It's time to take the fight back to HBG

[hammertime]

The challenge I see with this is that these directors have access to a lot of funds that aren't their own. They could offer Tony something very substantial without any impact on them personally. It seems that's what they did with Rick's case.

This in itself is a glaring example of why L&G should dismantle this system. I really hope Tony and his wife hold their nerve...

 

[wstigers11]

The challenge I see with this is that these directors have access to a lot of funds that aren't their own. They could offer Tony something very substantial without any impact on them personally. It seems that's what they did with Rick's case.

This in itself is a glaring example of why L&G should dismantle this system. I really hope Rick and his wife hold their nerve...

That’s how they escape accountability

 

[innsaneink]

Just a quick search a HBG membership is $23 for 10 years. After around 3 years you get a vote. If we could all do it we would have a massive say in what the HBG board looks like. It would just take around 3 years of waiting then we could enact massive change. The guys in the know would know who has the wests tigers bedt interest at heart and we all vote along those lines. After 3 years we could finally vote in members who would promote stability and prioritise us.

I may be wrong but i think the membership set up at Ashfield is done in a way rhe HB board determine thru their various levels of membership wether its general member...associate member... full member...(these terms probably incorrect)...just who gets to vote.after the three years.
I think.i read something like this some time back.

@cochise may know more.

 

[Telltails]

The challenge I see with this is that these directors have access to a lot of funds that aren't their own. They could offer Tony something very substantial without any impact on them personally. It seems that's what they did with Rick's case.

This in itself is a glaring example of why L&G should dismantle this system. I really hope Tony and his wife hold their nerve...

Well that would determine what TA's main motive is - you would like to think that this is about securing a better future for the success of WTs. Getting Nick Di Giralomo to represent may suggest that this is very much about the management of WTs rather than simply seeking money. Vengeance ?? - possibly I guess we will find out.

 

[liltiger]

I may be wrong but i think the membership set up at Ashfield is done in a way rhe HB board determine thru their various levels of membership wether its general member...associate member... full member...(these terms probably incorrect)...just who gets to vote.after the three years.
I think.i read something like this some time back.

@cochise may know more.

Got you. Thought it seemed to straight forward.

 

[Joel Helmes]

WT needs to be a seperate entity controlled by people who have one specific focus - making the NRL entity everything it can possibly be.

Ideally, there would be some primarily hands off overseeing by an owner, but essentially the WT runs as a totally separate business with tangible KPIs placed on management.

If the debenture system is removed, so is the likelihood that the traditional Magpies power base in HBG will be diminished as new board members potentially come in without the baggage.

 

[shiretiger]

WT needs to be a seperate entity controlled by people who have one specific focus - making the NRL entity everything it can possibly be.

Ideally, there would be some primarily hands off overseeing by an owner, but essentially the WT runs as a totally separate business with tangible KPIs placed on management.

If the debenture system is removed, so is the likelihood that the traditional Magpies power base in HBG will be diminished as new board members potentially come in without the baggage.

The Wests Tigers football team is operated through Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Pty Limited. (refer to note 26 of the FY 2025 Financial Report, page 53)

https://holmanbarnesgroup.com.au/annual-reports/

There is nothing stopping an independent board being in place to run that company today apart from the will of the head entity Western Suburbs Leagues Club Limited.

 

[cochise]

I may be wrong but i think the membership set up at Ashfield is done in a way rhe HB board determine thru their various levels of membership wether its general member...associate member... full member...(these terms probably incorrect)...just who gets to vote.after the three years.
I think.i read something like this some time back.

@cochise may know more.

Basically the majority of members are social members. After 3 years you can apply to become a general member, this gives you full voting rights and needs to be approved by the board.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

WT needs to be a seperate entity controlled by people who have one specific focus - making the NRL entity everything it can possibly be.

Ideally, there would be some primarily hands off overseeing by an owner, but essentially the WT runs as a totally separate business with tangible KPIs placed on management.

If the debenture system is removed, so is the likelihood that the traditional Magpies power base in HBG will be diminished as new board members potentially come in without the baggage.

Is it particularly a "Magpies problem" though? I mean yeah there's some debenture holders who are obviously pro-Magpies but I don't think the issues revolving around the ownership & funding of WT are specifically related to the Magpies. It stinks to me of people who have obtained positions of power and doing whatever they can to hang on to that power and the system that it derives from (hence removal of independent board etc.)

