Wests Tigers admin/governance discussion

I think it’s best if Richo leaves for now. If he stays it facilitates the HBg board to just try and move the story along and pretend that none of this matters because the football and executive management of the football club is intact. We need to actually blow this thing up now so that change of ownership can happen. No one will sign with this club, no one will come and work for this club if the former premier and one of the most successful nrl CEO’s both wall or are force to walk away. It needs to be burned down so that we can find out what rises from the ashes. 

@mercy-rule As I posted earlier this rally will have huge ramifications for HBG, do not underestimate what a scene of thousands of supporters outside Ashfield club will have . This IMO will finally galvanise the supporter base , this is probably the greatest moment that as a supporter of our club has to make a stand for the years of abuse by these incompetent fools . If you think strongly about your club a few hrs protesting outside HBG headquarters will give the satisfaction of being able to finally have your say !! 
STAND UP FOR YOUR CLUB or you will have nothing .

Looking through HBG’s annual report and comparing it to Wests MacArthur Group and it’s quite astounding how much more profitable and in how much better financial shape Wests MacArthur is relative to HBg. It makes almost 3x the profit, has $25m just sitting in cash and massive assets and retained earnings. That is possibly the best option here - the NRL to remove the license from HBg and then give it to wests MacArthur with conditions attached (fan representation on the nrl board etc)

Posted by: @tigertownsfs

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Looking through HBG’s annual report and comparing it to Wests MacArthur Group and it’s quite astounding how much more profitable and in how much better financial shape Wests MacArthur is relative to HBg. It makes almost 3x the profit, has $25m just sitting in cash and massive assets and retained earnings. That is possibly the best option here - the NRL to remove the license from HBg and then give it to wests MacArthur with conditions attached (fan representation on the nrl board etc)

 

 

There’s a lot more know how and skill around these guys, I’d rather they owned us any day of the week over the pelicans at Ashfield.

 ChatGPT on the titans example:

Below is a fully detailed, step-by-step account of what happened at the Gold Coast Titans, including:

• who owned the club before the takeover,
• why the NRL intervened,
• exactly how the NRL took control,
• how fast it happened,
• and how ownership eventually changed.

This is the closest modern precedent for the NRL forcibly removing governance control from a club owner — and it shows clearly that the NRL absolutely has the power to do it.

🟦 

1. Who owned the Titans before the NRL takeover?

Original ownership (2007–2015)

The Titans were majority-owned and controlled by:

• Michael Searle – founder & managing director
• The Searle family – key shareholders
• A group of private investors – smaller stakes
• The club had a complex corporate structure with entities linked to Searle (e.g., Titans Property, Centre of Excellence).

The NRL had zero equity.

Financial condition before crisis

By 2014–15:

• club debts exceeded $25–30 million
• tax debts were mounting
• cashflow issues were severe
• suppliers, ATO, and creditors were unpaid
• the NRL was already secretly forwarding grants early to keep the club alive
• the “Centre of Excellence” development collapsed financially and dragged down the football club

The club was basically insolvent, even if it hadn’t formally declared it.

🟥 

2. Why the NRL stepped in (the triggers)

The NRL determined that the Titans were:

A. Not financially viable

The club could not:

• meet payroll reliably
• meet tax obligations
• pay suppliers
• meet debt covenants
• operate without emergency funding

B. Failing governance + business collapse

Multiple governance red flags:

• interlinked companies collapsing
• property development failures
• internal board conflict
• reputational damage
• investors withdrawing

C. Risk of the club collapsing mid-season

This is the ultimate “red line.”

The NRL cannot allow a club to collapse inside a live competition.

D. The NRL had already been informally propping up the club

The ARLC determined that unless it took formal control, the club would fold.

🟧 

3. How the NRL actually intervened (the real mechanism)

This is the playbook the NRL could use with any club, including Wests Tigers.

The Titan takeover happened in February 2015, and it was fast.

