NRL news: The seven-year old email still causing tension at Wests Tigers

Wests Tigers director Rick Wayde is unapologetic despite being forced to take a six-month sabbatical from the board after offending some of his fellow directors.

John Coates says he's too busy to help the Wests Tigers, should the joint venture club come calling for help.

John Coates, one of Australian sport’s most powerful administrators, has rejected any notion of stepping in to help the embattled Wests Tigers.

Coates has been mentioned among a raft of high-profile figures to assist a club that has been mired in mediocrity for over a decade.

Coates’ call to distance his name from being linked to an administrative role with the club has emerged amid revelations that long-time director Rick Wayde took a six-month sabbatical from the Wests Tigers board after offending some of his fellow directors with a provocative email.

Wayde, who has since returned to the board, is up for re-election early next year along with fellow board member Tony Andreacchio.

Asked about the email, which led to him taking a break from his place on the board in 2016 but has remained a secret to this day, Wayde said: “I will stand by my record. I think I have acted with proprietary with everything I have done since the 80s.

“Maybe I sent an email at some point with some home truths in it. I have always been direct and honest. There’s a few people at the moment who are looking to save themselves.”

Wests Tigers board member Rick Wayde is up for re-election early next year.

Andreacchio, who was also a director at the time, confirmed he was aware of email but insisted Wayde had stepped aside rather than been pushed.

Revelations of the historical boardroom drama at the Tigers comes as Wayde and Andreacchio find themselves under pressure to retain their positions as directors amid an external review of the club and impending elections for the Holman Barnes Group, which owns the Tigers.

This is all playing out ahead of club legend Benji Marshall officially taking over the reigns as head coach in his rookie 2024 season.

John Coates has offered a polite ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to the Wests Tigers. Picture: Richard Walker

The ructions at the Tigers have prompted some to suggest long-time Western Suburbs supporter Coates could come in and play a Mr Fix-It role at the besieged club.

However, the IOC heavy hitter has shot down any interest in being dragged into the club’s ugly civil war.

“The answer is no, not interested,” Coates told this masthead.

“It’s (joining the Wests Tigers administration) been raised informally with me over the years, but it’s not something I want to do and I’m far too busy.

“I’ve never given them any indication I would do it. They know that.

“The club is my pleasure and I don’t want to mix my team with business.’’

Coates is the President of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport and Court of Arbitration for Sport and vice president of the Brisbane 2032 organising committee.

“I get to their games when I can get to games,” Coates said.

“I’ve got Brisbane 2032 to focus on, among other things. I’m just a supporter.’’

Benji Marshall officially takes over as head coach this off-season, and is craving stability at the club. Picture: Getty

The Tigers continue to deal with the fallout from a turgid season which culminated in them finishing with another wooden spoon and prompted the Holman Barnes Group – which has a majority on the board – to order a review at the behest of frustrated fans.

The decision to orchestrate a review has led to suggestions that chair Lee Hagipantelis is under pressure, a belief that was magnified when Andreacchio asked him to stand aside last month after this masthead revealed that his tenure had been extended for a further three years.

“I asked him (whether) he would step aside as chair while the review was on,” Andreacchio said.

“I didn’t ask him to stand aside from the board. It was never stand down, it was step aside as chair during the review.”

Hagipantelis was due to chair a meeting on Monday night where he would have come face-to-face with his fellow directors, however, it was postponed because chief executive Justin Pascoe is overseas with some of the club’s corporate backers.

Andreacchio’s involvement in the boardroom manoeuvring hints at the growing influence he has over the running of the club as chair of the Holman Barnes Group.

Embattled Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis.

A real estate agent with strong ties to the community in the west, Andreacchio has seemingly mastered the art of pulling strings in the background while avoiding the sort of scrutiny that has been placed on others within the organisation.

He is not alone. Wayde has been a long-time board member. So has Dennis Burgess, whose background is in the music industry. So too Danny Stapleton, the lone Balmain representative on the board who is chair of their football committee.

All have presided over years of failure at the club, highlighted by a churn of coaches and players. In some cases, their involvement stretches back more than a decade.

A day of reckoning seems imminent. The results of the independent review is due to be handed down next month and is expected to recommend change to the board.

If Andreacchio and Wayde walk way from the review with their positions safe, they will be at the mercy of the Holman Barnes members early next year.

Both insist their record speaks for itself.

“It’s never been about preservation for me,” Andreacchio said.

“I started supporting Wests Magpies in 1958. I grew up in Summer Hill. I have great friends at Balmain. I think that is what life is about.

“I do lots of thing but it isn’t about preservation. Life will go on.”