The Wests Tigers NRL club has been plunged back into turmoil after its owners, the Holman Barnes Group, dramatically sacked four board members, including high-profile chairman and former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell.
Total Control Seized in Boardroom Purge
In a move that grants the owners complete governance control, the independent board members Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola, and Michelle McDowell were also removed alongside O'Farrell. This quartet had only been appointed at the start of this year, following the earlier dismissals of former chair Lee Hagipantelis and ex-CEO Justin Pascoe.
The sudden purge now places the tenure of current CEO Shane Richardson in serious jeopardy, given his close allegiances to the ousted chairman O'Farrell. According to Holman Barnes chief executive Daniel Paton, a core issue has been a significant breakdown in communication between the club's board and its owners.
Jerseys, Stadiums and a Clash of Visions
Reports indicate the owners were dissatisfied with several recent decisions made without their consultation. These reportedly included aesthetic concerns over the club's proposed 2026 jersey, deemed "too gold," and broader strategic worries about the Tigers' stadia policy.
"The Holman Barnes board has been left in the dark on some commercially sensitive announcements," Paton stated. "The Holman Barnes board does not believe communication between the boards has been satisfactory."
Paton emphasised the owners do not wish to micromanage football operations but insisted on being consulted on major decisions. He reaffirmed commitment to the Balmain side of the joint venture, expressing a desire to see a Leagues club return to Rozelle. "The changes are at the governance level," he said.
Despite the upheaval, Paton claimed the owners retain "full faith" in both Richardson and head coach Benji Marshall. However, he stressed a need for oversight on financial futures: "We do, however, need to be consulted on decisions that will impact the club’s financial future. Yes, the club recently turned a profit, but we’re looking at the next 15 years, not just year to year."
Historic Rifts Resurface
This latest episode continues years of internal strife at the club, formed from the merger of the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies. Former chair Lee Hagipantelis revealed on Tuesday that factions within the Magpies contingent still harbour ambitions to "extract" Balmain from the partnership.
"It was admitted to me directly by a fella who is now a director of the West Magpies that the ultimate aim was to return the Wests Magpies to the NRL," Hagipantelis told SEN radio.
He recounted an incident highlighting the deep-seated sensitivities, where an attempt to introduce orange into a State Cup team's jersey caused a major reaction from the Wests faction, forcing the jumpers to be withdrawn. "They are very sensitive about this type of thing," he said.
The sacking of the board lays bare the persistent power struggles and cultural divisions that continue to hamper the Wests Tigers, casting a long shadow over the club's stability and future direction.