STEP 1 — Breach notice + show-cause (private stage)

The NRL privately advised the Titans board that the club:

• had breached the Participation Agreement
• had failed to meet solvency requirements
• was at risk of not fulfilling competition obligations

The NRL demanded:

• governance reforms
• financial guarantees
• restructuring of debt

The Titans could not deliver any of this.

STEP 2 — NRL formally terminates the Participation Agreement

This is the same power the ARLC holds over every club.

The NRL declared the licence terminated

BUT

simultaneously issued a new licence…

to itself.

So overnight:

• the old Titans ownership structure was sidelined
• the NRL became the operator of the club
• the NRL assumed all football operations

This is exactly how they would remove HBG if needed.

STEP 3 — NRL appoints an Administrator / Interim CEO

The NRL appointed:

• Graham Annesley (then NRL head of football) to oversee transition
• Darryl Kelly as interim club administrator
• A new independent board

The Searle family and all old directors were removed from operational control.

Ownership existed on paper but had zero influence.

STEP 4 — NRL takes full financial control

The NRL:

• took ownership of the club’s assets
• assumed the liabilities
• renegotiated with creditors
• funded player + staff payments
• controlled budgets
• renegotiated sponsorships
• dealt with ATO and banks

At this point the Titans were effectively an NRL-owned franchise.

The NRL now legally owned:

• the licence
• the trading entity
• the brand
• all operational authority

🟩 

4. How long did it take?

The collapse was rapid.

• The crisis escalated in late 2014
• By February 2015 the NRL had taken full control
• Within days the NRL had replaced the entire leadership structure
• Within weeks it had stabilised the operation

This shows the NRL can move very fast when needed.

🟦 

5. What happened to ownership afterwards?

NRL did not want to own the club long term.

So after stabilising the Titans, the NRL:

1. Cleaned up debts
2. Simplified structure
3. Rebuilt governance
4. Ran a “sale” process for new owners

Final outcome: Private ownership changed hands

In 2016 the NRL sold the club to a new ownership group:

• Darryl Kelly (former investor who had poured millions into the club)
• Rebecca Frizelle & the Frizelle family (Frizelle Automotive Group)
• Later involving businessman Brett Frizelle and the Kelly-Frizelle consortium

This group bought the licence outright from the NRL.

Who lost ownership?

• The Searle family
• The old investor group

They were completely removed from all governance and ownership influence during the transition.

🟩 

6. What this shows about the NRL’s powers

The Titans case proves the NRL can:

✔ Remove a club’s board

✔ Strip control from a private owner

✔ Terminate the licence

✔ Issue the licence to itself

✔ Run the club directly

✔ Install an independent board

✔ Sell the club to new owners

✔ Do all of this within weeks if needed

Ownership rights do not override NRL control.

The licence is everything — and the ARL Commission controls the licence.

⭐ 

What this means for a scenario involving HBG (Wests Ashfield)

The Titans example shows:

• The NRL does not need HBG’s consent
• The NRL can sideline HBG overnight
• The NRL can appoint its own directors
• The NRL can run the club until an independent model is ready
• Ownership of Wests Tigers (the JV shares) becomes irrelevant if the licence is suspended or transferred
• The NRL can re-issue the licence to a new governance model

Just like the Titans, the club continues

— but the owners lose control.

The NRL needs to take back the license from HBG. Whilst the finances are fine, the governance failures are visible to everyone and are bringing the club down and the league into disrepute. By not stepping in now the NRL is abdicating its responsibility to manage the game and is leaving the largest league junior nursery in the world in the hands of a bunch of blokes who could not arrange a chook raffle. It is absolutely clear now that the NRL has the power and the responsibility to step in and revoke the license. That can happen with virtually zero impact on the function of NRL team at concord who can continue pre season. The Club is making a profit so the NRL just needs to sort out the governance issues and then run a tender process for the new license. The least disruptive option would be to sell to wests MacArthur (basically just bolt the wests junior pathway onto the nrl club), then a private sale to a Sydney based owner (somewhat more complicated given pathway control by the leagues clubs) and more disruptive selling the franchise to Brisbane tigers (what do you do with the current roster etc).

