Hi Shaun,
For me this is without doubt the most pressing issue at the Wests Tigers.
Powerhouse clubs like the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs receive more leagues club funding than the Wests Tigers comes down to differing board control structures, severe geographical division of profits, and the unique financial burdens of a merged joint venture.
While the Canterbury League Club routinely pours millions into the Bulldogs NRL team, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) operates under a completely different corporate reality:
1. Board Control: Direct Ties vs. Separation. The most critical difference between the two setups is who controls the purse strings:The Bulldogs Model: The Canterbury-Bankstown Football Club holds a guaranteed structural majority on the Canterbury League Club board (appointing four out of seven directors). Because the football side legally controls the commercial leagues club, they can easily vote to approve massive, multi-million-dollar annual grants straight to their NRL football program.
The Wests Tigers Model: The Wests Tigers football management has zero control over HBG's corporate board. HBG operates completely independently as a licensed hospitality group. Their primary corporate priority is running profitable hospitality venues, treating the Wests Tigers as an investment portfolio piece rather than their singular purpose.
How can you help stop HBG treating the Wests Tigers as an investment portfolio rather than a singular purpose?
Thanks
Hi Chunk, I appreciate the constructive question.
What I can do is communicate and engage with all 4 boards to ensure that they have a full understanding of what the club is going through and how we are moving forward. It is important to note that there are 4 boards here and they all play their vital part so communication is integral.
I saw and experienced this first hand at Penrith Panthers when I worked there as the alignment between to the football club and the group leagues club was important.
What is best for HBG, Magpies, Balmain and Wests tigers is a well performing club on and off the field. The structure of Wests tigers and HBG that you compare to the Bulldogs is of course very different and unique, I am keen to find the most effective model that we have within the current structure - anything outside of that is out of my control and definitely not in my JD.
So how can I help stop the perceived portfolio approach by HBG? Primarily is through the strong communication of the clubs needs and strategy. This will enable to focus on the governance decisions made by the club and result in the best allocation of resources available (and requesting more as needed in the right areas). There is obviously a long way to go here but it is important aspect to call out.
The primary role of boards HBG included is governance and whilst this seems a simple notion it does appear that over the course of the history of the club this has not always been the case. At times it is clear to me that boards have become involved in the operations and daily decision making, whilst at other times the board have been totally left out and unaware of key big impact decisions or areas that needed better corporate governance and regulatory oversight - I will leave you guys to align which moment match which issues in our history.
It's obvious that what is best for Wests Tigers will also be best for HBG so it is important this is a clear focus both in the long and short term.
For example right now there is a huge focus of my energy and drive on the pathways structure and resources. The club must be set up to ensure that the talent coming through are properly developed in all areas, physically, mentally, technically and cultural. This must come from the coaches, the club must put more energy resources and expertise into our coaching development and curriculum. I will have plenty more to roll out publicly about the detail in this but as it is a work in progress I need to crack on in getting this right quickly without rushing it as well.
Whilst it is match day today I had a moment of time and clear head space to jump on quickly and answer a couple questions, I will try and get to the rest through the week ahead.
I'm not sure I'm ever going to appease anyone being critical of me being a "HBG puppet" - they are the board and I report to them, my conversations with them must remain confidential and they are. I can't see the value in spending time trying to prove anything here either way for anyone when what I need to be doing is focus on doing my job and improving this club's results.
I'm happy to have hard conversations and I am having those conversation, but I would rather be judged for my actions than any words that are said on forum's, podcasts or in the media.
by being on here I just want to make sure that members of this forum do know that I am listening and appreciate their time, effort and support for the club. you are some of the most if not the most loyal fans I have ever seen.
Hopefully i see plenty of you at the game today and will jump back on later this week to catch up on so many questions and posts
