HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

Leck said:
I don’t know, mate. This is another very weird Wests Tigers situation. As a club, we’ve gone through so much upheaval over the years. We were starting to move forward on a positive trajectory, and now this rubbish.

I don’t understand it, and I doubt many other supporters do either.
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Fair enough...trying times
 
FacePalm said:
Webster has written that at the heart of the bruhaha is the brawling between the Wests and Balmain factions. Is he implying that O'Farrell, Richardson & Viola are Balmain aligned with Stapleton, and Burgess and Epifania are righting this perceived wrong considering WM p/L owns 90% of the license.

It is Burgess ensuring they regain control of the license, because they can. Otherwise Denny is sitting at the table with his goofy smiling, and Epifania is dribbling his lip with his finger while the adults are discussing commercial and operational issues which are going over their head!
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Who is even at Balmain these days ? How can anyone think the “independent “ directors are part of the Balmain faction? Don’t they understand the meaning of the word ?

I’m starting to think Burgo might be in a bit of trouble …his Insta story can be mined by the media for a bit … they need new angles to keep feeding the frenzy..
 
I would suggest PVL has spoken to those in & around the game. Richo, Benji, Senior Players, RLPA, Player agents, The Media etc...

I am sure BoF has called in a few government favours as well.

Richo goes & all would agree the WT go backwards very very quickly & does not help the game.

The key will be if they press go what is HBG's response. I assume legal action but no doubt they'll be confident in their call if they make it & HBG is fully remunerated post sale.

#inPVLwetrust
 
Chunk said:
Well looks like he'll quit because what's the likelihood of PVL doing that, they havn't done anything illegal.
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It doesnt need to be illegal. The license is a commercial contract which will have certain obligations that HBG need to maintain.

They've also obviously breached their fudiciary duty to act on behalf of HDB members too, so would run afoul of L&G. But I have no faith in a govt body. They don't want to create work for themselves.
 
innsaneink said:
1/

NRL intervention looms as Wests Tigers chief Shane Richardson threatens to walk amid infighting​

The NRL faces a crisis as Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson delivers an ultimatum that could trigger player departures and administrative intervention at the embattled joint venture.
Andrew Webster

4 min read
December 7, 2025 - 5:24PM

Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson will quit his job on Monday unless the ARL Commission appoints an independent administrator to save the embattled joint venture – something chairman Peter V’landys is strongly considering.
“We are investigating the powers we have in this type of situation, including appointing an administrator,” V’landys told The Australian.
Richardson has been weighing up his future since the Tigers’ majority shareholder, Holman Barnes Group, last week sacked the four independent directors it had only appointed in January.
Those close to Richardson say he’s “done”, fed up with the political infighting that has held back the club for more than a decade and a smear campaign levelled against him and senior staff.

Reports on Friday that the NRL integrity unit was investigating claims from a disgruntled former employee that Richardson had paid money to a digital, branding, and marketing company run by his son have only furthered his belief that it is time to leave.
It is understood Richardson will argue a large amount of the money relates to the consultancy fee he was paid while interim chief executive from December 2023 until June 2024.
He started a four-year contract on July 2, 2024, with a clause stipulating he would receive a full payout if independent directors weren’t on the board. He has 2½ years remaining on his deal. HBG last week discharged the four independents, including chairman and former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, plummeting the club into chaos.

Richardson is expected to resign on Monday afternoon after addressing his staff, many of whom he had enticed to the club, although V’landys’s intervention at the 11th hour could change his mind.
“We are going to talk to both the independent directors and Holman Barnes,” V’landys said. “We are certainly not happy with the instability this has caused.”
It wouldn’t be the first time head office has stepped in to save a club from itself. In 2015, the NRL took ownership of the Gold Coast Titans in the wake of a cocaine supply scandal. They were placed in voluntary administration after realising they could not meet their financial obligations, including paying the salaries of staff and players.
Two years earlier, the NRL ordered the Tigers install an independent board in exchange for financial support as the club teetered on the brink of insolvency. A new board, headed by media executive Marina Go, was formed the next year.
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Let's be clear this is not a wests v balmain thing its west ashfield v West ashfield backroom boardroom thing.
 
hammertime said:
It doesnt need to be illegal. The license is a commercial contract which will have certain obligations that HBG need to maintain.

They've also obviously breached their fudiciary duty to act on behalf of HDB members too, so would run afoul of L&G. But I have no faith in a govt body. They don't want to create work for themselves.
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I’m also pretty sure some poster identified the JV agreement stated ‘independent’ multiple times and a requirement for NRL approval to removal of independent directors 🤷
 
TYGA said:
PVL won’t have any power here at the end of the day. The club doesn’t have to be independent, it is financially viable and HBG can guarantee its finances. PVL can see what happens if Richo goes club is a big draw card and it needs Richo at the helm.

I’d like to see a forced sale like they do in NFL and NBA. Wests MacArthur would be the obvious choice if they are interested. Would be identical scenario to Knights after Tinkler.
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My thoughts too. He’s saying the right things to give us hope.
 
426Tlgerland said:
Just back from my short cruise today , left Thursday so no info since , what the hell has gone on since Thursday , my take
PVL says no Balmain No Wests will return to the NRL ,and if people think they will they are in for a shock.?
NRL launch investigation into Richo , some dirty board manger or other trying to back door him or has this got merit ,?
Richo could walk tomorrow .?
Ex Manly CEO and dud in the mix for our Richo position , was this guy any good at all , I only remember negative shit .?
Bulla on dogs radar 4 year deal , is this real , if so I think he goes .
Luai on shaky ground as well ?
Any other ear news , did people March today or is it next week, sorry for all the questions it just saves me reading heaps and falling asleep to much
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Please don’t holiday again you’re the glue holding the board together.
 
mtd#2 said:
There's too many pages to go through..
What were the NRL email addresses for ABDO and co ?
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1000011143.jpg

I added a little to the start of cochise's template:

To whom it may concern,

As a member of Wests Tigers, and only a fan of Wests Tigers, with no allegience to either foundation club, I’m writing to express my personal concern about the governance of the Wests Tigers. In my view, the influence of the debenture holders and HBG has been damaging to the club’s stability, progress, and long-term direction, harming members, supporters, and the reputation of the game.

I ask that the NRL review the situation and intervene with HBG before further harm is done to the club or the league.

Regards,

Suzie
 
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