ChatGPT on how WT could establish their own NSW cup team:

Yes — Wests Tigers could apply for and be admitted to the NSW Cup as a reserve-grade team even if the NRL club were separated from HBG.

There is no rule requiring the NSW Cup licence to be owned or controlled by the same organisation that owns the NRL licence.

To understand why, here’s how it works:

🟦 

1. NSW Cup teams do NOT need to be owned by the NRL club owner

Examples already exist:

• Newtown Jets → not owned by Cronulla, but serve as their feeder club
• North Sydney Bears → historically fed into Sydney Roosters
• Western Suburbs Magpies → functionally the Wests Tigers reserve grade, but are a separate legal entity
• Warriors NSW Cup team → run by the Warriors, but could theoretically be separated if needed

So the NSWRL allows:

• NRL clubs to run their own reserve grade
• OR an independent club to field a NSW Cup side and be linked to an NRL club as feeder or reserve grade

Ownership does not have to match.

🟩 

2. If the NRL split Wests Tigers from HBG, could the club still field NSW Cup?

Almost certainly yes — in one of two ways:

MODEL A — Wests Tigers (NRL) operate a new, independent NSW Cup team

The NRL-appointed board (after separating from HBG) could:

• apply directly for a NSW Cup licence
• operate the reserve-grade team under the “Wests Tigers” banner
• use a new or existing legal entity
• base it anywhere (Campbelltown, Lidcombe, Concord, etc.)

Requirements:

• meet NSWRL financial tests
• meet governance requirements
• have facilities
• show a pathways plan

An NRL-backed entity would easily tick these boxes.

MODEL B — Wests Tigers partner with an existing NSW Cup club

The club could affiliate with:

• Western Suburbs Magpies (Wests Ashfield link complicates this)
• Balmain Tigers (if resurrected)
• North Sydney Bears
• Newtown Jets
• Illawarra Steelers (if the Dragons partnership ever changes)

In this scenario:

• the NSW Cup club holds the licence
• Wests Tigers supply NRL fringe players
• the NSW Cup side becomes functionally their reserve-grade feeder team

This is exactly how the Roosters–Norths and Sharks–Newtown systems work.

🟧 

3. Does the current entity (HBG) “own” the NSW Cup licence?

No — reserve-grade licences are held by the football club entities, not the leagues club.

At present, the “Western Suburbs Magpies” are the NSW Cup team.

Wests Ashfield (HBG) funds them because they control the Magpies board.

If the NRL removes HBG from control of Wests Tigers, two things can happen:

A. The NRL could restructure governance so that the Magpies remain affiliated

or

B. The NRL could create a brand-new Wests Tigers NSW Cup side under new governance

Either way, the NSWRL will accept the team as long as the new controlling entity meets standards.

🟥 

4. Would NSWRL block Wests Tigers over governance changes?

Highly unlikely.

The NSWRL wants:

• strong participation
• clear pathways
• stable reserve-grade systems

If the NRL — the governing body of the sport — installs a new, independent board, the NSWRL would almost certainly approve the reserve-grade application.

The NSWRL has never rejected a reserve-grade entry from an NRL-backed entity.

🟦 

5. What if HBG refused to allow Magpies to remain?

The NRL could still grant a licence to:

• “Wests Tigers Reserve Grade” as a new entity
  or
• any independent club aligned with them

The Magpies brand is owned by Wests Ashfield, but the reserve-grade spot in NSW Cup is not — it’s a licence granted by NSWRL on annual or multi-year terms.

HBG cannot “block” Wests Tigers from having a reserve-grade team.

They could only withdraw the Magpies brand and funding.

But the NRL can easily replace that by funding a new Tigers-operated team.

