By Michael Chammas, Adrian Proszenko and Dan Walsh
Wests Tigers majority owners Holman Barnes Group have agreed to an NRL demand that the independent directors – led by deposed chairman Barry O’Farrell – be returned to the club board just 10 days after they were sacked.
As revealed by this masthead on Wednesday night, the stunning shift in Tigers management will see former NSW premier O’Farrell reinstated as Tigers chairman for the third time.
Barry O’Farrell with Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell, who were appointed as independent directors in January.Credit: Steven Siewert
O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams and Michelle McDowell are set to be returned to the club’s board as independent directors. However, sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to maintain confidentiality have indicated the fourth board member sacked, Charlie Viola, is unlikely to take up his seat again.
The NRL relayed its concerns about the Tigers governance to HBG throughout the week, while ARLC chairman Peter V’landys also met with the four sacked independents on Tuesday.
The final composition of the Tigers board will give HBG a majority representation should Viola not resume his position. HBG will have five representatives on the board and control over major decisions at the club, in line with their 90 per cent ownership stake.
As it stands, just two HBG representatives – HBG chairman Dennis Burgess and Western Suburbs Magpies general manager Leo Epifania – and Balmain Tigers chair Danny Stapleton, remain from the previous Wests Tigers board.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall is staying for the long term.Credit: Getty Images
V’landys said he had to intervene to protect the NRL and Wests Tigers brands.
“A licence is a privilege, a licence to be in the NRL is worth a lot of money,” V’landys said on Thursday. “Naturally, we have our rights under the licence, and we will use those rights if we have to.
“In this case, we didn’t have to because they were professional enough to reach an amicable solution. We appreciate their professionalism in that regard. They gave us an undertaking they won’t dilute the Balmain brand, they are putting the independents back on with Barry as chair.
“It’s the best solution to give the fans confidence before Christmas. And, more importantly, for Benji Marshall and the team. We won’t allow any dilution. If they ever try, it won’t happen. Balmain fans can rest easy it will never happen.”
V’landys felt the reinstatement of the independent directors, particularly O’Farrell, would provide the club with much-needed stability.
“They are exceptionally fortunate to have a person of his calibre as chairman,” V’landys said. “You don’t get too many ex-premiers becoming chairmen of rugby league clubs. They are very fortunate to have someone of his ability and experience to lead them. We wanted that certainty.”
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity have indicated there was no insistence from the NRL for CEO Shane Richardson to return after his exit on Monday, having decided he could no longer work under the Tigers’ ownership structure.
The Tigers’ next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 15. The four independent directors were only installed a year ago on the recommendation of the 2023 review commissioned by the club and co-authored by Tony Crawford and Gary Barnier.
V’landys was confident there won’t be a repeat of the boardroom dramas that prompted the NRL to intervene.
Shane Richardson announces his departure as Wests Tigers CEO on Monday.Credit: Dylan Coker
“Absolutely. I am confident now that something like this will not happen again because they can see what the ramifications are,” V’landys said.
“They can see the fan backlash. I don’t think it will happen again. We wanted to make sure the football team was not affected and that the players had confidence we are finding a solution. I’ve always said I’m there to represent the fan, and I’ve just done what they expected me to do.”
The latest boardroom shake-up comes as the club continues negotiations to extend coach Benji Marshall until the end of 2029.
Sources not authorised to speak publicly have told this masthead that club officials were finalising a three-year extension with Marshall on Thursday night and were hopeful of an official announcement on Friday.
It has been a baptism of fire for Marshall since taking over as head coach from long-time mentor Tim Sheens. The Tigers earned the wooden spoon in the former champion playmaker’s first season in charge and have been plagued by regular front office drama that led to Richardson’s exit.
There have also been some positive signs under Marshall as the Tigers climbed the ladder four spots to finish 13th this year.
That has been aided by Marshall’s ability to help attract talent, with Jarome Luai recently reiterating that playing under the former Golden Boot winner was one of the reasons why he chose to switch from four-time premiers Penrith. Terrell May, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May also said they were attracted by the opportunity to learn and play under the Kiwi international.
In making an early call on Marshall, Tigers officials hope several big-name stars – Luai and Jahream Bula in particular – decide to also commit to the club long term. Luai has a clause that allows him to leave the club at the end of 2025 if he chooses, while there is a mutual option in Bula’s contract for his services beyond next season.
A fan rally planned for Saturday was still on despite the latest board changes, with Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne claiming there were “no improvements at all” while the majority of directors were aligned with HBG.
Tigers utility Adam Doueihi on Wednesday spoke glowingly of Marshall’s evolution as an NRL coach since playing alongside him at the end of his career.
“We play for Benji, he’s our head coach,” Doueihi said at a promotion for El Jannah chicken. “He steers the ship every day so we follow his lead. Benji’s been good to me.
“I’ve been under him for a few years now and he’s really grown every week.
“He’s really started to grow into a really solid head coach. I’m starting to learn a lot under him. He’s learned a lot from the past few years working under Sheensy.”
Doueihi, who has played every position except prop and second row in his eight-year career, has been training in the halves this pre-season, having finished 2025 at halfback when Latu Fainu was injured.
The 27-year-old declined to comment on Richardson’s exit and the boardroom upheaval at the club beyond insisting the Tigers are on the right trajectory under Marshall.
“We couldn’t have gone backwards from where we were [as 2024 wooden spooners],” Doueihi said.
“We’ve got to keep trying to climb that ladder. We don’t really have time to think or worry about any external noise or anything else.
“The more you get distracted mentally and physically, you won’t last throughout these pre-season days because they’re that tough.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.