Axed Wests Tigers coach speaks out on Sironen claims
Sacked Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has broken his silence to defend against an attack by Balmain legend Paul Sironen, who publicly celebrated the axing.
Sironen delivered a withering sendoff to Taylor this week, saying ‘‘karma’s a b....’’ and telling the coach not to ‘‘let the door hit you out on the way out’’ - still fuming that he and son Curtis had been punted from the club.
Sironen blamed the NRL coach, but Taylor has defended himself by insisting the decision to send the club legend packing from his role with the club’s under-20s team was not his.
‘‘I want to respond to some of Paul Sironen’s published allegations about me,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘I never sacked Paul Sironen and I never communicated his sacking to him. I also never made any decisions about NYC staffing at that time
‘‘As to Paul’s comments about what was said after he was sacked, I in fact went up to him, shook his hand and gave him my commiserations. He looked me in the eye and said, ‘It’s OK, I know it wasn’t your decision’,’’ Taylor said.
The former NSW State of Origin and Kangaroos forward was filthy over his exit from the joint-venture outfit three years ago following Smith’s review, saying he was told by Taylor and football manager Phil Moss he would no longer be required.
The Tigers’ major sponsor has backed the decision to sack Taylor, but warned the joint-venture outfit is now at a ‘‘critical juncture’’ in its history.
The Tigers are at a crossroads as they search for a coach and the signatures of their four most influential players. They do so at a time when their brand has been tarnished by the Tim Simona scandal and the messy departure of club legend Robbie Farah.
However, none of those dramas prompted Lee Hagipantelis, the principal of Brydens Lawyers, to consider ending ending his company’s relationship as the Tigers’ major backer.
Hagipantelis described Taylor’s sacking as an ‘‘unfortunate’’ but necessary step to turn the club’s fortunes around.
‘‘It was difficult, but had to be done,’’ Hagipantelis said.
‘‘The suggestion is there were entrails indicative of difficulties that may continue to be encountered, which was a fair enough assessment.
‘‘I have no concerns about my brand being aligned with the Tigers. I regard this as an unfortu- nate occurrence but one that required addressing. It has been addressed.’’
Meanwhile, former NRL player Liam Fulton said the Tigers board has contributed to the poor on-field performances which cost Taylor his job.
Fulton, a premiership winner with the Tigers in 2005, is calling for the board to be sacked for creating instability at the club.
‘‘The players are underper- forming, which is the bottom line. But it does start at the top and the board,’’ Fulton told News Corp. ‘‘Look at the decisions they’ve made over the years. There is no stability in the club.’’
Fulton is not alone in his criticism of the board, with former Tigers legend Benny Elias keen to see former team-mate Wayne Pearce replace Marina Go as chair of the battling NRL club.
Fulton has revealed a series of incidents that pointed to poor management at the club, including the sackings of former coaches Mick Potter and Tim Sheens which he suggested were unwarranted.
Another example was the handling of his own NRL contract, with Fulton asked to take a pay cut - along with Robbie Farah, Bryce Gibbs and Benji Marshall - to fit under the salary cap.
But he claims his sacrifice was not reciprocated by others at the club.
‘‘It’s a bit upsetting that we used to make those sacrifices for the club, then people behind the scenes aren’t even making sacrifices,’’ Fulton said.
‘‘They are just making stupid decisions.’’