HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

hammertime said:
If want more, here's what Gemini thinks about recent actions compared to parramatta being dismissed.

The Parramatta case serves as a direct precedent for the current HBG situation. The ultimate reason for the Parramatta board's sacking was that it had "ceased to be effective as a governing body"—a core requirement of the Registered Clubs Act 1976.

The current turmoil at HBG—with directors suspended for misconduct and the majority owner sacking four independent directors over internal disputes—is the very definition of a board that is not stable or effective, making it a very similar issue to the one that triggered the most severe regulatory action against Parramatta.
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As I said in an earlier post, it can’t hurt if hundreds of us complained online to L&G about how the club is run. They would fail fit and proper persons at the very least given the decision making of the past 18 months
 
coivtny said:
My only comment on what you’ve said is HBG didn’t think it through very well. If they say communication was the biggest issue and it’s clear to everyone that there were two directors common to both boards then blind Freddy would ask why sack four directors off the WT board and leave the common directors in place. That just defies logic and commonsense.
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The only thing that would have defied logic and common sense would be if those 2 HBG members were voting for more orange on the jersey.
 
coivtny said:
Purely hypothetical question, Steve. Would you be happy if Laundy bought HBG out and restored Balmain Tigers to primacy and relegated the Magpies to also rans or even non-events?
As I said purely hypothetical and not looking to start WW3.
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I'm not Steve, so pardon my interjection, but by framing it this way it becomes Balmain (company A) vs Magpies (company B).

It's actually a Magpies (company B) vs Wests Tigers (company C) stoush as I see it. Although Magpies fans often see company A and company C as the same entity.

Balmain and Magpies are already relegated to also rans.

The Wests Tigers need to remain at all costs.

As you pointed out, your question was a hypothetical, so hypothetically that is what I would think under the curcumstances you've laid out.

Now...can I get back to reality?
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Billionaire pub and Bulldogs sponsor baron Arthur Laundy reveals plan to buy Wests Tigers

Canterbury Bulldogs major sponsor Arthur Laundy wants to save Balmain Tigers by buying out Wests’ 90 per cent stake in the troubled joint-venture.

Dean Ritchie
Exclusive
December 4, 2025 - 3:10PM

Billionaire Sydney pub baron and Canterbury Bulldogs major sponsor Arthur Laundy has revealed a shock plan to buy the embattled Wests Tigers.

A lifelong Balmain Tigers fan, Laundy will investigate acquiring Western Suburbs’ 90 per cent share in the dysfunctional joint-venture club.

“It would be the only way they are ever going to survive,” Laundy said.

Fed up at the political infighting at Concord, Laundy began preliminary discussions about the possibility of owning the club at a meeting of high-powered businessmen in Sydney on Monday.

Insiders claim Wests Tigers would be worth between $45-$50 million.

There are suggestions Laundy may tip in $20m, with a consortium of wealthy businessmen to inject the remaining $30m.

The Laundy family’s net worth has been estimated at $1.4 billion.

Laundy’s interest comes after a week of drama where the Holman Barnes Group sacked four independent Wests Tigers directors, including chairman and former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, amid growing speculation the Wests faction wanted to split the club and reinstate the Magpies.

While he enjoys a strong relationship with the Bulldogs, Laundy’s true love in rugby league is the Balmain Tigers.

Laundy, 84, confirmed he would be interested in emulating Manly owner Scott Penn and investing in private ownership of an NRL club.

“I can’t see how this (joint venture) can ever work so I’d be happy to look at buying Wests’ 90 per cent,” Laundy said.

“Yes, I’m certainly prepared to look at it.

“I have a soft spot for Balmain and I will always be a Balmain person.

“I’d be looking to do what our mate down at Manly-Warringah (Penn) did and buy the club. I would be interested in that. I’d love to see Balmain get a fair go.”

Wests Tigers’ majority owner, Holman Barnes Group, hasn’t indicated any interest in selling, but well-placed sources claim an offer around $50m would be considered.

“I said at (Monday’s) lunch: ‘How could I buy Wests Tigers?’ It wouldn’t be easy because Wests owns 90 per cent. I would like to know whether it’s worth negotiating,” Laundy said.

“I’d love to go and have a talk. If they want to talk to me, anyone can find me.

“It’s not a harmonious set-up. Wests would be better off without Balmain and Balmain would be better off without Wests.”

Wests Tigers finished 13th last season under coach Benji Marshall, but chief executive Shane Richardson — who has been the driving force in the club’s revival — is considering his position given the recent turmoil.

“I have met Shane and he would be an interesting bloke to talk to,” Laundy said.

“I think the Tigers are deadset going to make the top eight next year.

“The first thing I will do is give Barry (O’Farrell) a call and ask whether it’s a waste of time but I can waste a bit of time if necessary. I put 100 per cent into everything I do.”

