Breaking news: HBG takeover

[Tired Tiger]

Having worked as a direct report to Peter Vlandy's at Racing NSW there is one thing I can tell you with certainty.

Should he decide to act he will bulldoze his way straight through HBG and there will not be squat they can do about it.

The guy is the very definition of cracking a nut with a sledge hammer and once he has made his mind up I have never seen anyone have the ability to change it.

He will have investigated, sort advice and have all of his ducks lined up.

It will be swift, ruthless and done in a way that demonstrates his absolute power. He is well respected and well connected.

In the years I worked for him I never once witnessed him backdown or loose a fight, a lot of that is because he is well prepared and doesn't pick fight he cant win.

Again the above is only relevant should he choose to act, but if he dose he will wipe the floor with HBG.

 

[Vicious]

so they didn't know about the Jersey before it was released...even though it was in the media and socials for weeks before...or they didn't know about the stadiums deal until it was released...even though it was discussed ad nauseum for months. Was it the signing of Taylan May? Based on everything i have read my "opinion" is that Richo and the independent board wanted more control, the HBG board said ok, but only if you can meet these KPI's related to financials and performance...they met the KPI's and HBG blew up the joint....nothing to do with jersey colours or NSW cup team identity.

It has not been comfirmed if the 2026 jersey had anything to do with it just yet as that was not mentioned by the HBG spokesperson.
That’s a good story to get plenty of media attention so everyone is just running with it at this stage.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

You’re being opportunistic. BOF getting the flick has nothing to do with his Tigers sympathies. The other 3 independents got flicked too and, as far as I’m aware none of them were old Tigers supporters.

I thought Barry was a Bears man 🤔

 

[Vicious]

Having worked as a direct report to Peter Vlandy's at Racing NSW there is one thing I can tell you with certainty.

Should he decide to act he will bulldoze his way straight through HBG and there will not be squat they can do about it.

The guy is the very definition of cracking a nut with a sledge hammer and once he has made his mind up I have never seen anyone have the ability to change it.

He will have investigated, sort advice and have all of his ducks lined up.

It will be swift, ruthless and done in a way that demonstrates his absolute power. He is well respected and well connected.

In the years I worked for him I never once witnessed him backdown or loose a fight, a lot of that is because he is well prepared and doesn't pick fight he cant win.

Again the above is only relevant should he choose to act, but if he dose he will wipe the floor with HBG.

💯
No doubt he will get the answers he needs and then make an informed decision on whether or not he allows the HBG to retain their NRL licence or not.

 

[BZN]

B

Barry wouldn't lie - oh wait.

Of course he wouldn't, he's an ex-politician who knew nothing about a particularly xpensive of wine.
And pollies are as honest as used car salesman and lawyers - oh wait, a nephew of mine just graduated as a lawyer, oh shoot.
I'm in big trouble now, as he reads this forum 😱.

 

[coivtny]

The thing that surprises me about this week is we haven’t heard from those two mental giants Benny Elias and Blocker Roach. I might have missed their comments but they usually don’t leave us wondering.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

Having worked as a direct report to Peter Vlandy's at Racing NSW there is one thing I can tell you with certainty.

Should he decide to act he will bulldoze his way straight through HBG and there will not be squat they can do about it.

The guy is the very definition of cracking a nut with a sledge hammer and once he has made his mind up I have never seen anyone have the ability to change it.

He will have investigated, sort advice and have all of his ducks lined up.

It will be swift, ruthless and done in a way that demonstrates his absolute power. He is well respected and well connected.

In the years I worked for him I never once witnessed him backdown or loose a fight, a lot of that is because he is well prepared and doesn't pick fight he cant win.

Again the above is only relevant should he choose to act, but if he dose he will wipe the floor with HBG.

Bit like Vlad Putin then .... nice 😬

 

[coivtny]

I thought Barry was a Bears man 🤔

He may have been back in the day but he was a Tigers man in the end,

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

He may have been back in the day but he was a Tigers man in the end,

Not much of a window between the end of Norths and the end of Balmain? Maybe he ditched the Bears earlier - strange

 

[Vicious]

The thing that surprises me about this week is we haven’t heard from those two mental giants Benny Elias and Blocker Roach. I might have missed their comments but they usually don’t leave us wondering.

