Breaking news: HBG takeover

coivtny said:
Neither club ‘died’ in 1999.
Click to expand...
Yes they did . And so they should have . These last 25 years are an indication of the amateur hour bullshit that made wests an absolute joke for pretty much as long as I can remember , and Balmain only a golden generation for 5 years aside , right along side them .
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Not sure Benji getting sacked would be the worst thing.
Click to expand...
It’s more so what happens with them back in power. Each year we’ll have a new coach if they don’t make the finals, we won’t sign any big names and the good talent we do have are most likely gonna leave now. The whole thing has just shot the club in the foot.
 
innsaneink said:
Care to expand on this @coivtny
Click to expand...
Happy to mate. Demps put up an article that included the following direct quote:
“According to sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, one issue that led the HBG board to take action was the colour scheme of next season’s Wests Tigers home jersey, which was deemed to be too gold – a traditional colour of Balmain.”
As the comment comes from an unnamed source you couldn’t give it any credibility at this stage. It’s possible it is but I personally doubt it. That’s the reason I said “allegedly”. Time might give us the real answer.
 
So glad I haven't renewed my membership yet......

I have been a tigers supporter since birth. I made peace with the merger when it happened. I'm 47 years old and my teenage kids know nothing other than Wests tigers.

With what's happened today I'm the closest to ever from walking away from rugby league full stop.

The only way to hurt them is not to turn up to the games. Empty stadiums is the only way to get the message through.....

Sadly I can't see it happening......

How this can keep happening, I have no words......
 
BAGNF05 said:
Attention: Daniel Paton (CEO)

I am writing as a long-standing, fully paid member of the Wests Tigers—indeed, for my entire adult life. My commitment to this club has never wavered, but my confidence in its current ownership most certainly has.

Across the past two decades, the club has endured continual instability, inconsistency, and a pattern of decisions that appear to place the interests of ownership above the health and success of the football organisation. Your recent conduct—particularly actions perceived by many members as interference with, or undermining of, the club’s independent board—has deepened these concerns. From my perspective, these behaviours reflect a level of governance that is not fit for the long-term stewardship of our club.

As a result, I feel compelled to advocate for meaningful ownership change. I will be actively campaigning for reform and encouraging fellow members to consider doing the same. The Wests Tigers deserve leadership that prioritises stability, professionalism, and the future of the club above all else.

I urge you to take a step back, reflect on the damage caused by ongoing internal disruption, and allow common sense to prevail. The destabilising forces that have hampered this organisation for far too long must be removed so that the Wests Tigers can finally move forward—stronger, united, and with the respect its members and supporters deserve.

Sincerely,
[anyone on the WT forum who wants to formally complain]

Email - info@holmanbarnesgroup.com.au
Cc - Peter V’Landys (pvlandys@racingnsw.com.au)
Click to expand...
Great letter. Well written mate. Credit to you.
 
How can they do this? Didn't the Wests Tigers write up a new governance constitution when the review was done? How is it possible HBG can just tell board members on an independant board to go away. N.R.L needs to reregister the licence until HBG sell up. It will never end while they're involved.
 

Inside story: The 2026 jersey reveal that crushed Wests Tigers’ independent board​

A jersey deemed ‘too Balmain’ has helped trigger the dramatic downfall of Wests Tigers’ independent board in a stunning corporate power play, leaving CEO Shane Richardson in a precarious position.
Michael Carayannis
Michael Carayannis

@mcarayannis

2 min read
December 1, 2025 - 7:15PM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/LNooN#comments
Shane Richardson is under pressure following the dismantling of the independent board.

Shane Richardson is under pressure following the dismantling of the independent board.
The new Wests Tigers jersey – dubbed too Balmain dominant – is among the list of the four grievances which led to four independent board members lasting less than a year before being blindsided by their axing.

Some of the directors only learnt of their removal via the media before being informed formally by the Holman Barnes group.
The decision by Holman Barnes to regain full control of the Wests Tigers after trumpeting the implementation of an independent review should be cause for concern for the Tigers faithful.
For the first time in a while it seemed like the Tigers were on the right track. The club was profitable and stable with the four now dumped independent board members – Barry O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell — all professional heavyweights.
But again the Tigers are now on the brink of implosion with the Holman Barnes Group – who has been embroiled in their own governance issues this year – again running the show.

“Tigers haven’t had the best track record,” Jarome Luai says as he talks about what comes next for him at the Wests Tigers
It is understood that the relationship between the owners of the Tigers and some of the board members was at breaking point because of a string of recent decisions.
Among them includes the recently launched Wests Tigers new jersey – dubbed as too gold – and the club’s stadiums policy which they weren’t given a chance to veto.

Another big issue was a push from the independent board members who wanted to update the shareholding agreement.
While the Tigers board was supposed to be independent, the Holman Barnes Group still had control over a range of key decisions such as the hiring and firing of senior players and signing off of staff members.


Initially there was support for this change when it was raised months ago. Discussions progressed and centred around the club being profitable and having operating expenses in the account for the next two or three years. If that could be achieved then there could be a change in the shareholding agreement which enables the board to make all the decisions — not just the smaller ones.
But in more recent weeks there had been a shift from Holman Barnes which ultimately led to the removal of the majority of the Tigers board on Monday.


