SMH Article: ‘It will always be Wests Tigers’: V’landys’ promise

[Spartan117]

‘It will always be Wests Tigers’: V’landys’ promise to long-suffering fans​

By Adrian Proszenko December 6, 2025 — 4.30pm​

The NRL has assured Wests Tigers fans neither Balmain or Western Suburbs will ever be excluded from the joint venture as head office seeks assurances that the latest boardroom dramas don’t adversely affect the football team.

It has been a week of negative headlines for the Tigers after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG), the majority owner of the Tigers, removed four independent directors, including chairman Barry O’Farrell. A whistleblower complaint levelled against Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has also sparked speculation he will part company with the club on Monday.

It is the latest battle for control of the Tigers after the HBG claimed it was being excluded from key decisions, such as the football side’s stadia strategy. There have also been suggestions the HBG wants to remove Balmain from the joint venture, a claim vehemently denied by its chief executive Daniel Paton.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys sought his own assurances about HBG’s intentions during a conversation with Paton this week. Regardless, V’landys assured long-suffering fans there will always be a Wests Tigers in the NRL.

“Our prime aim is to make sure that neither the Balmain or Wests side is diluted in any way,” V’landys said on Saturday.

“We will protect the Tigers fans and the Wests fans. It’s going to be a genuine Wests Tigers franchise … I stress, there will be no dilution, it will always be Wests Tigers. If they think they will change it to anything else, they’re in for a shock.

Wests Tigers fans have been assured the club will always include Balmain.Credit: Getty Images

“To be fair to them, they have given me an undertaking that it’s not their intention, that’s not the case. It’s more a dispute between the shareholders and the board.”

V’landys reiterated he was concerned about the Tigers’ corporate governance after the mass boardroom sackings of O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell, less than a year after the four independents were installed.

“We want to make sure it doesn’t affect the running of the football club,” V’landys said.

“We want to make sure that [coach] Benji Marshall and the players are quarantined from all of this drama. It’s important because they need to prepare for next season without these worries, so we need to make sure that they will be quarantined from any drama.

“In the interim, we will speak to all parties to see what has caused this instability.”

The NRL’s Integrity Unit is following up the whistleblower complaint to decide whether there is any substance to the allegations. The complaint raised serious concerns about the conduct of Richardson and senior staff at the club.

HBG is making its contingency plans in preparation for Richardson’s potential exit and are considering parachuting recently departed Manly chief Tony Mestrov into an interim role.

‘It will always be Wests Tigers’: V’landys’ promise to long-suffering fans

The NRL will never allow Balmain or Western Suburbs to be kicked out of the joint venture as head office seeks to quarantine the football team from the latest dramas.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Spartan117]

I dont want Manly chief Tony Mestrov

I want Richo to remain in charge

 

[BAGNF05]

I dont want Manly chief Tony Mestrov

I want Richo to remain in charge

Richo is the king
Mestrov in the bin

 

[Tom Shines]

So Richo takes the money and leaves tomorrow as widely predicted in the media… who do we want to replace him ?

 

[hank37w]

We don't want him to leave anyone else would just be a puppet for the HBG, which is exactly what they want for this muppet show.

 

[Tom Shines]

We don't want him to leave anyone else would just be a puppet for the HBG, which is exactly what they want for this muppet show.

Yes ..but it appears he is leaving doesn’t it ? Life has to move on

 

[Tucker]

Richardson is replaceable….certainly if he has been lining his pockets on the side from us.
He has been good from a financial perspective but only passable from football operations side.
If we can get someone to follow his lead financially but actually make good operational decisions for the footy side, then all is not lost.

 

[Tom Shines]

Richardson is replaceable….certainly if he has been lining his pockets on the side from us.
He has been good from a financial perspective but only passable from football operations side.
If we can get someone to follow his lead financially but actually make good operational decisions for the footy side, then all is not lost.

no one is irreplaceable…nor bigger than the club …

I’m not wild about Mestrov ,,.. if someone has a better suggestion I’d like to hear it ..

