Chief executive Shane Richardson is the latest figure in the crosshairs of the Holman Barnes Group that controls the Wests Tigers.
Richardson has done a fine job getting the Tigers off the bottom of the ladder and luring high-profile players like Jarome Luai to the club.
But his ‘sin’ – as well as approving a jersey that was ‘too Balmain coloured’ – came at a meeting with the group a couple of months ago.
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Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson. Getty
The former Sharks, Panthers and Souths CEO put forward a plan to change the Wests Magpies NSW Cup team to Wests Tigers, thus including the Balmain side of the merger in the second tier team.
That didn’t go down well with the Holman Barnes Group, who heavily favour the Magpies over the Tigers – and Richardson’s papers have been marked since that day.
If he goes, it will only add to the turmoil within the club – especially as Luai still has a get-out clause and is a big Richardson fan.
Panthers stalwart to retire?
Veteran Panthers prop Matt Eisenhuth is considering retiring due to injury problems.
A popular figure out Penrith way who was a valuable member of the club’s four-peat premiership run, Eisenhuth recently turned 33 and is being dogged by nagging leg injuries.
The cousin of Sharks legend Paul Gallen, Eisenhuth’s career nearly ended before it began when doctors found a cancerous tumour the size of a golf ball in his knee.
But they were able to remove the growth and he began his career with Parramatta in the under 20s in 2010.He then had an early stint with Penrith in 2013, before making his top grade debut at the Tigers in 2017.
After four seasons at Concord, he re-joined the Panthers in 2021 and although a regular member of the top grade team, he missed all four grand final wins.
Last season, he played just 11 games in the NRL – his least in his five years at the club.
Penrith were contacted for comment.
Matt Eisenhuth during captain’s run. Â Getty
Former Rooster and ref wearing a new hat
Remember former Roosters 2000 grand final fullback Luke Phillips?
The talented number one, who also played for the Raiders, Cowboys and Sea Eagles, is returning to Manly as coach of the club’s U17s Lisa Fiaola Cup side in 2026.
Phillips has just about done it all in rugby league – he also had a career in refereeing and in recent seasons worked in female pathways with the North Sydney Bears.
Young gun to watch at Bondi
The Roosters have signed an exciting winger who may eventually take over from veteran flanker Daniel Tupou.
John-Paul Donevski, a 21-year-old flyer, began in the Panthers’ junior system before spending the past two seasons at the Dolphins and Sharks in the Jersey Flegg Cup.
A player with plenty of pace and the ability to find his way to the tryline, he will be one to watch in the next couple of seasons.