Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Rally organised by Inner West mayor to 'save Wests Tigers'
Sam Kosack • December 3rd, 2025 3:41 pm
A rally to save the Wests Tigers has been organised by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne as fans call for change at the joint-venture.
On Monday, the Holman Barnes Group, who are the Wests Tigers majority owners, dismissed four independent board members, including former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, after a series of disputes, including the recently released 2026 home jersey being ‘too orange’.
The sacked quartet - which includes O’Farrell, Annabelle Williams, Charlie Viola and Michelle McDowell - were said to be blindsided by the move having only been elected to the board in January of this year.
The move sparked outrage from fans and former players, leading Byrne to convene a rally to “save Wests Tigers following the extraordinary sacking of all independent directors on the Wests Tigers board”.
The rally will occur on December 31 at Pratten Park, before a march towards Wests Ashfield Leagues Club where fans will “demand that the Board of the Leagues Club (the Holman Barnes Group) resign”.
"It's as clear as day that allowing the Holman Barnes Group to eliminate independent directors from the Wests Tigers board could mean the death of our famous rugby league club,” Byrne said in a media release.
"The fact that the same people who oversaw fifteen years of failure, and 3 wooden spoons, have now launched a coup to take back total control over Wests Tigers makes clear how dire the situation is.
"At this rally, fans and members will call on Peter V'landys and the NRL, as well as Liquor and Gaming NSW, to intervene and fix the shambolic governance of Wests Tigers once and for all.
"It's time for Wests Tigers fans and Wests Ashfield Leagues Club members to stand up and save our football team before it's too late."
NRL chairman Peter V’Landys has revealed the ARLC Commission will investigate the board sacking at the Wests Tigers.
“We have been approached by a number of parties to have a look at the situation and we will,” V’landys said.
“I have always said I was going to look after the fans as chairman and I will honour that. We will look into the matter.”
Byrne reiterated his call for NRL and government intervention at the club.
