‘It’s not life and death, we move on’: The second act of Lee Hagipantelis

Former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis was born in a hospital 300 metres from where his current office stands in the heart of Liverpool. It constantly reminds him of the importance of community and connection that has always surrounded his life and business. One cannot happen without the other.

Hagipantelis grew up at Ettalong on NSW’s Central Coast where his parents ran a milk bar, and he often worked long hours as a teenager. He served thousands of customers, but one changed his life. Balmain forward Steve Lavers was a regular and after ordering his fish and chips encouraged the young man to follow the Tigers, unaware that he had sparked a lifelong passion.

Hagipantelis has relished life as a lawyer but never neglected his first love: Balmain and then the Wests Tigers. He was a regular fixture at games, joined by his cousins in the grandstand. When he was appointed chairman of his boyhood club four years ago, the pride was shared across the whole family.

“When they all heard it, they all rang immediately to say they could not believe it because these are boys that I grew up with, my cousins ... and so the opportunity for one of us in that group to actually be appointed the chairman of the club that we all grew up worshipping was just literally surreal,” Hagipantelis said.

Hagipantelis’ time at the club ended abruptly last December. An external governance and cultural review was called for the club, following the Tigers’ 12th consecutive season without a finals appearance.

The review was called by the Holman Barnes Group, the 60 per cent majority shareholder of the club that also runs Wests Ashfield Leagues Club.

Ultimately, the entire Wests Tigers board was dismissed, and CEO Justin Pascoe resigned. Hagipantelis remains a fan and still retains close friendships with members of the playing and coaching staff, but his formal association with Wests Tigers is almost over.

“I am and will always remain a true fan of the club and a huge supporter of the club. December of 2023 still remains the most disgraceful … episode of my professional career,” Hagipantelis said.

Former Wests Tigers’ chief executive Justin Pascoe and ex-chairman Lee Hagipantelis.Credit: NRL Photos

“In 36 years of legal practice, I have never encountered that … particularly amongst people who profess to be your friends.

“So at the moment, I have no formal connection with the club other than continuing the sponsorship until the end of the year.”

The Holman Barnes Group was contacted for comment.

Throughout his life, Hagipantelis rarely missed attending a Tigers’ game, but since December, he has not been to see the team play in person and does not intend to return for the foreseeable future.

“I haven’t attended a game this year and I have really no intention of attending a game for some time, as long as those persons whom I’ve referred to are still involved in the club in some sense, I have no interest in engaging in any way. I’ll support the club and I will continue to be a fan...

“My children still go, all the cousins still go, and they still enjoy it and use my suites and my tickets, and so they should. But now it’s a difficult conundrum, but I’ll stay home now and just cheer on the club.”

Given the club’s inability to make finals during his tenure as chairman, Hagipantelis faced criticism from fans and highlighted the limitations of his former role at the club.

Former Balmain player Steve Lavers inspired Hagipantelis to follow the Tigers when he was a child.Credit: Martin James Brannan/Fairfax Media

“People should understand this, the chairman of the Wests Tigers, the structure provides that I am a director of the Wests Tigers and chair the board meetings. That’s what the chairman does,” Hagipantelis said.

“On occasion, I would be engaged to assist with some legal matters, for example, to provide some advice, or to perhaps provide some assistance with recruitment or retention.

“But I don’t profess to have any particular expertise in terms of identifying talent in players, that’s for others to do.

“My expertise was to assist with respect to the negotiations ... and so I would be engaged to assist in that respect and a lot of people have subsequently blamed me in particular for a lot of the failings of the club, and I’m prepared to wear that as the chairman, but I don’t think they fully understand the limitations on being chairman.”

Hagipantelis admits his disappointment with how things ended at the club but has also kept a sense of perspective, understanding exactly where rugby league sits among his priorities.

“It’s not life and death, I mean, we move on,” Hagipantelis said. “I’ve faced far greater adversity throughout my life than having to worry about being removed as the chairman of the Wests Tigers.

‘She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. ... That is gut-wrenching and life-changing. Being removed from the position of the Wests Tigers was an inconvenience compared to that.’

Lee Hagipantelis

“On the 26th of March 2014, my daughter took ill. On the 28th of March, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. That’s tough. That’s difficult. That is gut-wrenching and life-changing. Being removed from the position of the Wests Tigers was an inconvenience compared to that.”

Two months ago, Hagipantelis and Pascoe returned, but in a different code, buying a 25 per cent share in A-League club Newcastle Jets.

Given the bruising end he experienced at the Tigers, how did his family react to the news that he was now involved in soccer?

“They know that I’m not someone that operates on a whim,” Hagipantelis said. “I’ve been a very successful businessman now for over 30 years.

“My success has been based on the quality of the work that we produce, the quality of the people that I employ, all the material benefits that flow from that are a secondary consideration.”

Hagipantelis will always love rugby league, but he is now looking forward to an opportunity to work in a sport with more of an international focus that he believes will present a multitude of opportunities.

Lee Hagipantelis at his Liverpool law firm Brydens Lawyers.Credit: James Brickwood

“I think rugby league is the greatest game of all, but on the international stage, I don’t think that any genuine sports-loving person can deny the attraction of soccer,” Hagipantelis said.

“All of us are obsessed with the EPL [English Premier League], all of us are obsessed with the World Cup when it’s on, it is the largest sporting event on the planet and for good reason. The two strongest sporting brands in Australia today are the Matildas and the Socceroos.

“The opportunities of developing academies to grow and nurture young talent for overseas is another financial opportunity to a club such as the Newcastle Jets, unlike a rugby league club.

“After playing in the NRL, there’s really nowhere else for them to go to maximise their potential return. However, with respect to soccer, there are the opportunities of going to England to Europe to South America.”

While there have been success stories in owning a soccer club, with Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mcelhenney’s takeover of Wrexham being a notable example, they are extremely rare. Given Hagipantelis’ extensive scrutinising of the risk and reward ledger as a lawyer, what possessed him to invest in the Newcastle Jets?

“I appreciate that buying any sporting franchise is not something that is traditionally modelled as a business venture,” Hagipantelis said.

“Very few of these sporting franchises ever actually make money, but owning a sporting club or a sporting organisation is a very sexy opportunity, one that many people look to.

Lee Hagipantelis hasn’t watched the Wests Tigers play in person since the end of the 2023 season.Credit: Getty

“If you are buying into a club to make money, you’re in the wrong game. Is there potential for some capital growth? Absolutely.

“Some of these clubs have done very well. If you look at certain opportunities that present in England, for example, with the soccer, the various leagues and the relegation and promotion of clubs throughout the leagues and what that does to the value of those clubs: so there are opportunities for us moving forward.”

At the moment, Hagipantelis and Pascoe are solely focused on bringing success to the Newcastle Jets. They are also open to opportunities internationally or in other sports.

“We will not say no to any opportunity for consideration that is presented to us,” Hagipantelis said. “Justin and I have a particular passion for sport and for business and be able to combine that would be a lot of fun.”

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