SMH Article 'We’ve lost faith in them’: Balmain consider shock exit from Wests Tigers merger

[Tiger_Fanatic3]

 

[TIGERS]

Having Richo gives me confidence that this will get sorted. Him accepting the CEO role was dependent on the club instilling good corporate governance at board level. He even said that in interviews at the time. And he will want to nip this issue in the bud quickly given the perception board instability can give off to potential recruits & sponsors.

Funny how Elias and Richo broke bread a week ago, and now this. More palace intrigue than Kings Landing. Gotta be related somehow.

Richo outfought George Piggins at Souths.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

so we aren’t believing Andrew Webster anymore that this is normal delay in respect of the new independent directors ?

Delay sure TS, can understand that to find the right people but Chammas’ article has this:

The HBG, which is under new leadership after the previous powerbrokers were rolled at elections earlier in the year, suspended the process and are now trying to execute a deed that will outline the criteria required to appoint the four vacant independent director positions.

What is this supposed deed all about? May be nothing, may be concerning??

An update from the Board on what is happening with the independents & wider review recommendations could put all this to bed immediately!

 

[Kaito]

well two things are correct at once in this instance.

an external recruitment company is vetting independent candidates, but Romero is trying to alter the parameters, and may completely blow the entire thing up.

I think that's a fib spread by Chammas' mate Leo,
that's his source for the article. We'll appoint the new
directors in the off season/new financial year. There
Isn't much to see here, Richo would be biting his
tongue, I'd be surprised if he even makes a comment.
This is a massive week for the club & the spoonbowl

 

[cochise]

Having Richo gives me confidence that this will get sorted. Him accepting the CEO role was dependent on the club instilling good corporate governance at board level. He even said that in interviews at the time. And he will want to nip this issue in the bud quickly given the perception board instability can give off to potential recruits & sponsors.

I'm hopeful this will all get sorted.

 

[Kaito]

Funny how Elias and Richo broke bread a week ago, and now this. More palace intrigue than Kings Landing. Gotta be related somehow.

Richo outfought George Piggins at Souths.

Indeed. Richo I reckon saw yesterday's article was
coming. Shrewd operator getting Benny & blocker
onside before this came out. The main thing is 99%
of fans are united. Chammas and Leo are dunces

 

[jrtiger]

I think that's a fib spread by Chammas' mate Leo,
that's his source for the article. We'll appoint the new
directors in the off season/new financial year. There
Isn't much to see here, Richo would be biting his
tongue, I'd be surprised if he even makes a comment.
This is a massive week for the club & the spoonbowl

Stapleton is quoted in the article mate. the emails are legitimate. I think the concerns I and others share are warranted about HBG seeing the review through.

we might have the independent directors by off season, sure, but if Romero convolutes the process then we’re in strife.

Richardson won’t be making comment. he is employed by this mob, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the WT official that has approached the NRL to try and get them to intervene.

forget Spoonbowl, this is the long term future of the club that is at stake. if Romero, Burgess, Montogomery and the rest regain full control, we’re done for.

 

[jrtiger]

I'm hopeful this will all get sorted.

I sincerely hope you’re right mate.

 

[Needaname]

Funny I thought Tony Andreacchio was the guy we had to worry about. He was the one giving the most detail to the media but it seems like when they went ahead and restructured (sacked) the WT board that he has been made the scapegoat.
I’m just so disillusioned that the current WT board suffered issues having too many chefs from all JV entities and we end up with a recommended 1 from each (Tigers, Magpies, HBG) but yet we are still under the ultimate controls of the one HBG board despite them having just the one candidate on the WT board.

 

[Kaito]

Stapleton is quoted in the article mate. the emails are legitimate. I think the concerns I and others share are warranted about HBG seeing the review through.

we might have the independent directors by off season, sure, but if Romero convolutes the process then we’re in strife.

Richardson won’t be making comment. he is employed by this mob, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the WT official that has approached the NRL to try and get them to intervene.

forget Spoonbowl, this is the long term future of the club that is at stake. if Romero, Burgess, Montogomery and the rest regain full control, we’re done for.

