The NRL must INTERVENE

[mtd#2]

That’s the thing HBG are financially viable but the club itself runs on an oily rag, just survives doesn’t thrive

Pulling membership likely means nothing to them

They dont care about members.

They didnt care when the club falsely reported membership numbers.

Daniel Patton came out in a video telling everyone how much he cared about the football clubs members when they sacked the board, only to never update us again.

All lip service.

 

[wstigers11]

They dont care about members.

They didnt care when the club falsely reported membership numbers.

Daniel Patton came out in a video telling everyone how much he cared about the football clubs members when they sacked the board, only to never update us again.

All lip service.

100%

 

[Chunk]

All evidences past and present suggests that the situation the WT are in is unique and still very messy.

And why do I care so much about discussing this unique and messy matter? It is only because i truly care about the WT and it is only because i see this governance model as the only restraint to what the WT could and should be, a powerhouse in the NRL.

If this governance model is okay, then why does it virtually not exist in any Aust. professional sport or even anywhere around the globe?

So, let's do a hypothetical Q&A.

If this debenture model of HBG is any good then let's imagine what would happen to a prominent club like e.g. Barcelona fc or the Green Bay Packers (530,000 fan shareholders) imagine if they were to adopt this wonderful governance model what would happen?

With Debenture holders (debt holders) holding the voting powers with their guaranteed board seats and giving them voting influences and with their primary objective being their own financial needs first and the football operations second. This model would cause shockwaves and cause these mighty clubs to come to a massive structural failure and almost immediately collapse.

But it is certain that this failure would not happen if the scenario were reversed, that is moving from a debenture model to a truly modern governance model.

Mate, I totally agree but what would it take for the NRL to stick their nose into how a club runs its own operations?

It would be when HBG has the inability to pay the football club the required money. However, they aren't doing that, they seem to be fulfilling their obligations, so the NRL can't and won't do anything.

And if that happens, the NRL might look at it and say 'well too bad we'll take your licence somewhere else'. Thats why I don't like the idea of stopping memberships and so on, its hurts the football club too much, not HBG.

(Maybe if it was because of some governance neglect or similar, I don't know but you know what I mean, then maybe, but that's not happening)

I hope that the new CEO can foster better relationships between HBG and the football club, I think this is our best hope. So we need to be on his back about this but I'm sure he is very well aware.

 

[wstigers11]

Fanbase still continues to grow, up 10% from last year despite still being cellar dwellers

Imagine the club under good ownership

 

[mtd#2]

Fanbase still continues to grow, up 10% from last year despite still being cellar dwellers

Imagine the club under good ownership

View attachment 44314

Melbourne are fair-weather fans. That support base will drop 50-70% the moment they fall back to the heap post bellamy era. The owners sold at their peak.

Imagine a final series with tigers, eels, bulldogs and dragons. The city would be pumping.

 

[wstigers11]

Melbourne are fair-weather fans. That support base will drop 50-70% the moment they fall back to the heap post bellamy era. The owners sold at their peak.

Imagine a final series with tigers, eels, bulldogs and dragons. The city would be pumping.

the NRL definitely missed those teams in finals this year the crowds were embarrassing

 

[Pringle Gold]

Mate, I totally agree but what would it take for the NRL to stick their nose into how a club runs its own operations?

It would be when HBG has the inability to pay the football club the required money. However, they aren't doing that, they seem to be fulfilling their obligations, so the NRL can't and won't do anything.

And if that happens, the NRL might look at it and say 'well too bad we'll take your licence somewhere else'. Thats why I don't like the idea of stopping memberships and so on, its hurts the football club too much, not HBG.

(Maybe if it was because of some governance neglect or similar, I don't know but you know what I mean, then maybe, but that's not happening)

I hope that the new CEO can foster better relationships between HBG and the football club, I think this is our best hope. So we need to be on his back about this but I'm sure he is very well aware.

You keep saying this but it’s not going to happen. HBG have had 15 years to show some ounce of care and support and all they’ve done is run the club into the ground and made us the worst sporting franchise in professional sport.

Our CEO isn’t going change anything. The guy jumped on here and honestly said Lidcombe Oval is an important venue.

When he goes to those lengths to appease and placate the HBG crowd that are stuck in the 70’s, do you honestly think he’ll enact real, positive, sustainable change?

 

[Leck]

Fanbase still continues to grow, up 10% from last year despite still being cellar dwellers

Imagine the club under good ownership

View attachment 44314

I'm surprised by the Panthers position on that list.

 

[Pringle Gold]

I'm surprised by the Panthers position on that list.

Yeah and the Warriors as well. Doesn’t seem right.

 

[wstigers11]

Yeah and the Warriors as well. Doesn’t seem right.

It’s Australian based fans only

 

[wstigers11]

I'm surprised by the Panthers position on that list.

Too high or low?

 

[Pringle Gold]

It’s Australian based fans only

Ah my bad that makes far more sense now.

 

[Leck]

Too high or low?

Not high enough, considering their 4 rings.

Don’t get me wrong though, that means we can win the battle of the west through sheer support and a top 8 finish.

 

[mtd#2]

You keep saying this but it’s not going to happen. HBG have had 15 years to show some ounce of care and support and all they’ve done is run the club into the ground and made us the worst sporting franchise in professional sport.

Our CEO isn’t going change anything. The guy jumped on here and honestly said Lidcombe Oval is an important venue.

When he goes to those lengths to appease and placate the HBG crowd that are stuck in the 70’s, do you honestly think he’ll enact real, positive, sustainable change?

Where did he say this?

 

[Pringle Gold]

Where did he say this?

Sorry he said Lidcombe plays a vital role in our pathways and that it’s operated Wests Magpies which is a vital facility in our pathways.

Also defended the Magpie on the jersey.

Honestly fail to see how Lidcombe Oval is vital to our pathways. It’s a moronic statement.

 

[magpies forever]

Sorry he said Lidcombe plays a vital role in our pathways and that it’s operated Wests Magpies which is a vital facility in our pathways.

Also defended the Magpie on the jersey.

Honestly fail to see how Lidcombe Oval is vital to our pathways. It’s a moronic statement.

Nothing wrong with Magpie on the jersey, there should be Magpie and old Balmain Tiger on the shoulders with new Tiger emblem in front. Plenty of room for sponsors after that.

 

[Pringle Gold]

Nothing wrong with Magpie on the jersey, there should be Magpie and old Balmain Tiger on the shoulders with new Tiger emblem in front. Plenty of room for sponsors after that.

Personally I’d like to see both the Balmain and Magpies logos retired. I want the club to fully embrace the Wests Tigers identity instead of pandering to Balmain or Magpies fans which seems to be a continual and ongoing issue at the club.

 

[Odessa]

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.

This is funny also add no beer to be sold in any pubs

 

[magpies forever]

Personally I’d like to see both the Balmain and Magpies logos retired. I want the club to fully embrace the Wests Tigers identity instead of pandering to Balmain or Magpies fans which seems to be a continual and ongoing issue at the club.

A token to the history of 2 originating clubs is fine. Kind of feel over time the club will gravitate more to Campbelltown but that would require greater Campbelltown club investment in the NRL operation to balance the inner west Ashfield and Leichhardt. Maybe it can make up for the Balmain bust with $$ to counteract the Ashfield debenture holders. Anyway, I think if we can get rid of the debenture system at WA things will improve. But how can we get them to vote their system out? An offer too good to refuse like the Godfather?