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Shock potential new owner for Wests Tigers emerges
Sam Kosack • December 4th, 2025 5:41 pm
Billionaire Arthur Laundy has unveiled a surprise plan to buy the Wests Tigers amidst the fallout from the sacking of four independent board members.
A Sydney pub baron, Laundy is a major sponsor of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and lifelong Balmain Tigers fan.
The billionaire has revealed he will explore the possibility of buying out the Holman-Barnes Group, who currently own 90% of the Wests Tigers, and have come under fire for firing four independent board members after nine months in the job.
“It would be the only way they are ever going to survive,” Laundy told The Daily Telegraph.
“I can’t see how this (joint venture) can ever work so I’d be happy to look at buying Wests’ 90 per cent.
“Yes, I’m certainly prepared to look at it.
“I have a soft spot for Balmain, and I will always be a Balmain person."
The Daily Telegraph reports the Wests Tigers would be valued at $45-50 million dollars, with Laundy potentially tipping in $20m, and the remaining $30 million to be from a collection of other businessmen.
Former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said on SEN 1170 Breakfast that the Holman-Barnes Group were unhappy with a lack of transparency around information, which ultimately led to the sackings of the four board members, including former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell.
“There is no surprise. The surprise was that it took this long," Hagipantelis said.
“I spoke to a director of HBG (Holman-Barnes Group) about two months ago about a lot of discontent.
“This was in regard 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.”
