Wests Tigers CEO Richardson at centre of NRL integrity unit probe after whistleblower tip-off
The NRL integrity unit has also been made aware of information regarding Wests Tigers’ employment of up to two other members of Richardson’s family.
Richardson declined to comment when contacted.
Former Wests Tigers boss Lee Hagipantelis.Credit: Janie Barrett
The Herald has also been told that Richardson, after speaking to this masthead, has since accused a former staff member of being the whistleblower and used Wests Tigers funds to send off a legal threat this week.
That former employee has since reached out to ex-Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis for legal advice and representation. Hagipantelis declined to comment.
The NRL is taking the matter seriously and has spoken to current and former Wests Tigers staff about the issue. The matter has also reached members of the ARL Commission.
The NRL received the tip-off through the code’s private whistleblower hotline and is understood to be in possession of evidence that will be pivotal to any potential future investigation if deemed necessary.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson (left) and Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne at Leichhardt Oval.Credit: Edwina Pickles
Wests Tigers used to have a whistleblower hotline through Core Integrity, however the club decided to end its arrangement when Richardson took over from previous CEO Justin Pascoe.
The NRL’s Whistleblower Policy was set up to provide a process for people to raise concerns regarding suspected misconduct involving the NRL or the ARLC.
The policy states that a person may make a report if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that a director, officer, employee, contractor, supplier or other person who has business dealings with the NRL or ARLC has engaged in misconduct or an improper state of affairs.
Richardson is one of the longest serving administrators in rugby league but has endured a difficult season after his desperate bid to retain Lachlan Galvin was rejected by the teenager and his management, culminating in the young half’s mid-season exit to the Bulldogs.
‘The Holman Barnes Group is aware of the NRL’s interest in this matter.’
HBG deputy chairman Francesco Primerano
Richardson’s future is now in the spotlight, with HBG directors frustrated with his approach and lack of communication and transparency with the owners.
In an interview with the Herald on Thursday, HBG chief executive Daniel Paton admitted that the owners were blindsided.
“Now, there’s an agreement between Wests Tigers and Holman Barnes Group where certain decisions that are made need to come back to the owner for approval. That simply hasn’t been happening,” Paton said.
“And I can give an example of that – the stadium policy around Leichhardt Oval. So the announcement was that Leichhardt Oval would be the home of Wests Tigers for the next 15 years. The Holman Barnes Group board only found out about that with 16,000 other fans at Leichhardt Oval. Which is really bad for business, and it’s quite embarrassing really.”
Richardson is protected by a seven-figure termination payout, however, that could be in jeopardy as the NRL begins to make enquiries into his conduct at the club.
The Wests Tigers CEO took over from Pascoe at the end of 2023 following an independent governance review conducted by Tony Crawford and Gary Barnier.
In February 2024, Richardson denied a conflict of interest to this masthead when he signed a player managed by his son, Brent, for the company he part owned.
Richardson said all the relevant declarations had been made to the board before he accepted the CEO job.
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Enrichd Group, formerly Rich Digital, is a business that specialises in brand building, digital innovation and talent management.
When Richardson began his tenure at the club the company signed on as a consultant to Wests Tigers to help the club grow its brand and drive profits.
The club has also signed several players from the company’s NRL and NRLW agency branch headed up by Richardson’s son, including Solomona Faataape and Charlie Murray.
