Shane Richardson has faced plenty of uphill battles throughout his career - but despite their recent issues on and off the field, taking over as interim CEO of the Wests Tigers isn't his toughest challenge.
In the wake of a major overhaul at Concord this week, which saw both Lee Hagipantelis and Justin Pascoe depart the joint venture club, Richardson will step into the lion's den for the next six months alongside Barry O'Farrell.
After working with the Sharks, Panthers and Rabbitohs throughout his career, Richardson brings a wealth of experience to an outfit that desperately needed a restructure, from the front-office to the on-field squad.
The recent review into the Tigers, which recommended the entire board be ousted, will give Richardson plenty to work with heading into the 2024 campaign, while also silencing the noise surrounding the club.
MORE: Lee Hagipantelis lifts the lid on 'deceitful' Wests Tigers exit
Shane Richardson ready for major Wests Tigers challenge
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Richardson welcomed the fresh task in front of him but stopped short of labelling it his greatest challenge, instead reminding the world of his work at South Sydney.
“I thought I got away from all this, but I’ve been thrown back into the ditch," he said.
“I have always had challenges previously. I have never been at a club yet that wasn’t on the bottom of the ladder when I started... we managed to make a couple of grand finals and win a couple of premierships.
"Hopefully we are going to try and set things up strategically to work towards that goal there.
“I think Souths was the biggest challenge... thrown out of the competition, bottom of the ladder, no money and in complete disarray. That took a long while because financially we weren’t strong, which is not the same as this club.
"I have been in rugby league since I was seven years old. I have been lucky enough to use my business background to parlay it into rugby league for the last 30-something years... and I haven’t been sacked yet, which is a big thing.
“I love the game. I love what I am doing. This opportunity was one that if you were going to do the job whether it was at Souths or at Penrith you had to have true corporate governance.
“You have to have control to be able to do the things required to build the club and I would never have taken this role on if I didn’t believe the governance was in place.”
Richardson was a major part of turning the Rabbitohs into a premiership force, while his more recent work included planning the expansion bid for the Brisbane Firehawks.
How long will Shane Richardson be at the Tigers?
While his contract is only slated for six months at this stage on an interim capacity, Richardson didn't rule out remaining at the Tigers long-term.
“I don’t want to come in with any preconceived ideas," he said.
"I never met any of the previous regime, so I want to come and have a look at it and see how it is structured and how it needs to be set up... that is something that I will assess at the end.
"Six months is a nice start for it and we can all work towards that. They mightn’t like me - at least they don’t have to sack me then.
"It was a traumatic day for everyone yesterday and I have been through that before. I have been through trauma before. There was plenty of trauma at Souths, so that’s the target.
“You don’t win games by looking back because you have not got a lot to work on looking back.”
O'Farrell is also expected to remain in the chairman role for the next six months, before the club make an eventual decision on their long-term management approach.
Shane Richardson praises Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall
The appointment of Benji Marshall as the club's head coach will bring plenty of nostalgia around the area, with the legendary Kiwi playmaker regarded as one of the joint-venture's favourite sons.
And according to Richardson, who has worked with some of the best coaches in the business, there's no reason why the Tigers great can't succeed despite the enormous pressure facing him.
“I brought him to Souths under Wayne’s regime... everybody who I respect in Wayne Bennett and at Souths who dealt with him in Mark Ellison and Blake Solly, says he is a great human being, he is enthusiastic and wants to win.
“He wants to be a successful coach. My job is to put everything around him to allow him to be successful because he is the head coach and he is the guy that has got to front up every Sunday.
“My role is to support him in any way I can and I think I have a track record of supporting coaches in their roles and choosing the right coaches going forward.
"Benji has got nothing but my support.”
The first task for Richardson and Marshall in the coming weeks and months will be recruitment, with the club actively pursuing both Jarome Luai and Addin Fonua-Blake prior to the recent changes.
While no deal has been agreed with either player, Richardson is confident in the Tigers' ability to land marquee talent.
"I will meet with Benji over the next day or so and discuss what the situation is there," he said.
"Obviously I will have to be ready to step in to be part of that negotiation if that’s what Benji wants.
“I have made my feelings on Luai well known for a long time. In my opinion he was the best young half coming through... he has proven at the highest level he was the best young half coming through.
"Not only that, but he is a great team leader... that Penrith side revolves around Luai. He is a great person off the field despite what many media people like to try and make out. You couldn’t meet a better person than him.
“Fonua-Blake is obviously one of the top three front-rowers in the game.
“All those things are added up but at the end of the day I am not across it yet. All I want to do is assist Benji to put together the best roster possible and I will be reviewing that with Benji.
“I will never bring a player to this club that Benji Marshall doesn’t want.”
Luai has reportedly been tabled a four-year contract from the Tigers, while current Warriors prop Fonua-Blake has also been offered a long-term deal.
