Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[hank37w]

Wow big age gap if hes a brother. Manu would have to be pushing 40.
Side note, isn't he in jail for drug trafficking?

Mate I just posted almost exactly the same thing.

 

[diedpretty]

"HBG is believed to be the only registered club in NSW to continue to operate such a system"

That says it all. Also, while they mention that the debenture holding cannot be passed on, the system ensures that debenture holders vote in the new debenture holders. Burgess husband & wife, both being holders, is an example of how nepotism can creep in.

It's a system that is easily corrupted. I hope L&G manages to join the dots, but I don't hold out much hope.

You forgot this bit

Liquor and Gaming NSW last year found the debenture system “to be lawful and not to confer any unlawful or undue advantage to members”.


Not that i give a shit and would like the debenture system wiped however i am sick of the usual crowd picking the parts of media reports that suit their agenda while ignoring parts that don't.

 

[liltiger]

My favourite bit of news from the week is that HBG are in advanced talks to buy a major share in the Hunter Mariners A league club. We have been operating on the smell of an oily rag massivley under funded compared to the succesfull teams since we started. Dont pump more money into us, no buy an A league club instead so you can screw 2 teams in 2 seperate comps at the same time.

 

[Tigerdazz2]

Huge fan of Tino but jeez tough game for your debut. Not gonna be a good afternoon lol

I bet you're glad this aged like a prawn 🦐 in the sun ☀️ 😆

So happy for Tino!

 

[Jolls]

My favourite bit of news from the week is that HBG are in advanced talks to buy a major share in the Hunter Mariners A league club. We have been operating on the smell of an oily rag massivley under funded compared to the succesfull teams since we started. Dont pump more money into us, no buy an A league club instead so you can screw 2 teams in 2 seperate comps at the same time.

And where is the constitution does is say we should support sports that aren't rugby league in the region. I know Sydney is getting closer to the Central Coast but not quite in the Westsern Suburbs region.

 

[wstigers11]

I bet you're glad this aged like a prawn 🦐 in the sun ☀️ 😆

So happy for Tino!

So true mate. In benji we trust!

 

[bptiger 0]

Only a matter of time before people say its fine to lose nrl players because we have juniors like this

Have u all forgot, about the great juniors we had and signed them all up then we couldn’t wait to get rid off them.
14-15 olds can go two ways , 1st grader , or chasing girls and drinking , want to see them throw to nsw cup before getting excited

 

[Modman]

View attachment 35906

Another junior locked up to add from the one yesterday. Good sign for the pathways system after winning the AJ & LD cups over the weekend

Is that for a ball boy role. Look out our senior players as already suggested most will have this guy ready b4 years end.

 

[Odessa]

My favourite bit of news from the week is that HBG are in advanced talks to buy a major share in the Hunter Mariners A league club. We have been operating on the smell of an oily rag massivley under funded compared to the succesfull teams since we started. Dont pump more money into us, no buy an A league club instead so you can screw 2 teams in 2 seperate comps at the same time.

Hay when your on a roll why not

 

[Odessa]

My favourite bit of news from the week is that HBG are in advanced talks to buy a major share in the Hunter Mariners A league club. We have been operating on the smell of an oily rag massivley under funded compared to the succesfull teams since we started. Dont pump more money into us, no buy an A league club instead so you can screw 2 teams in 2 seperate comps at the same time.

Does Benji coach Soccer as well because it's a summer sport?

 

[Leck]

I’m going to take a punt and say that Benji, Josh and Keiran will change the way we used to look at footy. Enjoy the next generation of the best coaches.

 

[user118245]

Pay closer attention to last night's game.

I saw Jake's headgear rolling around on the ground at least twice.

Watching tonight, already gone 🤣

 

[stevied]

Exactly
A club Offers me that contract I sign it on the spot.
At the time just another ridiculous contract offer that the club made.
What I would say about L.Brooks is in the games that I have watched him play that he always puts in ✅
Which I can’t say about other players that we have overpaid.

Absolutely. This was definitely the case with his defence. He also tried hard in attack but the harder he tried the more ineffective he was. At least Manly have played him correctly, as second receiver/ running 6.

 

[stevied]

Holman Barnes Group investigation: Liquor and Gaming NSW investigates Wests Tigers owner over debenture system

The owner of Wests Tigers is facing a fresh investigation into a decades-old system that gives 20 people effective control of a $100 million leagues club operation and the NRL joint venture.

The Holman Barnes Group has a 90 per cent stake in the Tigers and holds the balance of power on the NRL team’s board, as well as running the Wests Ashfield club.

It has been plagued by internal strife during the past 18 months, with four directors axed and banned for a combined 23 years at the poker machine empire.

HBG was cleared by Liquor and Gaming NSW in July after an initial probe into a complaint of board misconduct and governance failures at the organisation, which was formerly known as Western Suburbs Leagues Club.

However, the state’s clubs regulator said it was investigating again.

“Liquor and Gaming NSW is looking into complaints between December 2025 and January 2026 about the Western Suburbs Leagues Club,” a spokesperson said.

“These complaints relate to the operation of a debenture system and the club’s compliance with the Registered Clubs Act 1976.

“As these inquiries are ongoing, no further comment can be made at this stage.”

A HBG spokesperson said it had “complied with all requests from Liquor and Gaming NSW dating back to late 2024, providing detailed responses and supporting information to their satisfaction”.