Stapleton said we're all good I'm not mistaken Jnr?
You're worried about some 'deed' and both Romero
and Burgess setting the criteria for the independent
directors coming to HB? We're going through a process
to recruit them now. I get what you're saying, I'm
not being naïve either I'm just a bit less worried bro.
Magpies will probably want the whole west in 2030
When the license expires, I'll stop watching if we fold

 

[WestsTigers4VR]

It’s clear now that Balmain aren’t the issue it’s the Magpies. I’m gonna be honest and say I was wrong about it but it’s now clear that the HBG are a bunch of self interested rats. It’s been reported that due to a change in directors the Holman Barnes Group want to reverse the suggestions made by the last review, including the reappointment of Barry O’Farrell. It’s also been reported that a high ranking official at the WESTS TIGERS NOT BALMAIN has went to the NRL with concerns about the HBG actions. Sickening.

 

[jrtiger]

Stapleton said we're all good I'm not mistaken Jnr?
You're worried about some 'deed' and both Romero
and Burgess setting the criteria for the independent
directors coming to HB? We're going through a process
to recruit them now. I get what you're saying, I'm
not being naïve either I'm just a bit less worried bro.
Magpies will probably want the whole west in 2030
When the license expires, I'll stop watching if we fold

here is an email sent by Danny Stapleton to his fellow Directors on the Balmain board.

My understanding, and I have not been told formally, is that the controlling faction at HBG Board now wants to unwind the outcomes and recommendations of the review process and take back the control and running of Wests Tigers.

One would ask, that this is hard to believe and why we underwent the Review process in the first place.

Barry is the best person to Chair the Club through these times and his tenure should be extended without question. The club needs stability and credibility and Barry provides that in spades … I think it is a no brainer that Barry would be selected and given the independent chair role. In saying that HBG may have other ideas. I don’t know.

that sound all good to you?

 

[Wiz]

Indeed. Richo I reckon saw yesterday's article was
coming. Shrewd operator getting Benny & blocker
onside before this came out. The main thing is 99%
of fans are united. Chammas and Leo are dunces

I spent a good couple of hours with Benny Elias this afternoon. The article of him breaking bread with Richo and then The article about Balmain trying to extract itself from the WT are two separate things. Benny was filthy about the Balmain thing and rang Richo straight away to ask if Richo knew this was happening and Richo had stitched Benny up for the “love in” beforehand. Richo denied he knew and Benny accepted this. There are concerns about what the board at HBG will do, or not do, however. I gave Benny Julie Romero’s number. Benny doesn’t know her but said he will call her to try and get her to implement the recommendations from the external review. At all times I thought Benny was thinking club first as opposed to Benny first. I was impressed. Said Blocker was a top bloke too which I know from first hand experience as he was very good to me and my teammates when I was a young league player in the Balmain Junior District rugby league competition.

 

[Kaito]

here is an email sent by Danny Stapleton to his fellow Directors on the Balmain board.

My understanding, and I have not been told formally, is that the controlling faction at HBG Board now wants to unwind the outcomes and recommendations of the review process and take back the control and running of Wests Tigers.

One would ask, that this is hard to believe and why we underwent the Review process in the first place.

Barry is the best person to Chair the Club through these times and his tenure should be extended without question. The club needs stability and credibility and Barry provides that in spades … I think it is a no brainer that Barry would be selected and given the independent chair role. In saying that HBG may have other ideas. I don’t know.

that sound all good to you?

First time I properly read that email I must admit,
Yeah doesn't read great, but in the same token, He's
from the balmain side of the ledger & is going into
bat for Barry because they run in the same circles.
I'm all for putting pressure on Romero and co to
make the appointments but let's not go off 2 early

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Stapleton is quoted in the article mate. the emails are legitimate. I think the concerns I and others share are warranted about HBG seeing the review through.

we might have the independent directors by off season, sure, but if Romero convolutes the process then we’re in strife.

Richardson won’t be making comment. he is employed by this mob, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the WT official that has approached the NRL to try and get them to intervene.

forget Spoonbowl, this is the long term future of the club that is at stake. if Romero, Burgess, Montogomery and the rest regain full control, we’re done for.

Or the high ranking WT official is BOF.

