bruce
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Staff Ian Robson
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Authorising a car to be blown up on the field at half time against the Bulldogs in '95 - leaving metal fragments all over the pitch - wasn't another of his shining moments! I guess at least he did get them to remove the windows first.
Damn I had a great day that day, actually day, night and next morning, only game I've ever been to in a suit.
bruce
Contributor
You couldn't get anybody more passionate than Dean Lonergan. He got absolutely no where in his time on the board. His problem was he spoke too much common sense. I guess this board is different though. Eric Watson runs the show and he seems to handed everything to our Jim, oh happy days..
bruce
Contributor
I gave a funny vote to that...we can laugh twenty years later can't we?
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Smart cookie Dean Lonergan. Said to have quit league after he realised you could make more money organising the games instead of playing them. Think it was Dean who brought over the Green Machine in the early 90's?
Lonergan was a Board member for the Warriors in 1996-97. In Chris Mirams' book Beleaguered! he quoted Dean as saying that his sole reason for wanting to be on the Board was to get rid of our first CEO Ian Robson who he saw as being extravagant and reckless with the clubs finances. The first year the Warriors operated they had a operatiing surplus of $24 million which should have seen the club financially stable for the next decade. Instead Robson splashed it on pre-game entertainment, gifts to players, parties, etc. At the end of 1995 the club reported a $400,000 profit!
Anyway, if that was Deans goal he acheived and by doing so did the club a huge favour. Only wish he stepped in again during the Tainui/Lowe/ Boyle days...
bruce
Contributor
I remember Dean saying it was like Robson was trying to find ways to spend money. Poor old Peter McLeod, all that work to go down the drain like that.
All that money, and Robson didn't spend $15 on a clicker for Monie to count the number of interchanges!!!!
bruce
Contributor
Monie blamed Bob Hall for that, what a wanker. Dean Bell was able to count it in his head in an after match interview.
Those points would have got the club into the top eight. I still can't laugh about it.
Dean Lonergan always claimed Tim Sheens was the man for the job, and he wanted it.
I heard a rumour that Robson came recommended by the NSWRL. I would believe that, his lack of skill was well known over there.
Also one of his great moments was signing Ruben Wiki in an Ansett lounge and not getting it witnessed...
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Peter McLeod said his single biggest regret when setting up the Warriors was hiring Ian Robson. Once he was in poor McLeod was powerless to remove him...
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
A witness did sign the contract but when the ARL went to find this person they didnt exist. Turns out Robson got it done well after Ruben Wiki signed it by getting the receptionist to forge a fake name and signature.
Good ole Robson aye...
We have signed some interesting characters and it's not just restricted to the playing field some of the oddballs have actually been in charge of the club. Robson probably heads the list, he did well getting the club publicity but that man could spend a dollar by all accounts.
I hadn't heard the story about blowing up the car at half time. The Auckland league guy complaining about Robson hiring a helicopter to fly to Waiheke Island and being asked where he is responds I'm about to get on the helicopter to fly back always makes me chuckle. The guys in Auckland must have gone from living on a tight budget to the high life when Robosn turned up.
I hadn't heard the story about blowing up the car at half time. The Auckland league guy complaining about Robson hiring a helicopter to fly to Waiheke Island and being asked where he is responds I'm about to get on the helicopter to fly back always makes me chuckle. The guys in Auckland must have gone from living on a tight budget to the high life when Robosn turned up.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Last I heard he was hanging on distancing himself. I made comments at the rime moaning about the lack of Duty of Care shown by Robson and co at Essendon. I remember AFL fans talking about Essendon's injury toll the season before it hit.
bruce
Contributor
I didn't know he said that, but I believe it. Peter was a great guy but some of the others on that board, especially the guy from DB were in way over their heads and Robson played them on a string.
bruce
Contributor
We could make a list of his "achievements". The Wiki fiasco, the lost money, going to Christchurch Airport for an interview with the Auckland Warriors board, but for me it was paying out Greg Alexander's contract, however I am sure somebody has something better.