“We were informed last year that there was no further action to be taken at the time,” the spokesperson said.

“Any subsequent complaints appear to be an extension of the scope of the original complaints, and we will be treating those in full co-operation with the regulator. We take all such matters with utmost professional compliance and will act in accordance with all regulatory requirements.”

HBG is believed to be the only registered club in NSW to continue to operate such a system, in which five of seven board positions must be filled by 20 so-called debenture holders and the club’s 28,500 members can only vote on the remaining two spots.

The system originated in 1955 with founding members issued with debentures in return for providing $100 each to get the club off the ground.

The debentures are non-transferrable. HBG said they could not be assigned, sold or passed on, including to a relative after a holder’s death, and vacancies were filled by a process in which candidates were considered by a selection committee and the board had final approval. The selection committee is appointed by the board.

Liquor and Gaming NSW last year found the debenture system “to be lawful and not to confer any unlawful or undue advantage to members”.

But it is under the microscope again following a year of upheaval in 2025 in which HBG chair Julie Romero was ousted in a boardroom coup and long-time chief executive Simon Cook also departed.

In December, HBG then axed Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell and three other Tigers independent directors, who had been installed after a governance review and had held the majority on the board.

HBG cited inadequate communication as their reason for intervening before reinstating the independent directors at the request of the NRL.

But HBG’s representation on the board was increased, ensuring it has the numbers to call the shots despite former NSW premier O’Farrell being chairman.

According to corporate records only two of the independents – O’Farrell and Michelle McDowell – still sit on what is now an eight-member Tigers board.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson, who had delivered the club’s first profit in a decade, quit in response to the board shake-up, walking away with a seven-figure payout after just 18 months of a four-year contract.

HBG also settled late last year with former director Rick Wayde after he brought Supreme Court action against it.

Asked about the cost of legal fees and payouts during the past year, the HBG spokesperson said it “does not publicly disclose commercially sensitive information, including legal costs or employment-related payments, unless required to do so under applicable law or regulatory obligations, which in this case it is not required to do so”.

The Tigers in December also extended the contract of head coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2030.

Marshall’s Tigers have begun the season impressively, defeating the high-flying New Zealand Warriors in Auckland last Friday to rise to third place before their Easter Monday contest against Parramatta at CommBank Stadium.

Yep, and as I said in another HBG related thread, a massive pat on the back to Benji for being the positive face and focus of the club, despite the constant bickering of the so called leaders above him.

 

[supercoach]

HBG owe Benji and the boys heaps, if they had started the season poorly HBG would be under the pump from everywhere, now they can slide back and be invisible and do nothing like in years gone by. Make no mistake they have been the hand brake on the club

 

[Adam Doobie]

Jake Averillo anyone? Off contract this year, pace to burn, plays right centre, real strike weapon. I'd say he wants a payday. Haven't seen if he's signed for someone already.

 

[stevied]

HBG owe Benji and the boys heaps, if they had started the season poorly HBG would be under the pump from everywhere, now they can slide back and be invisible and do nothing like in years gone by. Make no mistake they have been the hand brake on the club

I think a lot of people in the whole Rugby League community are well aware of that. Beware of the Wests Tigers - the sleeping giant!

 

[hammertime]

You forgot this bit

Liquor and Gaming NSW last year found the debenture system “to be lawful and not to confer any unlawful or undue advantage to members”.


Not that i give a shit and would like the debenture system wiped however i am sick of the usual crowd picking the parts of media reports that suit their agenda while ignoring parts that don't.

Where did I say it was unlawful? I said I beleive it was open to corruption and nepotism and I hope L&G connected the dots, which they didn't do in their findings last year.

Happy for you to argue that I'm wrong on that point, but don't twist what I was saying please like I'm ommiting facts. Mine is an opinion, much like L&Gs. They just have the power. I was costing parts of the federal budget at 21 - govt depts are badly staffed and not infallible. There's a lot of subjectivity and forecasting in rulings.

 

[Merlot]

HBG owe Benji and the boys heaps, if they had started the season poorly HBG would be under the pump from everywhere, now they can slide back and be invisible and do nothing like in years gone by. Make no mistake they have been the hand brake on the club

All they need to do ,is shut up and increase sponsorship

 

[Tito Santana]

The BS was the comment I responded to. Specifically "We didn’t even need to pay him his “unders”. No one wanted him". Call him shit if you want you're entitled to the opinion and it's shared by many, even by some on here who sometimes actually have well informed opinions.
To suggest no one wanted him when he was signed is clearly wrong.
It was immediately following his Dally M year and there were reports of several clubs chasing him. Top of the list were that years premiers looking towards life after Cronk. Dogs, Raiders, Eels, Dragons, Warriors were all linked to him at some point before he re-signed. Even following 4 more ordinary years here, he still had no issues finding another club.
Share your opinions and your shitty jokes that have all the originality of a potato all you like but I don't understand the need to add the BS on top.

Would you like some cheese with that whine Brooksy?

Seems like I struck a nerve. Gold!

Still don’t know how you got Dally M in 2018. Clearly rigged how you got that. Much like those contracts you’ve had.

Perfect case of politics and who you know I guess.

Hey do you think Fogs is the final chess piece to unleash your talents? That’s my favourite Brooksy story every year.