Wests Tigers’ interim boss, Shane Richardson, has refuted allegations of a conflict of interest after recently securing a development player whose management falls under his son’s purview in the company he co-owns.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Richardson disclosed all pre-existing affiliations to the Tigers board before assuming the position of the club’s CEO on a six-month basis, aiming to preempt any accusations of conflicts. Richardson, who took over from ousted CEO Justin Pascoe, is a co-founder and shareholder of Rich Digital, a consultancy firm that holds NRL player agent accreditation.
This accreditation is held by Richardson’s son, Brent, who recently finalized a development contract for 2024 with Solomona Faataape, a player who excelled for the Easts Tigers in the Queensland Cup last year.
Questions arose regarding a potential conflict of interest with Faataape’s signing, but Richardson firmly denied any such conflict, emphasizing that he doesn’t hold a license for player negotiations, a responsibility that solely rests with his son. Richardson asserted that all relevant details were transparently declared to Wests Tigers, and there was no attempt to conceal any information.
Regarding Rich Digital’s involvement as a consultant to Wests Tigers, Richardson clarified that the company focuses on brand building, digital innovation, and talent management. He also mentioned that Rich Digital manages Greg Inglis, who is mentoring young Tigers fullback Jahream Bula. Richardson clarified that Inglis is not being paid by the club for his services, emphasizing the mentoring role as integral to supporting Bula’s mental health and overall development.
However, New Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell, in response to the situation, stated that Marshall and general manager Matt Betsey directly negotiated Faataape’s deal with Brent Richardson. O’Farrell expressed confidence in Shane Richardson’s integrity and adherence to proper procedures in his role, highlighting the commitment to governance improvements as recommended by the Crawford-Barnier report.
