Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has quit his role in the latest explosive fallout to the boardroom drama that could cost the NRL club two of its best players. Richardson’s future was plunged into doubt last week when the club’s majority owners – the Holman Barnes Group – dismissed all four independents from their board.
And on Monday, the Tigers confirmed that Richardson had handed in his resignation, leaving the club in fresh turmoil and without a CEO or chairman. Richardson is an experienced administrator and was the long-time CEO of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was viewed as somewhat of a saviour for the Tigers after arriving in 2023 to try and turn around the club’s fortunes.
Shane Richardson (L) has reportedly quit as Wests Tigers CEO, casting further doubt over the futures of Jarome Luai (centre) and Jahream Bula (R) at the NRL club. Pic: Getty
The Tigers have long struggled for results on the field after failing to make the finals in more than a decade. And after collecting three-straight wooden spoons from 2022-2024, Richardson’s leadership helped them to a 13th-placed finish last season, with the joint-venture club also managing to return a profit.
He also led calls for the Tigers to install an independent board, which the Holman Barnes Group did in January on the recommendation of an external report. But the four independent board members that were brought in were all axed last week, including chairman Barry O’Farrell – a close ally of Richardson’s.
The ownership group owns Wests Ashfield and has a majority share in the Western Suburbs Magpies, while also holding a 90 per cent stake in the NRL club. And their boardroom cull sparked concerns the Tigers brand might be scrapped, with ARLC boss Peter V’landys stepping in to assure fans that would not be the case.
V’landys and the NRL have vowed to investigate the Tigers’ boardroom situation but it’s unclear whether they are in a position to intervene. It comes as reports linking outgoing Manly chief Tony Mestrov with the Tigers CEO role have cooled, with AAP reporting that recently promoted general manager of football Shaun Mielekamp could take up the position either permanently or on an interim basis.
Fears Jarome Luai and Jahream Bula could leave Tigers
There are also fears the drama could cost the Tigers two of their best players, with Jarome Luai having a get-out clause in his five-year deal, meaning he could walk away after next season. Jahream Bula’s future has also been plunged into doubt, despite reports the star fullback was close to signing an extension with the Tigers last month before the boardroom drama unfolded.
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The Tigers already lost Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva this year, despite the club juniors being touted as the future of the joint-venture outfit. The pair were part of a talented nursery that helped Western Suburbs win the Harold Matthews Cup in 2022 and there are concerns Bula could be the next to walk out on the club.
The boardroom drama at the Wests Tigers has cast doubt over the futures of Jarome Luai (L) and Jahream Bula (R) at the joint-venture club. Pic: Getty
“They now have lost multiple players from that team and the players that have really dragged the club forward to play a style of footy and one that their fans could see improvement in,” NRL great Michael Ennis said on a Fox League podcast last week.
“There’s now talk of Jahream Bula leaving… Jahream Bula is going and sitting down with other clubs, and he’s listening to their plan and their way forward and what they’ve got in place… he’s also coming back to training and having to front up on a Monday and a Wednesday and sit in front of cameras and talk about what’s going on at the board level… It’s an easy decision for him to go.”
Fellow NRL premiership winner Braith Anasta reckons it also explains why Luai wanted out a get-out clause inserted into his contract, despite facing backlash around the move. We’ve been critical (of Luai)… saying why isn’t he getting rid of those clauses if he’s so happy? Well, this is why,” Anasta said. “It’s going to be a challenge to maintain them (off-contract stars) now.”
with AAP