Give it time they will soon add to the list of people who jump on the 2026 jersey headline without really knowing if that had anything to do with Barry O and the independent board members being dismissed.

 

[BZN]

It's a bit like a few posts yesterday supporting Barry O'Farrell's comments about HBG. Yet, BOF was shown to lie about the Grange incident a few years ago. He either lied or had a very bad memory. But, who forgets the gift of a bottle of Grange.

It's really amazing how often the past comes back to bite you on the bum, and you pay for it big time.
So, all you youngsters out there, remember that and keep your nose clean.

 

[magpies forever]

So at the end of 27 the NRL can offer the licence to someone else


The NRL owns the name and Logo of the West Tiger's it would not be hard


Just bypass HBG maybe West Campbelltown and or Balmain can make a new deal


Or West Campbelltown and the NRL

Id like it to go to the Easts Tigers in Brissie as a standalone.

 

[hammertime]

I don’t know why there are so many derogatory references to age in this thread. Age has little to do with it. A 35 year old could have followed Wests or Balmain pre-merger. Does that mean that we should disregard the opinion of all over 35s?
I’m 74 and I reckon just about all over 70s on this forum do not support HBG’s actions this week. That includes old Magpies and Tigers.

Take it up with Joel Caine. He made the comment on national radio.

 

[Bellend]

How is he a puppet? The bloke is the chairman of the board and a WT board member who has undertaken three coups.

Who is puppeting him? the only people it can be is the other debenture holders. So the same problem still stands.

Hammertime been down this road with DB he answer to other in the HB organization 2 that are on the board and some who do not sit on the board but have a say. Been like this since the 80's. Nothing has changed has it??

 

[liltiger]

Chris's comments are on point for the most part, but the word factions keeps coming up. How can it be factional? The board reps are independent and only met each other 11 months ago for the first time.

Has nothing to do with that.

Also Holman Barnes Group arnt competing with anyone else on the board either. There's an impression it's still a Wests v Balmain thing when it's purely HBG alone.

 

[Stevec]

Fed up with HBG and the WT board
Politics Politics takeovers etc etc
Its not about the backroom boys
Its about the fans , The team on the field and winning games
25 years of going no where .
Every time we get good players they want to leave
Seems Barry gone and maybe Richo too
The inner sanctum at Ashfield run the show and progress is NEVER
Wouldn't surprise if WT fade out in next few years .
Losing interest !

 

[Leck]

It's really amazing how often the past comes back to bite you on the bum, and you pay for it big time.
So, all you youngsters out there, remember that and keep your nose clean.

That goes for HBG too. What goes around, always comes around.

 

[Bus 2 Terrigal]

I don’t know why there are so many derogatory references to age in this thread. Age has little to do with it. A 35 year old could have followed Wests or Balmain pre-merger. Does that mean that we should disregard the opinion of all over 35s?
I’m 74 and I reckon just about all over 70s on this forum do not support HBG’s actions this week. That includes old Magpies and Tigers.

How old’s everybody’s hero, Shane Richardson ?

 

[liltiger]

I had to return mine for a larger size (seems old TS still has the guns to go with his dad bod! 🤣), as I want it to be comfortable - and also needs extra fabric to wipe my tears when watching - I didn't buy it to play in it.

So I'm anxiously awaiting the replacement - scared they'll recall the only WT jersey I've ever looked enough to buy! 😳

Sent it back with a self addressed express post bag! 🤣

Was going to wait till next year to get mine, now I'm thinking I'm going to have to do it asap, if it's not our home strip next year it'll definatly become a collectors item.

 

[Telltails]

Also Holman Barnes Group arnt competing with anyone else on the board either. There's an impression it's still a Wests v Balmain thing when it's purely HBG alone.

And up until last week independents and Richardson.