of the art Centre of Excellence facility also has the potential help them attract players, but Roach believes the constant off-field drama is hurting the club’s ability to sign the game’s biggest stars.
“It’s unbelievable. It’s fantastic, but what are they doing with it?” Roach said.
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“How hard is it now with all this turmoil? You’re talking about continuity and getting everything together and trying to be as one.
“Now, if I’m a player and someone says to me, after everything that’s gone on now and before, if I’m a player and Benji comes to me and says, mate, I want you to come to the Tigers and I’d say, are you serious? How are they going to attract players?”
While he will always bleed black and gold, but Roach admits the club is a shadow of its former self.
“It’s sad what is happening and how many people are like me, mate? I love that club,” Roach said.
“I love what it was all about, but it’s nothing like it was.”
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