This all started with the article about him stepping away as he’s been asked to re-apply.

Somehow Chammas gets info about the recruitment firm which I would imagine few knew about apart from the Board, HBG & CEO.

If he is well liked & supported by the Balmain faction, he could have stirred them up about HBG.

Just trying to connect some dots.

 

[Kaito]

I spent a good couple of hours with Benny Elias this afternoon. The article of him breaking bread with Richo and then The article about Balmain trying to extract itself from the WT are two separate things. Benny was filthy about the Balmain thing and rang Richo straight away to ask if Richo knew this was happening and Richo had stitched Benny up for the “love in” beforehand. Richo denied he knew and Benny accepted this. There are concerns about what the board at HBG will do, or not do, however. I gave Benny Julie Romero’s number. Benny doesn’t know her but said he will call her to try and get her to implement the recommendations from the external review. At all times I thought Benny was thinking club first as opposed to Benny first. I was impressed. Said Blocker was a top bloke too which I know from first hand experience as he was very good to me and my teammates when I was a young league player in the Balmain Junior District rugby league competition.

Very cool Wiz, didn't know you were a balmain jnr
either. I'm sure this will be resolved when the off
season commences in a few weeks. I've been very
critical of blocker & Benny in the past but it seems
they're coming around finally. Every1 must stick together

 

[Lestronge]

It's posted a page or two back in this thread

The only thing that Leo did say that was true was that the “tigers” is where the fans hearts are .
If anyone in wests is dumb enough to think that a change to magpies is a smart business venture then good luck to you . I hope you surrender the tigers name .
As for me , I’m sure the East’s tigers will get the nod , I’m doubly sure , Balmain would hitch thier wagon to that club Ala norths to Perth and this whole 24 years will be but a memory.
As much as I’m a proud wests tigers supporter , should the dinosaurs ever get what they want , then they would 💯 torpedo this club for good .
No one gives a shit about the wests magpies . They didn’t in 1998 , they definitely don’t now . And yes I do know there was 8k odd fans who maybe sort of cared back then .
I will never ever support the wests magpies . And I think I would speak for the majority of the fan base on that one .
That would 💯 kill off the club .

 

[Wiz]

Very cool Wiz, didn't know you were a balmain jnr
either. I'm sure this will be resolved when the off
season commences in a few weeks. I've been very
critical of blocker & Benny in the past but it seems
they're coming around finally. Every1 must stick together

Honestly, I was not a fan of Benny. But there was nothing he said today that made me believe he was putting himself before the club. He thought it was ridiculous that Balmain would split itself off.

This whole HBG and directors thing is as important, if not more important, than who we sign in the offseason.

I am hardly an insider but a few drinks with Benny today and my employment history with Romero gives me a little bit of insight. Benny’s won me over but Romero is severely under qualified to be chairman of the board imo. I reckon I could do a better job on the board! I am a qualified professional and run my own business with decent contacts. Would anyone vote for me? Someone? Anyone? I have had plenty of beers today….

 

[hammertime]

First time I properly read that email I must admit,
Yeah doesn't read great, but in the same token, He's
from the balmain side of the ledger & is going into
bat for Barry because they run in the same circles.
I'm all for putting pressure on Romero and co to
make the appointments but let's not go off 2 early

I would agree, except it's currently August 2025. The review dropped Dec 2024. We've still got a temporary board and Romero has just replaced a experienced gun with a bloke who looks like he hasn't showered in months. They also haven't released any sort of statement to affirm their commitment to the review, despite the media circus.

The signs are enough to get people concerned.

 

[hammertime]

Honestly, I was not a fan of Benny. But there was nothing he said today that made me believe he was putting himself before the club. He thought it was ridiculous that Balmain would split itself off.

This whole HBG and directors thing is as important, if not more important, than who we sign in the offseason.

I am hardly an insider but a few drinks with Benny today and my employment history with Romero gives me a little bit of insight. Benny’s won me over but Romero is severely under qualified to be chairman of the board imo. I reckon I could do a better job on the board! I am a qualified professional and run my own business with decent contacts. Would anyone vote for me? Someone? Anyone? I have had plenty of beers today….

I'd vote you over Romero mate even after a full slab!