HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

[hammertime]

Under-siege Holman Barnes Group reaches settlement with dumped director Rick Wayde​

The under-siege Holman Barnes Group have one less headache to worry about after reaching a settlement with one their dumped directors who was set to challenge his eight-year ban in court.
https://twitter.com/mcarayannis
December 4, 2025 - 9:30AM
The under-siege Holman Barnes Group have one less headache to worry about after reaching an out-of-court settlement with one their dumped directors.

It is understood that long-term board member Rick Wayde has settled for an undisclosed amount before the case hit the courtroom this month.

Wayde was one of three directors – Tony Andreacchio and David Gilbert- who were sensationally banned on New Year’s Eve. Wayde took legal action to challenge his eight year ban with the case in court in December.

Months later former Holman Barnes chair Julie Romero was suspended for eight years. Holman Barnes have again been in the news this week after they ousted four independent Wests Tigers board members, including chair Barry O’Farrell, to regain control of the football club.


The shock move has also cast a cloud over the future of chief executive Shane Richardson as he mulls over his future at the club. Richardson was closely aligned with O’Farrell and only took the job after the Holman Barnes Group agreed to release control of the club to a board dominated by independent directors.

That went by the wayside this week as HBG wrestled back control of the club, claiming a lack of transparency and communication even though they had to representatives on the board.

Really disappointed Rick didn't stick it to them

 

[liltiger]

Under-siege Holman Barnes Group reaches settlement with dumped director Rick Wayde​

The under-siege Holman Barnes Group have one less headache to worry about after reaching a settlement with one their dumped directors who was set to challenge his eight-year ban in court.
https://twitter.com/mcarayannis
December 4, 2025 - 9:30AM
The under-siege Holman Barnes Group have one less headache to worry about after reaching an out-of-court settlement with one their dumped directors.

It is understood that long-term board member Rick Wayde has settled for an undisclosed amount before the case hit the courtroom this month.

Wayde was one of three directors – Tony Andreacchio and David Gilbert- who were sensationally banned on New Year’s Eve. Wayde took legal action to challenge his eight year ban with the case in court in December.

Months later former Holman Barnes chair Julie Romero was suspended for eight years. Holman Barnes have again been in the news this week after they ousted four independent Wests Tigers board members, including chair Barry O’Farrell, to regain control of the football club.


The shock move has also cast a cloud over the future of chief executive Shane Richardson as he mulls over his future at the club. Richardson was closely aligned with O’Farrell and only took the job after the Holman Barnes Group agreed to release control of the club to a board dominated by independent directors.

That went by the wayside this week as HBG wrestled back control of the club, claiming a lack of transparency and communication even though they had to representatives on the board.

Is the settlement an admission of guilt?
Is that how the law sees it?

 

[Lestronge]

Is that the royal ‘we’ 🤔
Or is diversity of opinion not allowed ?

If you don’t want what that “ we” is implying then you’re revealing yourself and are on the wrong forum . The “we” has been reiterated soo much that only the most stubborn or those with an agenda need clarification on it .
It’s disgusting watching you people eke out of the shadows . F the kids aye Bus ? fF anyone under 30 who’s literally given their whole life to the wests tigers ? And more importantly F anyone who’s trusted the people who run this club to do what’s in the best interest of the club… shame on us aye … silly fools … And yet the same people who claim Agism and all these other “ism” when asked to account for thier selfish existence , and the same to say F you I’m getting mine … just the world we live in today …. Altruism has become blasphemy .

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

That’s the most self serving bullshit I’ve read on here in a while . We want wests tigers to remain as wests tigers . That brand to remain . Any other is a new identity entirely .

Your just playing with words.

Hypothetical - the new Wests Magpies continue to play home games at Campbelltown & Leichhardt. They have a token little Tiger on the sleeve. And nothing else changes beyond the emblem and the colours. Is that a “new identity entirely”? Sure it’s a hefty do over but it’s the same club simply running around with a fresh hue.

When Balmain changed the name of their club to Sydney back in the 90s and ditched Leichhardt - was that a new identity?

Change is always difficult - but people cope 🤷‍♂️

 

[hammertime]

Is the settlement an admission of guilt?
Is that how the law sees it?

Depends on the settlement terms. But yes, they wouldn't settle if they thought they had a case

 

[tig_prmz]

I want NRL to step in but seriously wtf are they gonna do?

HBG will bend over for a year or two and say yes we will implement these changes and then go about their own ways after 2 years.

It's a never ending cycle.

What is their motivation? Seriously what is it that you actually want to do? HBG is not a person, they've had different board members, chairperson etc and all have been one shit show after another.

Their organization structure is unfit to run an NRL club. Idk if its incompetence, selfishness, ulterior motives, greed etc.. whatever it is, how much more proof do you need that they are unfit.

Put the license up for a bid and black list any company that has any affiliation with HBG or it's former board members.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

So you want to change the animal, but only by setting us back another 5-10 years from blowing up the board and damaging the club's brand, potentially beyond repair this time.

Jerome already had the clauses, now we'll need to add it for every player moving forward if this knee-jerk bull-shite from directors is not fixed once and for all.

