HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

BAGNF05 said:
What’s he possibly going to say,

“You know how I was adamant I would only work under a Board with good governance, well there’s nothing to see here” 😂

I can’t see how he stays.
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Richo was constantly espousing the need to have a WT board independent but reporting to the HBG board. His mantra was consistent..’what HBG do is and should be of no concern to us, they are seperate and have other responsibilities’ constantly repeated after each HBG public brawl and sacking or banning each other.
But this time it’s different, the playground bullies have entered the sandbox, broken the toys and booted people.
 
twentyforty said:
Richo was constantly espousing the need to have a WT board independent but reporting to the HBG board. His mantra was consistent..’what HBG do is and should be of no concern to us, they are seperate and have other responsibilities’ constantly repeated after each HBG public brawl and sacking or banning each other.
But this time it’s different, the playground bullies have entered the sandbox, broken the toys and booted people.
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What HBG are effectively trying to tell us is that they know better than Richo and his Board.

I’m sorry HBG there is no historical evidence to back that up! None. You are inept.
 
Tucker said:
Judging the interview with the HBG leader, it seems that may not be fully true. So was he wrong? Ill informed? Or are they all lying?
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I am on a few NFP boards and have formal board certification...Boards are not meant to be involved in day to day operational matters, they are more focused and responsible for governance, compliance and strategy. All board members are personally liable for the decisions they make and the decisions they fail to make. The independent board members that were dumped are not new to board membership and would be well aware of the fact that all their decisions and actions need to be minuted and they need to follow the board charter that we know was developed by HBG and the lawyers as this was the famous hold up when there was a delay in recruiting the independent members. To say there is a lack of communication or no communication on important strategy areas such as the stadiums deal would be very hard to believe. These independent directors are unpaid, so i doubt they would be sticking their heads out and risking their reputations keeping this a secret to screw over HBG.
 
Tom Shines said:
Looks like they are going after Richo…anyone got the full article?

www.smh.com.au

Wests Tigers CEO Richardson at centre of NRL integrity unit probe after whistleblower tip off

The NRL Integrity Unit has conducted several preliminary interviews following a whistleblower tip off that raised serious concerns over the conduct of Richardson and senior staff.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
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Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson is at the centre of an NRL Integrity Unit probe to determine whether there are grounds to investigate the veteran administrator following a whistleblower tip-off over his conduct.

The NRL Integrity Unit has conducted several preliminary interviews following a whistleblower tip-off that raised serious concerns over the conduct of Richardson and senior staff at the embattled club.

It comes as Richardson prepares to walk away from the club following Monday’s decision by Holman Barnes Group, the majority owner of the Tigers, to remove four independent directors including chairman Barry O’Farrell.

The Holman Barnes Group is aware of the allegations and making its own enquiries, which could impact Richardson’s potential seven-figure termination pay-out.

“The Holman Barnes Group is aware of the NRL’s interest in this matter and at this point in time we can not comment,” HBG deputy chairman Francesco Primerano said.

Sources with knowledge of the matter, talking on the condition of anonymity due to confidentiality, say questions have been raised about the club’s finances under Richardson - in particular invoices paid to a company he part owns with his son, Brent.

While Richardson has declared the potential conflict of interest to the board, a club informant has raised concern over the amount of money being paid to the Enrichd Group for their marketing, branding and digital consultancy services.

The NRL integrity unit has also been made aware of information regarding the Wests Tigers’ employment of up to two other members of Richardson’s family. Richardson declined to comment when contacted.

The Herald has also been told that Richardson, after speaking to this masthead, has since accused a former staff member of being the whistleblower and used Wests Tigers funds to send off a legal threat this week.

That former employee has since reached out to ex-Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis for legal advice and representation. Hagipantelis declined to comment.

The NRL is taking the matter seriously and has spoken to current and former Wests Tigers staff members about the issue. The matter has also reached members of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

The NRL received the tip-off through the code’s private whistleblower hotline and is understood to be in possession of evidence that will be pivotal to any potential future investigation if deemed necessary.

The Wests Tigers used to have a whistleblower hotline through Core Integrity, however the club decided to end its arrangement when Richardson took over from previous CEO Justin Pascoe.

The NRL’s Whistleblower Policy was set up to provide a process for persons to raise concerns regarding suspected misconduct involving the NRL or the ARLC.

Under the policy, it states that a person may make a report if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a director, officer, employee, contractor, supplier or other person who has business dealings with the NRL or ARLC has engaged in misconduct or an improper state of affairs.

Richardson is one of the longest serving administrators in rugby league but has endured a difficult season after his desperate bid to retain Lachlan Galvin was rejected by the teenager and his management, culminating in his mid-season exit to the Bulldogs.

Richardson’s future is now under the spotlight, with HBG directors frustrated with his approach and lack of communication and transparency with the owners.

Related Article​

Not convinced: Shane Richardson

Exclusive​

NRL 2026​

‘Richo call will be made on Monday’: Boss of Wests Tigers’ owners breaks his silence​

In an interview with the Herald on Thursday, Holman Barnes Group chief executive Daniel Paton admitted that the owners were blindsided.

“Now, there’s an agreement between Wests Tigers and Holman Barnes Group where certain decisions that are made need to come back to the owner for approval. That simply hasn’t been happening,” Paton said.

“And I can give an example of that – the stadium policy around Leichhardt Oval. So the announcement was that Leichhardt Oval would be the home of Wests Tigers for the next 15 years. The Holman Barnes Group board only found out about that with 16,000 other fans at Leichhardt Oval. Which is really bad for business, and it’s quite embarrassing really.”

Richardson is protected by a seven-figure termination pay-out, however, that could be in jeopardy as the NRL begin to make enquiries into his conduct at the club.

The Wests Tigers CEO took over from Justin Pascoe at the end of 2023 following an independent governance review conducted by Tony Crawford and Gary Barnier.

In February 2024 he denied a conflict of interest to this masthead when he signed a player managed by his son, Brent, for the company he part owned.

Richardson said all the relevant declarations had been made to the board prior to him accepting the CEO position.

Enrichd Group, formerly Rich Digital – is a business that specialises in brand building, digital innovation and talent management.

When Richardson began his tenure at the club the company signed on as a consultant to Wests Tigers to help the club grow its brand and drive profitable results.

The club has also signed several players from the company’s NRL and NRLW agency branch headed up by Richardson’s son, including Solomona Faataape and Charlie Murray.
 
I’d be surprised if a wily old stager like Richo has overstepped the line …having said that …a few here ( including myself ) have raised eye brows in the past over some of the connections with Rich Digital… any allegations of wrongdoing don’t have to be true in the end to hit the mark
 
Tom Shines said:
I’d be surprised if a wily old stager like Richo has overstepped the mark …having said that …a few have here ( including myself ) have raised eye brows in the past over some of the connections with Rich Digital… any allegations of wrongdoing don’t have to be true in the end to hit the mark
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His son did manage one of the worst first graders whose worn our jersey in recent memory.
 
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