⭐ 

BOTTOM LINE

Yes — Wests Tigers can absolutely be admitted to NSW Cup even if the NRL separates the club from HBG.

The NSWRL cares about:

• financial stability
• governance
• pathways development

If the NRL is backing the new governance model, admission is almost guaranteed.

Richo could get exactly what he wants under the “NRL steps in” option. WT contracts all the players so he has a NSW cup team roster ready to go and can submit it to NSWRL straight away to enter a WT reserve grade team. No WT contracted players then need to play for wests magpies in the nsw cup and they probably just fold. We need to make this happen.

It’s important that WT has financial backing ie owners that can contribute capital if needed. It’s also important that the board of oversight is made up of people with skills that can help the NRL club succeed and prosper. Wests MacArthur has the financial weight and the junior base so they are a natural fit. Whether they want to own the team outright is another question. I think some sort of fan based ownership model, at least in part, had the capacity to be successful. The fans are the ones who have kept this club alive through its toughest times. I think the you could sell shares in the new entity at $1000 each for a portion of the club (ie something like 10,000 shares on offer at $1000 to raise $10m at a $50m valuation). I would buy a share for sure. The fan owners should could then vote for a couple of board members on the actual NRL board and the controlling owner (wests MacArthur/private owners etc) would then be  able to purchase the remaining 80% of stock. Both Balmain and wests Ashfield would then be erased from any ownership interest.

Better still, go full greenbay packers:

the Wests Tigers could copy the Green Bay Packers model

,

BUT only if the NRL approved it and the club’s ownership structure was radically changed.

Below is a practical, legal, and structural blueprint of exactly how Wests Tigers could become a community-owned, publicly controlled, non-profit football club, similar to the Packers.

This is a realistic, step-by-step implementation, not theoretical hand-waving.

🟩 1. What makes the Packers model unique?

The Packers model is defined by five core features:

1. Non-profit corporate structure
2. No private owner
3. Shareholders with voting rights but no financial return
4. Board of Directors elected by the public shareholders
5. Executive Committee (small group) running the club

The key purpose is:

Protecting the club from being captured by one person or entity.

🟥 2. Can the Wests Tigers legally adopt this structure?

YES — but the NRL must approve it.

The NRL has the power to:

• approve club constitutions
• approve ownership changes
• approve governance structures

Nothing in NRL rules prohibits:

• community ownership
• non-profit structures
• public share issues
• elected boards

The only rule:

The NRL must be confident the model is stable, solvent, and compliant.

The NRL actually prefers governance that is independent and professionally structured.

So unlike the NFL (which forbids new Packers-style teams),

the NRL could permit it.

🟦 3. Why Wests Tigers are the BEST candidate in the NRL for this model

Because:

• The club already has a community-club history (Balmain + Wests)
• It has no billionaire owner
• Its main owner is a leagues club, not a private individual
• The club’s fan base is geographically broad
• Its governance issues could be solved by independence

Wests Tigers are almost uniquely suited to a “publicly owned” structure.

🟨 4. Exact blueprint:

How Wests Tigers could copy the Packers model

This is what the transformation would look like.

⭐

STEP 1 — Separate the NRL licence from HBG (Wests Ashfield)

This is the critical part.

The NRL would:

• revoke the participation agreement
• reissue a new participation licence
• assign it to a new entity:
  “Wests Tigers Football Club Limited” (non-profit public company limited by guarantee)

This breaks HBG control.

Balmain’s remaining stake can also be absorbed or converted into honorary membership.

⭐

STEP 2 — Incorporate the club as a NON-PROFIT

Create a structure similar to the Packers:

Wests Tigers Football Club Ltd

• Company limited by guarantee (no shareholders with economic rights)
• Assets cannot be distributed
• Profits reinvested into football

This is the same corporate structure used by:

• Packers
• Almost every major European non-profit sporting club
• Australian not-for-profits like Surf Life Saving

⭐

STEP 3 — Issue “community ownership shares”

These are NOT financial shares. They are:

• symbolic
• non-transferable
• non-profit
• voting rights only
• priced low ($50–$250)
• available to all fans

Just like the Packers.

