Powerful Wests Magpies chair faces questions over explicit Instagram follows

Eagle-eyed fans have made a shocking social media discovery about West Tigers' most powerful figure as the NRL club faces its latest governance meltdown.

The Instagram account of Dennis Burgess.

Fans have raised concerns about one of the key figures of the West Tigers’ majority owners after discovering that his Instagram account follows hundreds of sexually explicit pages.

Dennis Burgess is the chair of the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Holman Barnes Group – which owns 90 per cent of the Wests Tigers – and this week dismissed four of the club’s independent board members in another governance crisis to hit the NRL joint venture.

Burgess is also a professional musician whose Instagram handle, wildmandenny, has around 1500 followers, with multiple posts dedicated to the Magpies, Tigers and his musical passions.

Wests Tigers board member Dennis Burgess

Burgess is a former bass guitarist for Aussie pop band The Masters Apprentices and has been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

However, eagle-eyed social media users were more intrigued that, among the 4573 pages his Instagram account follows, more than 200 belong to adult content creators featuring risqué photos and links to more explicit content.

Burgess did not respond when this masthead reached out for comment on Friday to see whether his account had been hacked. His Instagram account has been active for more than 13 years, although he hasn’t posted since July, 2017.

“To be clear I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with his Instagram activity. Just a bit weird!!” user @TimHoran1980 posted on social media site, X.

To be clear I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with his Instagram activity. Just a bit weird !!

— Tim (@TimHoran1980) December 3, 2025

On paper, Burgess is the most powerful man at the Tigers right now, having started as a director at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club in 2000 and the Western Suburbs Magpies in 2004. He has been a director at the Tigers since 2007, serving on the board on an intermittent basis.

He isn’t seen in Tigers attire, but is regularly sighted at NRL games, speaking with influential people and seen in the tunnel and dressing room after matches.

The Instagram account of Dennis Burgess follows some risque pages.

It was more than 200 at last count.

While he keeps a low profile, sources at the club say he can be ruthless when required.

On Monday, former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, as well as Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell, were sacked by the Holman Barnes Group, less than 12 months after being elected to the board.

Holman Barnes Group chief executive Daniel Paton said the decision stemmed from what he described as poor communication from the Tigers board to the club’s owners.

The ARL Commission is monitoring the latest dramas at the Tigers as chair Peter V’landys vows to protect the interests of the club’s long-suffering fans amid the boardroom coup.

The decision is set to have ramifications beyond the boardroom.

Chief executive Shane Richardson is considering his future at the club, while sensitive contract negotiations with star players Jarome Luai and Jahream Bula are now in peril.

Three-time Penrith premiership winner Luai is in the second of a five-year deal at the Tigers, but had exit clauses inserted into his contract allowing him to leave as early as the end of next season.

Bula is off contract at the end of 2026 and is yet to recommit to the club, with the star young fullback linked with a move to rivals Canterbury.

Richardson’s future is expected to be determined on Monday.

Originally published as Powerful Wests Magpies chair faces questions over explicit Instagram follows