Holman Barnes Group, a key Wests Tigers stakeholder, has withdrawn their funding for a fan podcast following criticism of referee Kasey Badger’s performance.
Following the team’s 22-14 loss to Canterbury on Saturday afternoon, one of the show’s hosts resorted to social media to criticise Badger, who was at the focus of a number of contentious decisions during the round nine match.
Badger was accused of being ‘biassed’ and told to ‘get back to the kitchen’, which drew a lot of criticism on X from fans from rival teams, as well as 2GB’s Mark Levy.
It doesn’t matter how passionate you are about your NRL team, there is simply no excuse for this sort of behaviour on social media,” he told reporters.
Apparently, this guy operates a Wests Tigers fan page. This is just disgraceful!! Referees are humans. We need more of them; this only makes them quit.”
Holman Barnes Group has supported the Tigers’ fan-led podcasts over the years.
However, Levy claims that backing has been withdrawn as a result of one of the hosts’ social media diatribe.
Benji Marshall’s side suffered their sixth consecutive defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs, dropping to 15th place on the ladder.
Aidan Sezer avoided the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle during the game, while Alex Seyfarth was benched for 10 minutes late in the game following a headbutt on Reed Mahoney.
The visitors led 14-0 at Accor Stadium, but the Dogs dominated the second half.
