FinestTigers
Well-known member
Why?
While other traditional clubs are linked to licensed Leagues Clubs or operate under member-owned models, the specific debenture structure governing Holman Barnes Group (HBG) the majority owner of Wests Tigers is unique in the NRL and professional Australian sport.
Why it doesn't work and it will never work?
While debentures were historically used by suburban social and sports clubs across Australia to raise building funds in the 20th century, no other top-tier professional sporting franchise in Australia remains controlled by a small group of debenture holders. Therefore, without the establishment of an independent board where football decisions and strategic growth are completely insulated from HBG internal politics and debenture-holder influences this 20th century old governance system will not allow a modern corporate governance standards to apply.
Does the NRL not care about the WT?
The NRL has intervened with other clubs before. So why have they not intervened but allow this Crookedness to continue? The crookedness is clear to see which is made permissible by an archaic type of governance which today does not exist anywhere else in the NRL or in any professional sport in Australia. It is beyond comprehension that the NRL has allowed this club to operate under an outmoded counter-productive debenture system structured like the one controlling the Wests Tigers for this long.
The only Solution.
Step 1.
NRL Buyout/Intervention:
Have the NRL step in to assume control or buy out HBG’s stake temporarily (similar to interventions at other clubs in historical crises).
Step 2.
Re-sale with Governance Conditions:
Under NRL custodianship, a truly independent board would be appointed to clean up operations, rebuild the football department, and eventually sell the franchise to a vetted private ownership group with structured safeguards.
Step 3.
The safeguards.
Mandatory Spending Benchmarks: Require minimum annual expenditure thresholds dedicated strictly to player development, recruitment, and high-performance staff to ensure the club remains competitive in the modern NRL ecosystem.
And once this overdue proper governance is in place then I'm certain that the WT will be a force to be reckoned with well into the future.
While other traditional clubs are linked to licensed Leagues Clubs or operate under member-owned models, the specific debenture structure governing Holman Barnes Group (HBG) the majority owner of Wests Tigers is unique in the NRL and professional Australian sport.
Why it doesn't work and it will never work?
While debentures were historically used by suburban social and sports clubs across Australia to raise building funds in the 20th century, no other top-tier professional sporting franchise in Australia remains controlled by a small group of debenture holders. Therefore, without the establishment of an independent board where football decisions and strategic growth are completely insulated from HBG internal politics and debenture-holder influences this 20th century old governance system will not allow a modern corporate governance standards to apply.
Does the NRL not care about the WT?
The NRL has intervened with other clubs before. So why have they not intervened but allow this Crookedness to continue? The crookedness is clear to see which is made permissible by an archaic type of governance which today does not exist anywhere else in the NRL or in any professional sport in Australia. It is beyond comprehension that the NRL has allowed this club to operate under an outmoded counter-productive debenture system structured like the one controlling the Wests Tigers for this long.
The only Solution.
Step 1.
NRL Buyout/Intervention:
Have the NRL step in to assume control or buy out HBG’s stake temporarily (similar to interventions at other clubs in historical crises).
Step 2.
Re-sale with Governance Conditions:
Under NRL custodianship, a truly independent board would be appointed to clean up operations, rebuild the football department, and eventually sell the franchise to a vetted private ownership group with structured safeguards.
Step 3.
The safeguards.
Mandatory Spending Benchmarks: Require minimum annual expenditure thresholds dedicated strictly to player development, recruitment, and high-performance staff to ensure the club remains competitive in the modern NRL ecosystem.
And once this overdue proper governance is in place then I'm certain that the WT will be a force to be reckoned with well into the future.
