HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

[cochise]

They also said details of the final board composition will be made in Feb.

Dennis resigned. Replaced by who?

3 x Independents, 1 x Balmain & 1 x Wests Magpies + 5 x HBG is 10.

5 x HBG is a fallacy. It's 4 x HBG + 1 x Wests Magpies.

If you want to argue that HBG control the Magpies board- that is absolutely true & correct.

They also financially contribute to the Balmain club, so that 'independent seat' is questionable too.

The actual FACT to work with is- whatever the Wests Tigers/HBG board finally presented to PVL in the 'negotiation' was signed off by PVL & the NRL as an acceptable resolution.

Whatever the reason for the board removal, whatever it REALLY was- when PVL & the NRL looked into it as so many fans demanded- the result was that the NRL signed off on the proposed new board composition.

The group theory is that PVL has put the fear of God into HBG to 'toe the line'. There is....absolutely no evidence of this at all.

It is equally as likely that PVL & the NRL heard both sides & decided that HBG had made a reasonable case to be put in charge.

For three weeks there are certain factions of the message board that are convinced they know the truth of it because they think it is so. And anyone that thinks differently is ridiculed more often than not.

There are always 2 sides to a story & the truth of it generally lays somewhere in the middle.

The HBG deserve no trust in this situation, as they have shown they are a dysfunctional rabble.

 

[cochise]

Were the allegations against the three banned former board members ever thrown out?

The HBG settled with Rick Wayde a couple of weeks ago.

 

[The Chad]

The HBG settled with Rick Wayde a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks Cochise.

The allegations against the other 2?

 

[The Chad]

The HBG deserve no trust in this situation, as they have shown they are a dysfunctional rabble.

I've not disagreed with you on any of your ideas. You clearly know them better than many.

But the NRL & PVL are showing them trust.

 

[cochise]

Thanks Cochise.

The allegations against the other 2?

I don't know what has happened with those.

 

[cochise]

I've not disagreed with you on any of your ideas. You clearly know them better than many.

But the NRL & PVL are showing them trust.

I disagree with a lot PVL does, this is another.

I'm not 100% convinced that PVL understood what the real complaint was.

 

[The Chad]

I don't know what has happened with those.

Settlements are neither an admission of guilt or abolishment of guilt.

Certainly appears to be a volatile gathering of people when they are in the same room.

 

[cochise]

Settlements are neither an admission of guilt or abolishment of guilt.

Certainly appears to be a volatile gathering of people when they are in the same room.

Yeah I wasn't saying either way. I'm not a Rick Wayde supporter, I think he is an example of the dysfunction at the HBG.

 

[Telltails]

And let's not forget about Julie Romero also banned for who knows what and not a peep out of her - to my knowledge.
Promoted when Tony A was ousted to chair fully supported by Richo and then dumped by her own people her put her less than year later.
But hey nothing to be concerned about here.

 

[cktiger]

While you’re arguing about whether the feeder team should be called “Magpies” or “Wests Tigers,” the actual problem is what feeds the decisions into the NRL team and that comes from a structure that protects failure.

My argument has always been this. The club is run by people insulated from accountability, whose professional credentials do not match the power they wield. Leo is the perfect symbol of this. His influence stems from heritage and a debenture-holder's position, not from a proven record of building successful football clubs or businesses.

You tried to reframe the argument to ask how a name change improves results. I never made that claim. I said the reason for a WT reserve grade is brand alignment, a coherent marketing strategy for a modern sports business. But I'll engage as a point of academic discussion.

By dismissing branding as "jibberish," you reveal your blind spot. You view the club as an amateur football team, when players still had jobs, not as a business that requires strong branding, revenue, and a clear identity to fund football success. That "jibberish" pays for the high-performance unit, the scouts, the assistants, the coaches etc.

And this amateur mindset is why our execution is a mess. We brand as Wests Tigers, then vandalise the jersey with little magpies on the sleeve, a confused and diluted identity. The two heritage logos on the neck already satisfied that objective. Any qualified marketer would see that.

It’s the same across the board. We have amateur, unqualified people in power, a protected circle of mates and debenture holders who would never get a shot running anything in the real world if they were held accountable. A bunch of Kevs, BZNs, and Terrigal bus drivers making emotional personal decisions that keep us down the bottom of the ladder.

Coaches are sacked. Assistants moved on. Players are moved on. Boards sacked. Debenture holders suspended and given lengthy bans. But the small group of people at the governance level remain and purge those that want to see some progress. They cannot be voted out by members. They are the constants in a decade of failure.

So yes, I judge by results. And when the results are historic failure, and the pathway to power has no basis in merit or expertise, the club is broken at its core.