Absolutely ridiculous way to spin this and shows the ineptitude in the way some people think

Mate, none of us know what’s going on.
At this point, it’s all pure speculation.
I’m just chucking in some ALTERNATE ideas/theories

 

[hammertime]

Your just playing with words.

Hypothetical - the new Wests Magpies continue to play home games at Campbelltown & Leichhardt. They have a token little Tiger on the sleeve. And nothing else changes beyond the emblem and the colours. Is that a “new identity entirely”? Sure it’s a hefty do over but it’s the same club simply running around with a fresh hue.

When Balmain changed the name of their club to Sydney back in the 90s and ditched Leichhardt - was that a new identity?

Change is always difficult - but people cope 🤷‍♂️

No one really cares about that rubbish, except it would take the club back commercially and reputationally, so it would be an utterly dumb move. After successive utterly dumb moves over the years.

... and we're trying to stamp out those idiotic moves that continue to plague the club.

 

[weststigers]

Given the NRL would love to reduce the Sydney teams, all they'll need is a reason.

Giving the license to the Brisbane Tigers, you would imagine, would be desirable for the NRL.

I really don't think that would happen. It would just be a mechanism to get rid of them.

I would imagine you'd get some interest from people to buy the club as it is and where it is.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

I'm only deducing from the events that have transpired with the WA board coups, and the director in that time that remains on both (including WT) boards. There is an apparent constant figure and assumed ring-leader in all of these events, aided and abetted by allies already within the debenture holder group.

Andreacchio, Wayde, (both member-elected at WA) and Gilbert were ousted due to being chief supporters of the independent review. Romero was ousted for supporting and implementing the review findings.

Furthermore, there were 3 debenture holder vacancies with Gilbert giving up his after wiping his hands of WA. They have since been allocated to WSDRLFC board members. So basically, the debenture holders are back to the full 20, having been topped up by the 'Make Magpies Great Again' movement. It's not unlike the Don appointing his conservative chief justices of the supreme court. It will solidify the staunch Magpie support at WA for at least another couple of decades. They should drop the charade of Barnes in the name. It's just there so they can expand their gaming empire to Rozelle.

Look, I expect the WA group to be predominantly aligned with Wests Magpies as they are the club's roots and what the club was formed to advance. But the puppet master is a staunch Magpie, and he has reinforced the debenture holder group with staunch magpies who's skill set is essentially administering WSDRLC - an organisation that does virtually nothing apart from a BBQ at Lidcombe Oval game days, and is wholly funded by WA. These guys are the new blood and next potential directors at WA who will have a huge influence on the NRL team's strategy going forward. And their loyalty and vision is aligned to the bird, not a hybrid of them and a big cat.

The only chance the NRL club has now for and end to WA meddling, and future success, is for WA to be stripped of it's license.

Thanks for providing some context around this @FacePalm.

It is important we identify these people we are having to fight against to save our club 'Wests Tigers'.

Once again the long-time 4 board directors at HBG are:

-Dennis Burgess
-Stephen Montgomery
-Vince Tropiano
-Michael Liubinskis

And the recent 4 added debenture holders at HBG are:

-ex-Magpies Allan Fallah & Leo Epifania
-Magpies board member Bob Cairns
-APIA Leichhardt president Tony Raciti

It seems to have been a long-term plan to gain a majority faction on the HBG board with the suspensions of Wayde, Andrechhio, Gilbert & more recently Romero. And once the majority was gained, a plan potentially to regain control of the WT board.

And how Tropiano avoided suspension for his alleged misdemeanor when others received suspensions for their supposed breaches of by-laws, is anyone's guess.

And now as reported today Rick Wayde has received a payout from HBG so he doesn't present his case to court (and no doubt the payout includes staying quiet).

This just smells so awful but makes so much sense now with what has happened.

We just hope now that the NRL can unravel all of this and bring it all undone. Hopefully the likes of Dave Gilbert, Tony Andrechhio & Julie Romero would be happy to give their version of events to the NRL to fight for the cause of saving the Wests Tigers.

 

[Bigscreentv]

Will be interesting to see if the new board members are independent. If they are, then I guess there’s less of a problem.

Can’t see that happening though.

 

[liltiger]

Thank you for reaching out and for sharing your thoughts so openly. We genuinely appreciate your long standing support of the club.
The Club has been advised of a change in our Board structure by the Holman Barnes Group. As you can appreciate, the details of this change are still being worked through and will be finalised following the Club’s scheduled Board Meeting in December.
We completely understand your concerns and respect the position you’ve taken. At the same time, we are unable to offer refunds for change of mind cancellations, as per our membership terms and conditions.
What we can do in good faith - is opt you out of next seasons renewal to ensure no further renewals take place without you actioning this. Your feedback has also been collated and reported up to management as part of a wider review.
Thank you again for your support and for taking the time to share your feedback.
Ben
Wests Tigers Membership

Should reply I only want a membership that comes with a debunture

 

[Lestronge]

Your just playing with words.

Hypothetical - the new Wests Magpies continue to play home games at Campbelltown & Leichhardt. They have a token little Tiger on the sleeve. And nothing else changes beyond the emblem and the colours. Is that a “new identity entirely”? Sure it’s a hefty do over but it’s the same club simply running around with a fresh hue.

