Under siege Wests Tigers owners announce ex-premier Barry O’Farrell as one of four new board members

In the shadows of a political war, Wests Tigers announced four new independent directors to the club’s board following the controversial sanctions slapped on three Holman Barnes Group board members.

Interim Wests Tigers chair Barry O’Farrell has vowed an ongoing war within the Holman Barnes Group will not impact football operations after being reaffirmed as a board member of the NRL club on Wednesday.

The former NSW premier was one of four independent directors to be added to the newly-formed seven-person board at the Wests Tigers, which is hoped will bring stability to the embattled club.

It’s come in the shadows of a boardroom civil war within the majority owners of the Wests Tigers, the Holman Barnes Group, which has erupted publicly over recent months.

Three directors have been banned for a combined 15 years, which has prompted Liqour and Gaming NSW to open an investigation.

Interim Wests Tigers chair Barry O'Farrell has vowed the ongoing war with the Holman Barnes Group will not impact the club. Picture: NewsWire

“It’s not an issue for us, it’s not been an issue for us this year. I’m not denying there’s issues there, I understand and I’ve read in the paper that Liquor and Gaming is having a look at it, but it’s something that will be resolved over there,” O’Farrell said on Wednesday.

“I say genuinely… Holman Barnes, currently and in the past has committed to provide the resources we need to run an effective football club, and there’s been no hesitation around that.”

Wednesday’s appointment of four directors finalises a recommendation made in an independent review into the club’s operations 12 months ago, which was requested by the Holman Barnes Group.

O’Farrell served as interim chair of a four-person board in 2024, but that role is yet to be reconfirmed at a meeting on January 28 which will bring all seven directors together for the first time.

Charlie Viola, prominent financial adviser and executive chair of Viola Private Wealth, Michelle McDowell, former managing director of Allied Express and Annabelle Williams OAM PLY, former chair of Athlete’s Commission for Paralympics Australia are the new faces.

Danny Stapleton remains the Balmain representative, Stephen Montgomery the Western Suburbs voice and Dennis Burgess from Holman Barnes Group round out the powerful new board.

“It’s a new chapter for Wests Tigers, it’s the first time since the club was put together that the board will have more independent members on it than owners members,” O’Farrell said.

O-Farrell (left) alongside two of the four new independent directors, Michelle McDowell (middle) and Charlie Viola (right). Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Club CEO Shane Richardson moved to distance the club from headlines surrounding the Holman Barnes Group at Wednesday’s press conference at Tigers’ headquarters in Concord.

“That’s a drama that’s created about the Holman Barnes Group, it’s nothing to do with the Wests Tigers, which I have pointed out enormous amounts of times,” he said.

“Holman Barnes have a representative on the board, we have true corporate governance, signed off on the shareholders agreements, and anything to do with Holman Barnes is not to be discussed today because it has nothing to do with this board. It’s a separate situation all together.

“This board all year has acted independently, the four members we had on the board, all decisions, and Barry is sitting here as the acting chairman, have been unanimously approved.

“There’s nothing that’s happened with me in this role, that has ever affected the decisions we’ve made as Wests Tigers regarding the operation and the running of the club, from the recruitment of players, which we’ve done our best job of, from the changing around of staff internally, opening staff offices, etcetera etcetera.”

Tigers CEO Shane Richardson is adamant the Holman Barnes Group drama has nothing to do with the Wests Tigers. Picture: NewsWire

Two of three new faces, Viola and McDowell, were presented to media on Wednesday.

Viola, a lifelong Wests Tigers fan with respected business acumen, said he can understand frustrations at ongoing instability.

“If the club didn’t have a really strong CEO and a really strong vision, I wouldn’t be sitting here because I would be putting my own reputation at risk,” he said.

“I absolutely understand the fan frustration, I think in reality everyone out in the public thinks they could run a football club or understands what happens in the background when maybe they don’t.

“From my perspective, I thought well if I actually do want to make a difference and I’ve got some currency to be able to put my hat in the ring and put my thoughts to work and hope it can help, I’m excited to get started.”

Originally published as Under siege Wests Tigers owners announce ex-premier Barry O’Farrell as one of four new board members