Until that changes, arguing over the reserve grade name is not worth discussing.

Was just about to write something similar… thanks for saving me the time.
Well written… not sure if it will sink in though.

 

[The Chad]

I disagree with a lot PVL does, this is another.

I'm not 100% convinced that PVL understood what the real complaint was.

It is possible.

But, he is the head of the organisation as it stands. If he's satisfied with the outcome, there is a chance that the full story has been heard & that HBG might have had some valid reasoning.

Unfortunately- unless we hear a complete version of events from someone involved, every argument is based on belief.

Have the allegations against Richo been dismissed?

 

[mtd#2]

For three weeks there are certain factions of the message board that are convinced they know the truth of it because they think it is so. And anyone that thinks differently is ridiculed more often than not.

Its completely fine to think differently. It's not fine make things up and present them as fact, then not engage in discussion when questioned about them...

But I understand the point you are making and do not disagree.

 

[KevB]

While you’re arguing about whether the feeder team should be called “Magpies” or “Wests Tigers,” the actual problem is what feeds the decisions into the NRL team and that comes from a structure that protects failure.

My argument has always been this. The club is run by people insulated from accountability, whose professional credentials do not match the power they wield. Leo is the perfect symbol of this. His influence stems from heritage and a debenture-holder's position, not from a proven record of building successful football clubs or businesses.

You tried to reframe the argument to ask how a name change improves results. I never made that claim. I said the reason for a WT reserve grade is brand alignment, a coherent marketing strategy for a modern sports business. But I'll engage as a point of academic discussion.

By dismissing branding as "jibberish," you reveal your blind spot. You view the club as an amateur football team, when players still had jobs, not as a business that requires strong branding, revenue, and a clear identity to fund football success. That "jibberish" pays for the high-performance unit, the scouts, the assistants, the coaches etc.

And this amateur mindset is why our execution is a mess. We brand as Wests Tigers, then vandalise the jersey with little magpies on the sleeve, a confused and diluted identity. The two heritage logos on the neck already satisfied that objective. Any qualified marketer would see that.

It’s the same across the board. We have amateur, unqualified people in power, a protected circle of mates and debenture holders who would never get a shot running anything in the real world if they were held accountable. A bunch of Kevs, BZNs, and Terrigal bus drivers making emotional personal decisions that keep us down the bottom of the ladder.

Coaches are sacked. Assistants moved on. Players are moved on. Boards sacked. Debenture holders suspended and given lengthy bans. But the small group of people at the governance level remain and purge those that want to see some progress. They cannot be voted out by members. They are the constants in a decade of failure.

So yes, I judge by results. And when the results are historic failure, and the pathway to power has no basis in merit or expertise, the club is broken at its core.

Until that changes, arguing over the reserve grade name is not worth discussing.

 

[The Chad]

And let's not forget about Julie Romero also banned for who knows what and not a peep out of her - to my knowledge.
Promoted when Tony A was ousted to chair fully supported by Richo and then dumped by her own people her put her less than year later.
But hey nothing to be concerned about here.

So Richo supported the removal of Wayde, Tony A & Gilbert?

 

[cktiger]

It is possible.

But, he is the head of the organisation as it stands. If he's satisfied with the outcome, there is a chance that the full story has been heard & that HBG might have had some valid reasoning.

Unfortunately- unless we hear a complete version of events from someone involved, every argument is based on belief.

Have the allegations against Richo been dismissed?

I’m hoping he’s put it on hold and is courting others who want to take over the club.

 

[weststigers]

They also said details of the final board composition will be made in Feb.

Dennis resigned. Replaced by who?

article below

3 x Independents, 1 x Balmain & 1 x Wests Magpies + 5 x HBG is 10.

It's a 9 person board. Not 10.

5 x HBG is a fallacy. It's 4 x HBG + 1 x Wests Magpies.

Epifania is an HBG debenture holder. Ok Chad. If you think it's a fallacy, let's go with that. He will vote with HBG and result will be the same however you label it.

If you want to argue that HBG control the Magpies board- that is absolutely true & correct.

Yes. That is my argument. Glad you state it's true.

They also financially contribute to the Balmain club, so that 'independent seat' is questionable too.

Huh? HBG fund Balmain juniors so this impacts an independent? An independent is independent. The Balmain fellow, Stapleton will vote according to his allegiance. He is not independent at all.

The actual FACT to work with is- whatever the Wests Tigers/HBG board finally presented to PVL in the 'negotiation' was signed off by PVL & the NRL as an acceptable resolution.

