Tensions have flared once again within the Wests Tigers’ ownership structure, with Julie Romero being ousted as chair of the Holman Barnes Group during a fiery meeting on Tuesday night.
Fox Sports reports that Romero, visibly upset, was removed from her role and replaced by Dennis Burgess, who now takes over as chair of the troubled Holman Barnes Group, which holds the majority ownership of the Wests Tigers NRL club.
This latest power struggle follows the dramatic ousting of three directors on New Year’s Eve last year, who were subsequently hit with combined bans totaling nearly 15 years. The banned directors—Tony Andreacchio (six years), Rick Wayde (eight years), and Dave Gilbert (six months)—were removed for historical infractions. Wayde is currently contesting his ban in the Supreme Court.
The leadership reshuffle comes while Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson is away in the U.S. on a two-week break to attend a family wedding. Although Richardson reports to the board of the Wests Tigers NRL club—not the Holman Barnes Group—this internal upheaval is yet another unwelcome off-field distraction for a club already dealing with the Lachlan Galvin contract saga.
The significance of Burgess’s appointment lies in his deep ties to the Wests Magpies, as he also holds a position on the Wests Tigers NRL club board. Alongside fellow Holman Barnes director Stephen Montgomery, both now influence decisions on the seven-member Wests Tigers board.
The Holman Barnes Group is closely tied to the influential Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, the key financial powerhouse behind the Wests Tigers. Despite the club’s ongoing issues on the field, the continued internal politics among its top decision-makers only adds to the instability surrounding the organisation.
