- Fans want stability at the NRL club
- Follows a chaotic December
More than 1000 Wests Tigers fans met on Saturday and marched as one, demanding the Holman Barnes Group resign from the embattled NRL club.
Led by passionate local mayor Darcy Byrne, the rally went ahead in Sydney’s inner west.
Supporters from as far as Tasmania and Perth were on hand to showcase their support, as was footy legend Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, who is fed up with the state of the club that he represented with distinction.
Darcy predicted the downfall of the Tigers if the current regime remains in charge.
‘We simply won’t be in the NRL in a couple of years’ time if these people (Holman Barnes) are allowed to continue the way they have been,’ he said.
In the space of 11 chaotic days since December 1, the joint venture club removed its independent board directors, CEO Shane Richardson resigned, the NRL intervened to reinstate the sacked directors and coach Benji Marshall saw his contract extended until 2030.
More than 1000 Wests Tigers fans met on Saturday and marched as one, demanding the Holman Barnes Group resign (pictured, footy legend Steve Roach)
Led by passionate local mayor Darcy Byrne, the rally went ahead in Sydney’s inner west
Byrne confirmed there are plans to protest again during the NRL pre-season trials in February if the club continues to lack stability
Byrne announced a new organisation, Wests Tigers Unite, has been created to offer fans a platform to voice their concerns to club power brokers
Byrne confirmed there are plans to protest again during the pre-season trials in February if the club continues to lack stability.
He also announced a new organisation, Wests Tigers Unite, which will offer fans a platform to voice their concerns to club power brokers.
‘We’ll give them until February…to the first trial game at Leichhardt,’ Byrne told News Corp.
‘And if the problem hasn’t been fixed, if we don’t have real independent governance, well, guess what? We are going to protest again.
‘There you go Holman Barnes, have a think about that over Christmas.’
Roach said it was essential that the gripes of loyal fans are heard.
‘I’m a Tigers supporter, so I’m just like everyone else,’ he said.
‘I want the power to go back to the fans and get them to have a say.
‘They are the people that pay their hard-earned week in and week out to go and watch the team play, so they should have a voice.’
Fellow Tigers tragic Hannah Nichols also had the support of many after holding signs that read: ‘Wests Tigers. Not Magpies. Not Balmain.’ And, ‘It’s our club. Not yours.’