 

[BAGNF05]

We don't want him to leave anyone else would just be a puppet for the HBG, which is exactly what they want for this muppet show.

Exactly mate. Richo’s predecessor took us backwards for 9 years and they didn’t see any issues.

 

[BAGNF05]

no one is irreplaceable…nor bigger than the club …

I’m not wild about Mestrov ,,.. if someone has a better suggestion I’d like to hear it ..

HBGOUT

 

[Tucker]

no one is irreplaceable…nor bigger than the club …

I’m not wild about Mestrov ,,.. if someone has a better suggestion I’d like to hear it ..

There would be candidates out there who could adjust to the role. Unfortunately RL has this antiquated idea that CEO’s need to be “footy men”. It’s old fashioned thinking. CEO’s by nature are chameleons. They are mercenaries. As long as they put a good team together reporting to them, they thrive in different environments.

 

[Telltails]

There would be candidates out there who could adjust to the role. Unfortunately RL has this antiquated idea that CEO’s need to be “footy men”. It’s old fashioned thinking. CEO’s by nature are chameleons. They are mercenaries. As long as they put a good team together reporting to them, they thrive in different environments.

I agree no one is irreplaceable but leaving the shit ones and ditching the good ones is not going draw the interest of anyone other than those who can't do better.

 

[tigahhh]

Richardson is replaceable….certainly if he has been lining his pockets on the side from us.
He has been good from a financial perspective but only passable from football operations side.
If we can get someone to follow his lead financially but actually make good operational decisions for the footy side, then all is not lost.

the issue is shane had backing from the independents on the board to make the right decisions.
whoever the next CEO is will essentially have to be a yes man to HBG to avoid being rissoled by them now. enter lee, pascoe & 15 years of awful management

 

[Tom Shines]

the issue is shane had backing from the independents on the board to make the right decisions.
whoever the next CEO is will essentially have to be a yes man to HBG to avoid being rissoled by them now. enter lee & 15 years of awful management

I’m pretty sure most of us here get it by now … but if he leaves something is going to happen ie he is going to be replaced … that person might be beholden to HBG but some will be better decision makers than others… eg Pascoe was the absolute pits

 

[Tucker]

the issue is shane had backing from the independents on the board to make the right decisions.
whoever the next CEO is will essentially have to be a yes man to HBG to avoid being rissoled by them now. enter lee & 15 years of awful management

Maybe.
We really only have speculation on that.

 

[Tigerstigerstigers]

There’s a review out next week called the Drake inquiry which reviewed governance of greyhound racing including the period of mestrov. Let’s see what that report says before making judgement on him. Not so sure it’s very good .

 

[tigahhh]

I’m pretty sure most of us here get it by now … but if he leaves something is going to happen ie he is going to be replaced … that person might be beholden to HBG but some will be better decision makers than others… eg Pascoe was the absolute pits

sure mate i’ve just seen nothing from HBG to know they are capable of running a footy club.

 

[Telltails]

The NRL is very insular I do believe when dealing with players and managers and sponsors you garner respect if you have some understanding of what you are selling because that is basically what you are doing.
Richardson was exactly the right man for the job and they have put personal interest ahead of what's best for the club and you would be hard pressed to find anyone other John Hopoate and diehard Wests community who don't think they have rocks in their heads.

 

[Tom Shines]

sure mate i’ve just seen nothing from HBG to know they are capable of running a footy club.

Well…what’s the alternative… just give up because Richo left ? I will let the string play out a bit at least and see what happens …..

 

[Tucker]

sure mate i’ve just seen nothing from HBG to know they are capable of running a footy club.

They aren’t running the football club. That is the CEO’s charter.
They are the big dogs who are reported to and sign off on proposals put forward that have been designed by the operational admin and approved by the board.