The other major problem according to Holman Barnes was a breakdown in communication between the two boards. This despite two Holman Barnes board members being appointed to the Tigers board ensuring they should have been kept abreast of any major decisions.
Holman Barnes chief executive Daniel Paton also sits on a shareholding deed committee which includes members of the Tigers board. Paton will be among the changes on the Tigers board.
While coach Benji Marshall won’t be impacted by the changes. The same can’t be said for chief executive Shane Richardson.
 
pacey said:

Inside story: The 2026 jersey reveal that crushed Wests Tigers’ independent board​

A jersey deemed ‘too Balmain’ has helped trigger the dramatic downfall of Wests Tigers’ independent board in a stunning corporate power play, leaving CEO Shane Richardson in a precarious position.
Michael Carayannis
Michael Carayannis
@mcarayannis

2 min read
December 1, 2025 - 7:15PM
News Sport Network
https://archive.md/LNooN#comments
Shane Richardson is under pressure following the dismantling of the independent board.

Shane Richardson is under pressure following the dismantling of the independent board.
The new Wests Tigers jersey – dubbed too Balmain dominant – is among the list of the four grievances which led to four independent board members lasting less than a year before being blindsided by their axing.

Some of the directors only learnt of their removal via the media before being informed formally by the Holman Barnes group.
The decision by Holman Barnes to regain full control of the Wests Tigers after trumpeting the implementation of an independent review should be cause for concern for the Tigers faithful.
For the first time in a while it seemed like the Tigers were on the right track. The club was profitable and stable with the four now dumped independent board members – Barry O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell — all professional heavyweights.
But again the Tigers are now on the brink of implosion with the Holman Barnes Group – who has been embroiled in their own governance issues this year – again running the show.

“Tigers haven’t had the best track record,” Jarome Luai says as he talks about what comes next for him at the Wests Tigers
It is understood that the relationship between the owners of the Tigers and some of the board members was at breaking point because of a string of recent decisions.
Among them includes the recently launched Wests Tigers new jersey – dubbed as too gold – and the club’s stadiums policy which they weren’t given a chance to veto.

Another big issue was a push from the independent board members who wanted to update the shareholding agreement.
While the Tigers board was supposed to be independent, the Holman Barnes Group still had control over a range of key decisions such as the hiring and firing of senior players and signing off of staff members.


Initially there was support for this change when it was raised months ago. Discussions progressed and centred around the club being profitable and having operating expenses in the account for the next two or three years. If that could be achieved then there could be a change in the shareholding agreement which enables the board to make all the decisions — not just the smaller ones.
But in more recent weeks there had been a shift from Holman Barnes which ultimately led to the removal of the majority of the Tigers board on Monday.


The other major problem according to Holman Barnes was a breakdown in communication between the two boards. This despite two Holman Barnes board members being appointed to the Tigers board ensuring they should have been kept abreast of any major decisions.
Holman Barnes chief executive Daniel Paton also sits on a shareholding deed committee which includes members of the Tigers board. Paton will be among the changes on the Tigers board.
While coach Benji Marshall won’t be impacted by the changes. The same can’t be said for chief executive Shane Richardson.
Click to expand...
Gutted if Richo walks, best signing the club has had
 
Tom Shines said:
Does anyone really cede control of something they own 90 percent of , to someone else ? It was always my major issue with all this…
Click to expand...
You ae right. They never ceded control, they appointed a board that could make decsions withing certain parameters. What the parameter were we will never know; however, it is likely that the independence allowed a decision that the "grown ups" weren't happy with.

If the jersey colour is a "real" issue, I have no doubt that they were aware of the direction the board was taking through the two members it maintaibs on the board. I can only imagine that the West Stigesr board did some market research and came up with the designs that were chosen. I expect that the Wests representatives were upset but didn't have the numbers to change the direction of the Wests Tigers Board.

Instead of using the power of veto I expect that rope was given that allowed the Wests Tigers Board to hang itself by "failing to engage appropriately" with the HBG board.

There were clearly other options that could have been taken other than ousting the independents on a Friday evening; but masking its takeover as coprporate blunder on behalf of the Wests Tiger's board clearly suits the aganda they have.
 
coivtny said:
Happy to mate. Demps put up an article that included the following direct quote:
“According to sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, one issue that led the HBG board to take action was the colour scheme of next season’s Wests Tigers home jersey, which was deemed to be too gold – a traditional colour of Balmain.”
As the comment comes from an unnamed source you couldn’t give it any credibility at this stage. It’s possible it is but I personally doubt it. That’s the reason I said “allegedly”. Time might give us the real answer.
Click to expand...
Nice dodge, You replied to a comment that said both jerseys were sold out with allegedly…

Insinuating the jerseys hadn’t sold out?
 
BAGNF05 said:
Attention: Daniel Paton (CEO)

I am writing as a long-standing, fully paid member of the Wests Tigers—indeed, for my entire adult life. My commitment to this club has never wavered, but my confidence in its current ownership most certainly has.

Across the past two decades, the club has endured continual instability, inconsistency, and a pattern of decisions that appear to place the interests of ownership above the health and success of the football organisation. Your recent conduct—particularly actions perceived by many members as interference with, or undermining of, the club’s independent board—has deepened these concerns. From my perspective, these behaviours reflect a level of governance that is not fit for the long-term stewardship of our club.

As a result, I feel compelled to advocate for meaningful ownership change. I will be actively campaigning for reform and encouraging fellow members to consider doing the same. The Wests Tigers deserve leadership that prioritises stability, professionalism, and the future of the club above all else.

I urge you to take a step back, reflect on the damage caused by ongoing internal disruption, and allow common sense to prevail. The destabilising forces that have hampered this organisation for far too long must be removed so that the Wests Tigers can finally move forward—stronger, united, and with the respect its members and supporters deserve.

Sincerely,
[anyone on the WT forum who wants to formally complain]

Email - info@holmanbarnesgroup.com.au
Cc - Peter V’Landys (pvlandys@racingnsw.com.au)
Click to expand...
Cc Andrew Abdo in aswell. Something needs to be done
 
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