Seems more political to me than a Balmain v Wests or WT v Wests thing, but just gets misconstrued as that due to WA being aligned previously with Wests. If the debenture system is removed and board members are elected to periodic terms based on their platforms, which then by extension would include the WT, then yeah that would be beneficial for WT.

I would guess that the current WA/HBG membership would be made up by only a fraction of WT fans for this reason. The large proportion would be residents of the area whom frequent the club which would likely be a demographic not interested in Rugbah Leeg.

 

[cochise]

The Wests Tigers football team is operated through Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Pty Limited. (refer to note 26 of the FY 2025 Financial Report, page 53)

https://holmanbarnesgroup.com.au/annual-reports/

There is nothing stopping an independent board being in place to run that company today apart from the will of the head entity Western Suburbs Leagues Club Limited.

In fact we largely had that in place 12 months ago.

 

[cochise]

Is it particularly a "Magpies problem" though? I mean yeah there's some debenture holders who are obviously pro-Magpies but I don't think the issues revolving around the ownership & funding of WT are specifically related to the Magpies. It stinks to me of people who have obtained positions of power and doing whatever they can to hang on to that power and the system that it derives from (hence removal of independent board etc.)

Seems more political to me than a Balmain v Wests or WT v Wests thing, but just gets misconstrued as that due to WA being aligned previously with Wests. If the debenture system is removed and board members are elected to periodic terms based on their platforms, which then by extension would include the WT, then yeah that would be beneficial for WT.

I would guess that the current WA/HBG membership would be made up by only a fraction of WT fans for this reason. The large proportion would be residents of the area whom frequent the club which would likely be a demographic not interested in Rugbah Leeg.

The split in the debentures and general membership is largely down Magpies/ APIA/ community sporting group lines.

The social membership is where you will find the majority of local residents.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

The split in the debentures and general membership is largely down Magpies/ APIA/ community sporting group lines.

The social membership is where you will find the majority of local residents.

Ah OK. Ta Gaz 👍

 

[mtd#2]

It would make me very happy if they introduced an independent board and the one and only shane richardson was appointed. It would be a victory for the ages.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

It would make me very happy if they introduced an independent board and the one and only shane richardson was appointed. It would be a victory for the ages.

I doubt Richo would ever come back.

 

[hammertime]

Is it particularly a "Magpies problem" though? I mean yeah there's some debenture holders who are obviously pro-Magpies but I don't think the issues revolving around the ownership & funding of WT are specifically related to the Magpies. It stinks to me of people who have obtained positions of power and doing whatever they can to hang on to that power and the system that it derives from (hence removal of independent board etc.)

Seems more political to me than a Balmain v Wests or WT v Wests thing, but just gets misconstrued as that due to WA being aligned previously with Wests. If the debenture system is removed and board members are elected to periodic terms based on their platforms, which then by extension would include the WT, then yeah that would be beneficial for WT.

I would guess that the current WA/HBG membership would be made up by only a fraction of WT fans for this reason. The large proportion would be residents of the area whom frequent the club which would likely be a demographic not interested in Rugbah Leeg.

Yeah, i don't think we should link this to being as a magpies thing. Balmain are equally to blame.

Its skills, ego, governance, aptitude, structural, experience problems - take your pick. To call it a wests problem will completely mischaracterise it.

 

[Nimbus]

I guess it all boils down to what TA is arguing:
...that his expulsion was "designed to entrench the debenture holders' control of the board"

And

The Andreacchios describe this system as "oppressive" and "unfairly discriminatory" against members.

I guess if the court finds in favour of the discriminatory aspect...which is a big no no these days...then there may be a chance.

This part has me a bit concerned:

"They want the court to declare the debenture-holding directors' positions vacant and call a new election in which club members vote for all seven board spots"

It doesnt state removal.of the debenture system, just a call to vote in new members for the board.
I wonder how.many current members there have any interest in WTs?
Its been a monopoly for so long only those current board members probably even know of WTs existance.
If WTs supporters joined now we still have three year wait for voting rights even if the court upholds the request

Also - don’t forget the whole debenture system is under review by Liquor and Gaming - thanks to the efforts of people who wrote to the Minister and the Department calling for that review

Now would be a great time for anyone else wanting to challenge the legitimacy of the Debenture system to write to Hon David Harris MP - every letter helps