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'The sooner they're gone, the better': Hagipantelis on latest Tigers turmoil
Charles Goodsir • December 2nd, 2025 12:58 pm
The Wests Tigers are once again in turmoil following the immediate dismissal of four members of the board including club chairman and former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell.
The decision was made by majority owner Holman Barnes Group (HBG), who own a 90% stake in the merger club in conjunction with the Western Suburbs Magpies.
HBG CEO Daniel Paton said the decision was based on a breakdown in communication between him and the board.
Former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis spoke to SEN and unpacked the fiasco.
What is your assessment of the last 24 hours?
“There is no surprise,” Hagipantelis told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“The surprise was that it took this long.
“I spoke to a director of HBG about two months ago about a lot of discontent.
“This was in regards to what they perceived of disenfranchisement by the Wests Tigers that they were not being kept informed and decisions were being made in their absence.
“There is an underlying tension there and there has been for quite some time.
“Many (of the HBG) feel they are not adequately or properly represented.”
What is your opinion on HBG?
“I said at the time and I stand by it, they should have no engagement with the running of a football club.
“They should confine themselves to the fishing club or the sewing club or the tennis club.
“The football club itself, they struggle with, they really do.
“The tensions of 1999 and the forced merger (between the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies) remains to this day.
“Do not think for one moment this is a happy partnership, it’s not.
“Wests Group owns 90% and they feel they’re not being adequately represented.”
Do Wests Group want the Magpies to return?
“1000%. It was admitted to me directly by someone who is a director of the Magpies.
“The ultimate aim is to return the Magpies to the NRL.
“I know there were discussions not too long ago about extracting Balmain from the Wests Tigers and returning them to the State Cup.
“I was approached at the time and I said I had no interest in partaking as long as Danny Stapleton is the chair of Balmain. I don't trust the man and I don’t like the man.
“There is a level of discontent that would not take much for it to bubble to the surface.
“There will be a push on (to bring the Magpies back) given the identity of some of the directors that will now fill the board.
“The licence is in the Wests Tigers name so they would have to move on NRL headquarters to bring back the Magpies.
“It wouldn’t be easy to do but I’d say it’s maybe a 50/50 proposition.”
What is your message to Wests Tigers fans?
“It’s hard because you have to distinguish between the football department and the rest of the club and it’s almost impossible to do so.
“I still have faith in coach Benji Marshall. I still speak to some of the players and they are very excited.
“As for the administration and ownership group, the sooner they are all gone, the better.”
How will this impact the football department?
“Don’t for one minute think that the players aren’t aware of what goes on in head office.
“I can guarantee you that they’d be waking up and thinking ‘here we go again.’
“For Benji, the stability in the head office makes his life easier.
“He now has to acquaint himself with perhaps a new board and perhaps a new CEO. It makes it extraordinarily difficult.
“From a player manager's perspective, they look for stability. They look for somewhere where a player will grow and develop in a nurturing environment.
“They don’t want one that is riddled with controversy continuously."