Yes. That is clear. But the minor change is when the independent directors got called back, HBG increased the board positions to give themselves control...it is therefore no longer an independent board. This argument that PVL agreed to it doesn't change that it went from independent majority to HBG majority. What is your argument?

Whatever the reason for the board removal, whatever it REALLY was- when PVL & the NRL looked into it as so many fans demanded- the result was that the NRL signed off on the proposed new board composition.

The group theory is that PVL has put the fear of God into HBG to 'toe the line'. There is....absolutely no evidence of this at all.

No evidence other than board members who were supposedly bad enough to be publicly sacked, have now been invited back with open arms after a meeting with the NRL. That is also a FACT. I don't know anyone who has been sacked and invited back a week later just because.

It is equally as likely that PVL & the NRL heard both sides & decided that HBG had made a reasonable case to be put in charge.

A compromise was reached...blind Freddy can see that. You spout this line like it's some earth shattering assessment of what happened. Yes Chad. Guys got in a room and resolved it quickly. Ground was conceded on both sides. You don't need to repeat it.

For three weeks there are certain factions of the message board that are convinced they know the truth of it because they think it is so. And anyone that thinks differently is ridiculed more often than not.

If you are being ridiculous, there's a chance you will be ridiculed. This just sounds like whining that your case isn't strong enough to get agreement. It's all double-speak and what ifs and maybes. It doesn't follow.a logical conclusion. You tested your ideas and they failed the test. You need something stronger. Everyone is open to new information, but not reframed and regurgitated versions of the same nonsense. Btw...if I'm wrong, I'll be the first to put my hand up. Will you?

There are always 2 sides to a story & the truth of it generally lays somewhere in the middle.

You got two things right. The board is due to meet in Feb and HBG and PVL found a resolution where both conceded some ground.

Here is the article with names from HBG. Why you need names is beyond me. The board composition is what matters 5/9 will vote with HBG. And yeah...Epifania is the Wests member who is a debenture holder. He will side with HBG. Stapleton makes 6. BOF is 7 and 2 more independents. The final independent refuses to come back. So...HBG took the opportunity to fill it with their own guy.

Article below.

"Holman Barnes have regained control of the Wests Tigers despite former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell’s third coming as chairman.

In the face of growing fan discontent and just days after up to a 1000 people rallied against the Tigers management, the new-look Tigers board met for the first time on Monday night with Holman Barnes now having a stranglehold on the club.

It was the first time the Tigers board met since the Holman Barnes Group removed four independent board members – including O’Farrell – which also resulted in Shane Richardson leaving the club as chief executive.

It is understood the new look board comprises of five Holman Barnes or Western Suburbs members giving the 90 per cent shareholders of the Tigers a strong majority in what is hoped to be a nine person board.

It is understood that Holman Barnes chief executive Daniel Paton, Holman Barnes deputy chairman Frank Primerano, Holman Barnes board member Mick Liubinskas and Holman Barnes chief commercial officer Michelle Nielsen make up the Holman Barnes representatives on the revamped board.

Leo Epifania returns as the Magpies representative while Danny Stapleton will continue to be Balmain’s voice on the board.
Holman Barnes chairman Dennis Burgess stood down from the Tigers board but remains as boss of the Tigers major shareholders.

Burgess denied his resignation was linked to the discovery that his Instagram account follows hundreds of sexually explicit pages.
While O’Farrell has quickly returned to his role as chairman after the NRL’s intervention just two weeks after being sacked the same cannot be said for the three other independent board members who were also axed.

The quartet were all offered their positions back.

Wests Tigers supporters have voiced their frustrations in a protest at Pratten Park, demaning the HBG group resign.

Two of the trio Annabelle Williams and Michelle McDowell remained locked in dialogue with Holman Barnes about what a potential return would look like. The third member Charlie Viola has indicated that he won’t be returning.

A statement made by Holman Barnes regarding the reason why the quartet were stood down has since been removed from their website. Paton also discussed the reasoning in a staged video which has also been deleted.

Despite the uncertainty at board level, the Tigers still re-signed coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2030 last week.

The Tigers board is not due to meet again until February.

 

[The Chad]

I’m hoping he’s put it on hold and is courting others who want to take over the club.

I mean, that's possible. And that would be a good outcome for all I assume.

 

[weststigers]

Thank you for quoting my own post back to me @KevB glad you enjoyed it

 

[Telltails]

So Richo supported the removal of Wayde, Tony A & Gilbert?

Richo supported an Independent Board well documented and so did the above mentioned. Those remaining doesn't appear so - would you agree?

 

[weststigers]

Was just about to write something similar… thanks for saving me the time.
Well written… not sure if it will sink in though.

No worries legend