weststigers
Well-known member
Thanks Chad, but we knew that
HBG, Independent Directors Sacked
- Thread starter BlackWhiteGold
- Start date
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I think anyone holding out hope of Richo returning needs to prepare themselves for the opposite. I have no mail, but I just can't see him coming back after leaving in such bad circumstances. Vlandys will do nothing in regards to the HBG, other than maintain contact to keep updated on the situation for when he is asked for a comment. He will do nothing and doesn't give a shit about WTs. He cares about his back pocket and growing the game outside of Sydney. This is why I believe Richo won't return. The HBG will run the club into the ground (i.e. Marshall gone next) and try to rebuild it in some way shape or form, it will more than likely fail and WTs, Magpies or Balmain (whatever the team is called) will exist in the NSW cup. The club is in big trouble and I just can't see a good way in which this scenario will end.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Betoota Advocate again?
weststigers
Well-known member
Daily Telegraph
HBG MAGPIES are not "trying everything to ruin our F team".
Strange, as I didn't know we had an F team though.
An NRL team and a NSW Cup team to just name a couple.
But an F team, never heard of it 😆.
Why? What's the point of doing that.
You've been anti MAGPIE ever since I have known you, and that is a fact.
BlackWhiteGold
Well-known member
Former Test star Ben Elias emerges as frontrunner in Wests Tigers chairman search
In what shapes as the most important decision in the Wests Tigers’ tumultuous history, the club have launched their search for a new chairman, with a former legend among the leading candidates.
Dean Ritchie
December 10, 2025 - 3:34PM
In arguably the most important decision in the club’s tumultuous 25-year history, the haemorrhaging Wests Tigers have launched their search for a new chairman with a former Test star the leading contender to claim the position.
This masthead had been told three candidates for the club’s top job are Ben Elias, Leo Epifania and Dennis Burgess.
Burgess, who may struggle to claim the chairmanship after revelations emerged last weekend that his Instagram account follows hundreds of sexually explicit pages, is chairman of Wests Magpies and Holman Barnes Group, while Epifania is on the Wests Tigers board and Elias is a Tigers legend with a powerful business CV.
The club’s chair position was vacated last week when the Holman Barnes Group dumped Barry O’Farrell, a former NSW Premier, and three other independent directors from the joint-venture board.
That decision was followed by the demise earlier this week of Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson.
With two leadership positions unfilled, the club desperately needs to immediately find a strong chairman to end the internal infighting.
When contacted about the possibility of becoming Wests Tigers chairman, Elias would only say: “It would be an honour and privilege to be chair of such a great club. We need to make some strong decisions and we need to do it soon because the NRL kicks off in less than three months’ time.
“I am totally supportive of Benji Marshall and the priority for the club is to put out these fires and move forward in a positive manner.”
Elias served on the Wests Tigers board when the club won the 2005 grand final and was previously a Tigers development officer and marketing manager. He also served five years on the Perth Glory A-League club board.
A former NSW and Kangaroos hooker, Elias is known to have a line to the top end of town.
Epifania, who played 23 games for Wests in the 1980s, is also in the running but questions remain about whether he would suit the role.
Wests Tigers are also looking for a CEO to replace Richardson. The club is expected to name an interim chief executive with current general manager of football, Shaun Mielekamp, the favourite.
Manly’s Tony Mestrov is still being heavily considered but Mielekamp is understood to have the inside running.
Naming an interim chief executive allows the club some breathing space to appoint a chairman before deciding on a full-time CEO.
Regarded as a blue-collar administrator, Mielekamp is a former Central Coast Mariners chief executive and merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney.
The appointment of Mielekamp would allow for continuity given he already works for Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is known to be fed-up trying to protect his players from the boardroom drama.
A rally to protest how the club is being run will be held at 10.30am this Saturday where fans will march 1km from Pratten Park to Wests Leagues, Ashfield to demand that Holman Barnes Group directors resign.
“At this rally, fans and members will call on Peter V’landys and the NRL, as well as Liquor and Gaming NSW, to intervene and fix the shambolic governance of Wests Tigers once and for all,” said Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne.
In what shapes as the most important decision in the Wests Tigers’ tumultuous history, the club have launched their search for a new chairman, with a former legend among the leading candidates.