This could create:

• 50,000 to 200,000 public “owners”
• enormous cash injection ($10m–$30m)
• deep community loyalty

⭐

STEP 4 — Create a publicly elected BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board structure could be:

11 Directors:

• 6 elected by community shareholders
• 2 appointed by NRL (independence guarantee)
• 1 football operations expert
• 1 financial governance expert
• 1 community representative

This board:

• hires the CEO
• hires the GM of Football
• oversees financial governance
• protects club values

Exactly like the Packers.

⭐

STEP 5 — Establish an EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A small leadership body (like the Packers’ 7-member committee), e.g.:

• President/Chair
• Vice-President
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• 3 at-large members

The committee runs the club day-to-day and reports to the full board.

⭐

STEP 6 — Build a RESERVE FUND (Packers-style)

The Packers maintain a financial reserve to ensure long-term survival.

Wests Tigers could adopt:

• A capital reserve account
• Minimum solvency threshold (e.g., 12 months’ operating costs)
• Fan bond program if needed
• Transparency via annual public reports

This prevents collapse or takeover.

⭐

STEP 7 — Issue ANNUAL PUBLIC FINANCIAL REPORTS

Like the Packers, Wests Tigers would publish:

• revenue
• expenses
• football department spending
• commercial results
• community spending
• board remuneration

This transparency protects the club from governance abuse.

⭐

STEP 8 — Protect the structure via constitutional locks

Baked into the constitution:

• No private owner can ever acquire majority control
• No dividends can ever be paid
• No sale or relocation without a 75% community vote
• No leagues club or private group can appoint a majority of directors

This is what ensures the Packers have never been taken over.

🟩 5. REALITY CHECK: Could this actually happen?

Yes — if the NRL intervenes in Wests Tigers governance first.

The likely pathway:

1. NRL issues breach notice to HBG
2. NRL imposes conditions: “adopt independent governance model”
3. HBG refuses
4. NRL revokes licence and reissues it to a newly structured non-profit entity
5. New Wests Tigers Football Club adopts Packers model
6. Community ownership is launched

This is legally sound and fully within the NRL’s powers.

🟦 6. What this model solves

✔ Removes HBG control

✔ Creates transparency

✔ Ends political interference

✔ Builds long-term stability

✔ Makes fans shareholders

✔ Prevents relocation

✔ Protects club identity

✔ Creates financial security

✔ Aligns with the club’s community roots (Balmain + Wests)

⭐ FINAL SUMMARY

Yes — Wests Tigers could become the Australian Green Bay Packers.

And the NRL has the legal power to force or approve such a structure.

The result would be:

• a community-owned, non-profit club
• publicly elected board
• transparent financials
• permanent independence from private capture

Just wondering, is there any "Balmain" representation on HBG? If so, who is it?

Posted by: @joel

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I think this would evoke a massive fan revolt.

This mass revolt should be only about HBG's governance and actions in sacking the recently appointed Independent Directors. With the anti-HBG momentum that is building at the moment, I think Richardson will stick around and see what happens through the rally and PVL, Liquor and Gaming interventions. I think he knows this will be his last CEO gig so I don't expect him to resign right now.

The boys from Wests Group have two things - money and a complete loathing of everything HBG.

If the following is correct, I wonder if the NRL retained ‘ownership’ of the licence  and the club only holds stewardship, and thus would the NRL be able to reallocate or transfer a licence.

No NRL club paid a license fee for its original entry into the league; rather, the league was built on the clubs themselves, and the initial entry was not a financial transaction in the way a modern franchise fee would be. Modern expansion teams, such as the Dolphins, have also not paid a licensing fee, which has been a point of contention for some existing clubs.