NRL 2024: Alarm bells ring at Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson appointment, Solomona Faataape signing | What’s the Buzz

Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.

Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson’s appointment as interim CEO and cloudy details over a possible conflict of interest. Picture: David Swift

Confusion is growing at Wests Tigers over the recent appointment of Shane Richardson as interim CEO and cloudy details around a potential conflict of interest.

An internal Tigers source recently alerted us to the fact the club had signed rookie Queensland Cup centre Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by his son Brent at Rich Digital. Richardson himself is a part owner of Rich Digital with his son – an accredited NRL player agent.

The Sunday Telegraph has now learnt that Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall had four months earlier rejected the 23-year-old as a potential recruit, as had several other NRL clubs.

Marshall then agreed to sign the player when Richardson arrived.

Richardson spoke to Nine newspapers last week about the situation. Some of his responses have set off alarm bells. He denied being involved in the signing.

Confusion is growing at the Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson’s appointment as interim CEO and cloudy details over a possible conflict of interest. Picture: David Swift

“I don’t have a licence to do player negotiations,” he said. “That all stands with my son and always has done. Brent sent a tape to the Tigers four or five months ago.”

Further inquiries reveal this is incorrect.

It was Richardson himself, not his son, who emailed Wests Tigers and several other NRL clubs, attaching Faataape’s highlights video with a spiel on the player’s history. This is against NRL rules in which only accredited agents can negotiate with clubs.

Then it gets more intriguing. Richardson told Nine newspapers that Marshall had not seen the highlights video and email when it was sent in October.

“When I got involved with the club, I asked the question about it (the email) and Benji had not even seen it,” he told Nine newspapers.

This is again incorrect.

The email was sent from Richardson to former Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe, who forwarded it straight to Marshall to get his opinion.

Marshall then replied with words to the effect of: “Not interested – we need experience.”

This is a situation the NRL Integrity Unit is monitoring.

The Wests Tigers recently signed Solomona Faataape, a youngster managed by Richardson’s son Brent at Rich Digital. Picture: NRL Photos

A spokesman said: “The integrity unit is aware of recent media reporting on this issue and will determine if any inquiries are necessary.”

Richardson remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong. He is now saying he was acting as a consultant for Faataape’s club Brisbane Easts when he was offering the centre to Sydney clubs via the email and highlights package.

“I wasn’t acting on his behalf – I was doing it for Easts,” he said. “As for Benji, he insists he hadn’t seen the tape. When Benji eventually saw it, him and Matt Betsy (head of football) did the deal. It was an arm’s-length-from-me situation.”

“I’m not sure why you are pursuing this. I don’t think it’s murky at all. There is no conflict of interest.”

We have been trying for several days to contact Brent Richardson. He is ducking for cover and refusing to reply.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Alarm bells ring at Wests Tigers over Shane Richardson appointment, Solomona Faataape signing | What’s the Buzz