Dean Ritchie
December 10, 2025 - 3:34PM
In arguably the most important decision in the club’s tumultuous 25-year history, the haemorrhaging Wests Tigers have launched their search for a new chairman with a former Test star the leading contender to claim the position.
This masthead had been told three candidates for the club’s top job are Ben Elias, Leo Epifania and Dennis Burgess.
Burgess, who may struggle to claim the chairmanship after revelations emerged last weekend that his Instagram account follows hundreds of sexually explicit pages, is chairman of Wests Magpies and Holman Barnes Group, while Epifania is on the Wests Tigers board and Elias is a Tigers legend with a powerful business CV.
The club’s chair position was vacated last week when the Holman Barnes Group dumped Barry O’Farrell, a former NSW Premier, and three other independent directors from the joint-venture board.
That decision was followed by the demise earlier this week of Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson.
With two leadership positions unfilled, the club desperately needs to immediately find a strong chairman to end the internal infighting.
When contacted about the possibility of becoming Wests Tigers chairman, Elias would only say: “It would be an honour and privilege to be chair of such a great club. We need to make some strong decisions and we need to do it soon because the NRL kicks off in less than three months’ time.
“I am totally supportive of Benji Marshall and the priority for the club is to put out these fires and move forward in a positive manner.”
Elias served on the Wests Tigers board when the club won the 2005 grand final and was previously a Tigers development officer and marketing manager. He also served five years on the Perth Glory A-League club board.
A former NSW and Kangaroos hooker, Elias is known to have a line to the top end of town.
Epifania, who played 23 games for Wests in the 1980s, is also in the running but questions remain about whether he would suit the role.
Wests Tigers are also looking for a CEO to replace Richardson. The club is expected to name an interim chief executive with current general manager of football, Shaun Mielekamp, the favourite.
Manly’s Tony Mestrov is still being heavily considered but Mielekamp is understood to have the inside running.
Naming an interim chief executive allows the club some breathing space to appoint a chairman before deciding on a full-time CEO.
Regarded as a blue-collar administrator, Mielekamp is a former Central Coast Mariners chief executive and merchandise and marketing manager at Penrith and South Sydney.
The appointment of Mielekamp would allow for continuity given he already works for Wests Tigers.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is known to be fed-up trying to protect his players from the boardroom drama.
A rally to protest how the club is being run will be held at 10.30am this Saturday where fans will march 1km from Pratten Park to Wests Leagues, Ashfield to demand that Holman Barnes Group directors resign.
“At this rally, fans and members will call on Peter V’landys and the NRL, as well as Liquor and Gaming NSW, to intervene and fix the shambolic governance of Wests Tigers once and for all,” said Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne.
WestsEffTheRest
Well-known member
Wests are Wests Tigers mate the sooner you understand that the better it'll be for you.
WestsEffTheRest
Well-known member
These clowns probably think if they hire some old Balmain fart it means their committed to the joint venture Lol
Tom Shines
Well-known member
Praying for Benny to be appointed Chairman 😂
The Chad
Well-known member
Benny doesn't appear to be a HBG stooge
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Remember Warren Henry? He’s been outed as a fraud. Shock horror. 
WestsEffTheRest
Well-known member
Damage control.... you think the bloke who sent Balmain broke should be a chairman?
Tom Shines
Well-known member
I think that will do me … you are clearly not impartial in this matter
The Chad
Well-known member
It's not exactly who I would have picked.
I had no idea he was part of the Perth Glory.
Wonder how the Perth Glory/Central Coast Mariners link might work.
Maybe bring back Lee & Pascoe & the Newcastle FC link can push Wests Tigers into a new career path.
liltiger
Well-known member
Not like the bar is really that high atm.
Tom Shines
Well-known member
It continues HBG sabotage of the club … it will bring further ridicule upon the club…
Does he have any expertise to take on this role ?
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Why would HBG appoint Elias?
The Chad
Well-known member
Honestly- I am as surprised as anyone Benny gets mentioned.
I advocated for Ben Galea & Skando.
Isn't Benny's mate Blocker supposed to be at the Wests Tigers Party on Saturday? Maybe Benny can convince Blue Wiggle & Meriton to join the board?
BAGNF05
Well-known member
Well we know HBG don’t watch NRL360
🤡
🤡
Tom Shines
Well-known member
They have had experience being Dirctors at least …Burgo has been one for decades
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