When Balmain changed the name of their club to Sydney back in the 90s and ditched Leichhardt - was that a new identity?

Change is always difficult - but people cope 🤷‍♂️

That’s once again not the club people support . How do you tell Jahrome luai that ? How do you tell Benji that ? How do you tell my 26 year old nephew that ? My 24 year old nephew , my 9 year old daughter … by I don’t like magpies dad!
Who does it service ? Some accent knob who lives in terrigal and openly moved away years ago . What about the kids who grow up wanting wear the same jersey Benji wore . The same one Bula wears now …. Anyways .
Have it . Have your magpies back . The club will be dead in 2 years when there’s a mass boycott . Good luck with it .

 

[hammertime]

Mate, none of us know what’s going on.
At this point, it’s all pure speculation.
I’m just chucking in some ALTERNATE ideas/theories

Sorry man, bad alternate ideas are what are killing this club. We need to be more deliberate in our direction and thinking. i.e. What is good for the club based on commericals, player retention and success on the field. We were getting that with Richo.

I don't think HBG has thought like that for a long while.

 

[TIGERS]

Or is diversity of opinion not allowed ?

Its not Shyt1ehead its called the 'Wests Tigers Forum`. HBG don't own this space and we're allowed to be as partisan for the club we love as much as we like. Like we are allowed to be pissed off here. Our club happens to have a Tiger on the logo. That's my Crest and I'm proud of it and good luck trying to change it. If you want to glaze on about victa lawnmower replica strips you can head down to the leagues club and pluck Denny's old grey saggy bass strings. Or stick around here if you want, but don't think for a second that Wests Tigers fans need to listen, like or respect anything that isnt unambiguously 1000% WESTS TIGERS. If you want to have a bet each way, you're no real fan.

 

[tigahhh]

Thanks for providing some context around this @FacePalm.

It is important we identify these people we are having to fight against to save our club 'Wests Tigers'.

Once again the long-time 4 board directors at HBG are:

-Dennis Burgess
-Stephen Montgomery
-Vince Tropiano
-Michael Liubinskis

And the recent 4 added debenture holders at HBG are:

-ex-Magpies Allan Fallah & Leo Epifania
-Magpies board member Bob Cairns
-APIA Leichhardt president Tony Raciti

It seems to have been a long-term plan to gain a majority faction on the HBG board with the suspensions of Wayde, Andrechhio, Gilbert & more recently Romero. And once the majority was gained, a plan potentially to regain control of the WT board.

And how Tropiano avoided suspension for his alleged misdemeanor when others received suspensions for their supposed breaches of by-laws, is anyone's guess.

And now as reported today Rick Wayde has received a payout from HBG so he doesn't present his case to court (and no doubt the payout includes staying quiet).

This just smells so awful but makes so much sense now with what has happened.

We just hope now that the NRL can unravel all of this and bring it all undone. Hopefully the likes of Dave Gilbert, Tony Andrechhio & Julie Romero would be happy to give their version of events to the NRL to fight for the cause of saving the Wests Tigers.

really scared for the future of our club mate. nrl is our only hope.

 

[hammertime]

I really don't think that would happen. It would just be a mechanism to get rid of them.

I would imagine you'd get some interest from people to buy the club as it is and where it is.

I think it's a very real possibility mate with HGB's antics. You'd almost port over a ready-made supporter group to Brisbane Tigers if they can keep the moniker alive with it (i.e. No need for Firehawks now), they'd also grow that market and reduce the competition in Sydney.

They now have good cause to do so with HBG bringing the game into disrepute. I'm sure PVL would love to see the back of them.

 

[diedpretty]

Is there any reason you believe that HBG could be justified in what has transpired? Serious question not being fecetious, just love to know your thoughts on it?

I don't think they are justified - legally they probably are in their rights. I don't believe any of this BS about too much orange in the jersey or that the magpies are staging a coup. I think it is just a powerplay to take back full control of what they own. I don't agree with it and believe an independent WT was the way to go.

 

[weststigers]

Great post Peno

Strip it all back and many on here simply support an emblem.
Clubs evolve - jerseys change, home grounds can be anywhere, players, coaches they come and go ... and all through that - it’s yay team 👍

But any suggestion that a change be made to that caricature of an animal which sits on the chest of the jersey - and suddenly we’re reaching for the nuclear codes

God people are funny 🤣

You must be kidding.

Other than the Gold Coast, which other club has changed their logo since their inception?

 

[Charred]

Great post Peno

Strip it all back and many on here simply support an emblem.
Clubs evolve - jerseys change, home grounds can be anywhere, players, coaches they come and go ... and all through that - it’s yay team 👍

But any suggestion that a change be made to that caricature of an animal which sits on the chest of the jersey - and suddenly we’re reaching for the nuclear codes

God people are funny 🤣

Ok so you’re totally on board with the home jersey being primarily orange then?

Additionally, if we were to remove the magpie from the sleeve of the jersey would you also not be reaching for nuclear codes?

God people are funny 🤣