‘No conflict of interest’: Tigers boss denies wrongdoing after signing player managed by son
By Michael Chammas
February 1, 2024 — 6.00am
New Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson recently signed a player managed by his son for the company he part owns but says he declared all pre-existing interests to the club’s board before accepting the job in a bid to head off accusations of conflicts.
Richardson, who recently accepted a six-month interim role as Justin Pascoe’s successor as Wests Tigers chief executive, is the co-founder and shareholder of Rich Digital – a consultancy firm that also has NRL player agent accreditation.
The accreditation is held by Richardson’s son Brent, who recently helped secure the Tigers’ last development contract for the 2024 season for his client, Solomona Faataape.
Faataape, one of Easts Tigers’ best players in the Queensland Cup last year, turned down a 16-week train-and-trial deal with the Brisbane Broncos to move to Sydney and play under new coach Benji Marshall.
It was Richardson’s first signing at the club before Christmas, raising questions of a potential conflict of interest, which has been a topic of conversation in certain rugby league circles since.
New Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell, talking to this masthead from India on Wednesday night, said it was Marshall and general manager Matt Betsey who negotiated directly with Brent Richardson.
This masthead also approached Shane Richardson on Wednesday to clear the air over Faataape’s signature. The former South Sydney chief executive said all the relevant declarations had been made to the board prior to him accepting the position.
“There’s no conflict of interest,” Richardson said.
“I don’t have a licence to do player negotiations. That all stands with my son and always has done. At the end of the day, everything was declared, Wests Tigers are well aware of all the situations and nothing has been hidden from anyone whatsoever.
“Brent sent a tape to the Tigers four or five months ago. When I got involved with the club, I asked the question about it and Benji had not even seen it.
“No one had passed it onto him, so I passed it onto him. So when Benji saw the video, he told me we need to get this guy. So we brought him down and Brent did the deal with Benji and Matt Betsey. It’s as simple as that. Everybody is well aware of it. It’s clean as a whistle.”
Rich Digital, a company that specialises in brand building, digital innovation and talent management, has also signed on as a consultant to Wests Tigers to help the club grow its brand and drive profitable results.
It has a similar arrangement with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, NSWRL, Brisbane Tigers (Queensland Cup) and the Central Coast Mariners (A-League).
Rich Digital also manages Greg Inglis who, as revealed by this masthead on Tuesday night, has begun mentoring young Tigers fullback Jahream Bula and was seen wearing the club’s gear at training last weekend.
O’Farrell, who has taken over as chairman of a new-look Tigers board from his predecessor Lee Hagipantelis, said he had no qualms about the potential for a conflict of interest involving his chief executive.
“In the time that I’ve worked with Shane in the role, if there’s any interest to be declared at a director level or CEO level, they have been declared in a timely finish,” O’Farrell said.
“Shane has operated with the highest integrity since starting in the CEO role at the Wests Tigers. As a professional, he ensures he stays within the appropriate limits, and if there are any issues or conflicts, he declares them.
“The key recommendation of the Crawford-Barnier report was to improve governance. From day one, directors and CEO have ensured that has been a part of the principle of reform.”
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As part of Richardson’s contract, he sought permission from the Tigers to continue as an unpaid ambassador for the Goanna Academy – a program aimed at improving mental health for vulnerable groups in Indigenous communities.
The Tigers chief said Inglis was not getting paid by the club to mentor Bula.
“GI met him at an Indigenous program and quickly became friendly with him,” Richardson said.
“Benji and I decided he would be a good mentor for Jahream. He’s not paid by the club, he’s just a mentor for Jahream to check on him and help him with the mental health side of things.
“It’s really a mentor role. He’s not here to tell him how to play fullback, it’s a genuine mentoring role about what’s required off the field to be a good first grade footballer on the field. There’s nothing untoward going on in any way, shape or form.”
The NRL has not received a complaint and declined to comment on the matter at this point.
It was Shane Richardson’s first signing at the club, and it has been a topic of conversation in rugby league circles since.
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