Breaking news: HBG takeover

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.
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It is strange how that jumper is too "Balmain" yet HBG never considered the black one to be too "Magpies".A complete lack of consistency and logic by HBG,who would possibly have thought that could happen.
 
batboy said:
Nice dodge, You replied to a comment that said both jerseys were sold out with allegedly…

Insinuating the jerseys hadn’t sold out?
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No dodge dickhead. I commented allegedly twice. Both times the comment related to the colour of the jersey being a catalyst. I couldn’t care less whether the jersey sold out or not.
 
coivtny said:
I followed his various interactions with you and others closely. I don’t agree. Nobody with any regard for the future of WT would see a shred of positivity in this. His major issue was, in my opinion, his perception of disrespect for the history and legacy of the Magpies.
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If you followed closely and dont agree then you are daft

It was trolling, pure and simple....with personal attacks to Cochise attached

It like me when I owned a Commodore going into a Ford forum and complaining theres no respect for Holdens...stupid and trolling
 
innsaneink said:
If you followed closely and dont agree then you are daft

It was trolling, pure and simple....with personal attacks to Cochise attached

It like me when I owned a Commodore going into a Ford forum and complaining theres no respect for Holdens...stupid and trolling
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I’m far from daft, I can assure you. I don’t agree with your take on it but that’s OK. But why don’t you try a response that doesn’t include a personal attack i.e the daft remark. It diminishes you.
My personal attacks are always reserved for returns of serve but I’ll spare you this time.
 
innsaneink said:
If you followed closely and dont agree then you are daft

It was trolling, pure and simple....with personal attacks to Cochise attached

It like me when I owned a Commodore going into a Ford forum and complaining theres no respect for Holdens...stupid and trolling
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Actually it would be like owning a commodore ,and going into a Chevrolet forum , and complaining Holden wasn’t respected …lol
 
Jolls said:
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.
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If our breaking point at board level is jersey colour then it’s no surprise we look like a f$&king train wreck on the field. The fish rots from the head. Take Dennis’ crayons off him FFS.
 
BAGNF05 said:
If our breaking point at board level is jersey colour then it’s no surprise we look like a f$&king train wreck on the field. The fish rots from the head. Take Dennis’ crayons off him FFS.
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I agree with you. There’s got to be more to this. The suggestion of the stadium policy being an issue makes more sense to me. I expect it will all come out in time.
 
BAGNF05 said:
If our breaking point at board level is jersey colour then it’s no surprise we look like a f$&king train wreck on the field. The fish rots from the head. Take Dennis’ crayons off him FFS.
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You couldn't write a satire with a story line like this. I trust there is much more depth to the issue. Unfortunately, it is probably closes to the mark.
 
If Dennis was the only problem he would be gone. They keep saying things to keep the fans onboard but their actions show that they are not on the same page as a large portion the supporter group - while the anti merger group are actively cheering.
 
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