Ladies and Gents,
Over the last few months I have given a lot of thought to my personal future on the back of three very full on years in the humbling and privileged position of leading your Club.
As many of you would know the major struggle I have learned to live with during that time has been the challenge of the daily travel and more importantly, the limited amount of hours I have had with my children on a day to day basis.
Some of you would also be aware that during that period I have received approaches to join other Clubs and codes and resisted them all as my commitment to, and genuine love, of our Club and the incredible people who make up our amazing Sharks family, especially you, our remarkable members, has been not negotiable.
With my son Liam going into year 11 and daughter Loren (now a lifelong Shark!!) into year 9 in 2018, I have come to the conclusion that it needs to be their time now, not mine.
To that end, I have made the very difficult personal decision that it is time for me to move on.
I do so safe in the knowledge that our Club is full of some of the most remarkable, professional and dedicated people I have ever had the privilege of working with and that the values and culture that we have worked so hard to embed are as solid as they have ever been.
Those of you who were there during the public forums we held in 2014 as we engaged with our many stakeholders to redefine our vision, values and culture, may well remember me saying; “If you think that our future is all about me we are in deep trouble, but together we can and will create something very special.”
Be assured that nothing has changed in that regard.
Throughout the history of great organisations, people will always come and go, but the one thing that remains constant is the foundations on which an organisation is built and the drive, belief and hunger within those who remain to challenge themselves on a daily basis to continually raise the bar.
I truly believe that our foundations are rock solid and while we can look back on many wonderful achievements with a great sense of pride and satisfaction, there also remains plenty to do to move our organisation from being a good one to a great one.
As I said, once the haze of the Grand Final celebrations settled; “if you are truly satisfied, you are on the wrong bus.”
Ours is a journey that will never end as the world we live in continues to evolve and change so rapidly. While the events of recent years have been incredible in terms of our Club’s history, the next three years are equally as vital.
While my last day at our Club in a formal capacity is today, I move on with a great sense of comfort that “we have played hard and done good” and that the truly remarkable people who continue to lead and drive every facet of our business will challenge each and every one of you to fully and always believe…….. #Why not us!…….. as our journey to be the number one Club in the NRL and indeed professional sport in Australia continues.
In closing, may I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible contribution you continue to make to building our Club’s future, a future that I have no doubt will be a great one.
You are the soul and essence of our Club, and without you that future does not exist!!
I look forward to seeing you at many games as the coming season unfolds and at the Member’s Christmas function.
In the interim my eternal thanks for the incredible support and most amazing memories you have given myself and our Club.
It is I that have been truly blessed to share this journey with you.
Lyall