As for what Laundy believes the Wests Tigers would be worth?

“I have no idea — I don’t know the numbers,” Laundy said.

“I have never considered buying a football club. It may be $20m. It may be more, it may be less but I’d be interested in looking at it.”

Laundy Hotels, which has an interest in nearly 100 pubs, has been Canterbury’s major sponsor since 2020 and will remain front-of-jersey sponsor until 2027, with an option to extend until 2032.

It is understood the deal is worth around $2m annually.

Fast food giants KFC have sponsorship deals with multiple NRL clubs, namely Manly and Canterbury, and Laundy does not foresee an issue with his Tigers interest.

“I’m very happy at Canterbury but KFC are involved with several clubs although I’m not suggesting I would do several clubs,” Laundy said.

“I am dedicated to the Doggies. I went over (to Belmore) on Tuesday and saw (coach Cameron) Ciraldo and met (recruit) Leo Thompson. I spent an hour-and-a-half there saying hello to everyone.”

Laundy’s interest comes as world famous Wests Tigers fan Anthony Field – also known as the Blue Wiggle – has threatened to hand back his membership if the Wests Magpies are reinstated.

“If it became Wests Magpies, I would be sending my membership back. I think I’d just go and watch and support Balmain, probably in NSW Cup, at Leichhardt,” Kellyville-born Field said.

“I know Wests own 90 per cent of the club — and that’s fantastic — but they don’t own 90 per cent of the fans. I just hope they don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. A packed ground at Leichhardt, they might be wearing Balmain jerseys but they are supporting Wests Tigers.

“It’s time for us all to embrace the Wests Tigers. Don’t snuff out Balmain’s heritage and keep the proud Magpies heritage.”

Balmain legend Steve Roach claimed the ongoing issues engulfing the club would damage recruitment, declaring: “Who would go there if they are ‘blueing’ all the time? I’d like the NRL to step in and get the club in order; maybe take over or put their own people in there.

“It’s horribly disappointing for the fans, mate. I feel for them. Just as they are starting to see a little bit of light, this happens. It’s destabilising and a shambles.”
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On the condition it remains Wests Tigers. None of this garbage trying to bring back failed teams were one family now. If his intention is to try to resurrect Balmain he can go the same way as HBG.
 
WesternSuburbsBoy said:
“It’s not a harmonious set-up. Wests would be better off without Balmain and Balmain would be better off without Wests.”
Sounds a lot to me like he wants sack off Wests & bring in Balmain as a sole entity.
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My read is he is referencing all the infighting and lack of unity as a JV which has contributed to the poor performance. As long as we stay WT and continue to pay homage to our shared history than I'm all for him owning the lot.
 
To me, Wests Tigers and the loyal fanbase crossed the rubicon this week and the club will never be the same. When we launched the initial petition we were met with a bunch of negative responses and pessimistic reactions. The second petition less so. These latest dramas, I think, have unified us the fans like never before. There’s no going back now imo.
 
coivtny said:
I think it has very little if nothing to do with the jersey.
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I wouldn't have pulled the trigger, but that white jersey would have pissed me off to the point a stern warning was administered. Can't understand who would approve that. Looks like shit. Orange one doesn't make me happy either.
 
Joel Helmes said:
To me, Wests Tigers and the loyal fanbase crossed the rubicon this week and the club will never be the same. When we launched the initial petition we were met with a bunch of negative responses and pessimistic reactions. The second petition less so. These latest dramas, I think, have unified us the fans like never before. There’s no going back now imo.
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IMG_6246.jpeg
 
UnderTheBus said:
As I said in an earlier post, it can’t hurt if hundreds of us complained online to L&G about how the club is run. They would fail fit and proper persons at the very least given the decision making of the past 18 months
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I actually had an active case, back when the 2nd coup happened. But they asked me for more information. I mean, it's all public. Not sure what they wanted provided.

I've just gone back on that case number today.
 
coivtny said:
Purely hypothetical question, Steve. Would you be happy if Laundy bought HBG out and restored Balmain Tigers to primacy and relegated the Magpies to also rans or even non-events?
As I said purely hypothetical and not looking to start WW3.
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Would love him to buy the club but he must sign a declaration stating the Wests Tigers remain as is and look after both wests and Balmain with an independent board

That would be my ideal outcome
 
weststigerman said:
This is being turned into Balmain vs Wests but in reality it's nothing to do with that. It's about HBG which are run by dinosaurs and people that know nothing about how to run a football club.

I hope Laundy is serious and buys the club but my reasoning is to get HBG out of the club.
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100%. Proof of this is that any conflict between Wests and Balmain totally disappears until the Ashfield fossils make their next fumble.
 
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