NRL news: Nick Di Girolamo and Barry O’Farrell endorsed to lead Wests Tigers

A relationship which infamously ended interim Wests Tigers chair Barry O’Farrell’s political career could, ironically, revive the hapless club after a day of bloodletting.

Former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell. Picture: AAP Image/Sophie Tarr

A “top-end-of-town” professional relationship which famously led to the political downfall of a NSW Premier could be revived to help save the embattled Wests Tigers.

This masthead understands highly-respected Sydney lawyer Nick Di Girolamo has expressed a strong desire to join Wests Tigers in an official capacity after the club overhauled its management team on Tuesday with CEO Justin Pascoe and chairman Lee Hagipantelis standing down.

The club’s new management structure will be headed in an interim capacity by former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and ex-premiership-winning CEO Shane Richardson.

While Di Girolamo - a former Wests Tigers chairman - hasn’t formally sought a position at the club, it is known the ex-CEO of Australian Water Holdings wants to help drag the maligned club from the doldrums.

And it could rekindle a friendship.

It was Di Girolamo who gifted O’Farrell a $3000 bottle of Penfolds Grange Hermitage in 2014 which ultimately led to the Premier standing down following a NSW ICAC investigation. O’Farrell was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.

Barry O'Farrell resigned in 2014 after misleading ICAC. Picture: AAP Image/Sophie Tarr

Nick Di Girolamo gifted O’Farrell the bottle of Grange. Picture: supplied

Di Girolamo, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, attended a club crisis meeting in March at Grappa Ristorante and Bar, Leichhardt.

Tigers legend Benny Elias said Di Girolamo would be an ideal candidate to be elevated into a senior position in the Wests Tigers management team.

“I know Nick is definitely passionate about the club,” Elias said.

“Someone like Nick Di Girolamo, who is a lawyer, would be a great candidate for a major role in the club’s operation. He is an ex-chairman of Wests Tigers who has a passion for the game.

“Nick is also an ex-managing partner at Colin Biggers and Paisley, which is a tier one legal firm. These are the type of top-end-of-town blokes we need at the club.

“There is no-one bigger or better that understands the process around governance than Nick.

“He gave Barry a bottle of wine which wasn’t declared. Could there be a rekindling of that partnership?

“I don’t know.”

1959 Bottle of Penfolds Grange. Picture: Supplied

Ben Elias (R) has endorsed the pair. Picture: Maree Williams/Getty Images

O’Farrell will return for his second stint as chair, albeit an interim, while Richardson will arrive after successful CEO stints at Cronulla, Penrith and South Sydney.

“The governance of the joint needs to be overhauled,” Elias said. “There had to be a broom put through the club.

“This is the best step the club has taken for more than a decade.

“I want to be positive about this. This review had to be done and it stems from a decade of poor results.

“Something extremely brutal had to be done and they’ve done it – I applaud them. The club needs to get its management team in order. This is refreshing for all Wests Tigers supporters.”

Other Balmain Tigers greats are also known to be supportive of Di Girolamo, who was not commenting on Tuesday.

Originally published as NRL news: Nick Di Girolamo and Barry O’Farrell endorsed to lead Wests Tigers