HBG, Independent Directors Sacked

Lestronge said:
They would though . You would alienate anyone who was a supporter that aligned itself to the tiger brand . That could be a Balmain traditionalist , but most likely a large portion of the fanbase who simply don’t want to support the magpies . The same loyalty that guys are getting upset about re. To the magpie , is exactly how people feel towards the tiger . And vice versa . To simply think that a name change wouldn’t implode the club is just nonsensical .
There’s a reason the wests old boys feel like they’ve lost their club even though the main name is Wests .
I’ve said this before but it’s the same as old school Bloods fans singing out “Carn the bloods “ Everytime the swans make the afl grand final . The resonation is rarely to the suburb . It’s nearly always to the emblem/ mascot.
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Well said Lestronge.
That’s exactly the reason why the once great Canterbury Bankstown club died back in the early 1980s. They made the fatal decision in 1977 to switch from The Berries to The Bulldogs.
Fans couldn’t cope !

#TragicTale #Sacrilege #Emblematic
 
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diedpretty said:
And yet there are people on here who still say half the fan base would walk away if Balmain weren't involved in some form.
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I can only speak for myself, but here's my take. I moved to Australia about 20 years ago and happened to end up in Balmain. I picked the Tigers because they were clearly the local team, and over time I've picked up various Tigers-supporting friends, been a member since 2009 and generally gone from passing interest to died in the wool fan. I never knew the Balmain Tigers and couldn't give a monkeys about their board or whether it's represented in the governance of the Wests Tigers. To the extent that I might have cared it died when that organisation allowed itself to be euthenised by Ben Elias and thus ceased to have financial relevance.

I don't have any interest in the team being the Balmain Tigers - that's not the team I started supporting. And yet I also don't want it to be the Western Suburbs Magpies and would consider it becoming so a betrayal. Why? Two main reasons:
- I became a rugby league fan in the Inner West, specifically in Balmain, and, as I said, the Tigers were my local team. That matters to me and I suspect it matters more to Inner West people who have lifetime or generational allegiance. Which leads me to:
- The Wests Tigers has its own identity but part of that is the combined history of Wests and Balmain. Obliterating half of that because of who currently happens to hold the financial whip hand would be a shoddy, low class move. I'd feel the same if it was the other way round.

Ultimately, the clowns in charge need to understand that they are custodians of something bigger than themselves - especially these particular clowns, who don't even own the corporate entity. The heritage, roots and history of the Wests Tigers shouldn't be something they can touch.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
No interest at all in the Balmain tigers coming back. What is said was if a name change was to occur Wests Tigers to Wests Magpies then half a fanbase would likely leave as in theory it would be a new club
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In theory, it wouldn’t be a new club at all !

Wests have been around since 1908, and Wests Ashfield (aka HBG) have been their benefactor since 1955.
The emblem is but a piffling matter of branding.

Wests rebranded as Wests
Nothing new about that 🤷‍♂️
 
"HBG" is not the problem it's the drop kicks that represent them and their lack of accountability for doing a rubbish job. They are protected species until they turn on each other. That is not professional governance and that is why our administration is not respected by anyone in the NRL despite the defensive reactions by old Magpie fans who will support them no matter what as long as they maintain control.
Put the right people in control working for WTs and then HBG all the way.
 
FWIW I'm all for getting rid of the debenture system not HBG. But, I imagine the debenture holders would have to vote to cease the system. I'm not holding my breath on that. As to our emblem I'm more and more for a new emblem and brand with small shoulder patches with the tiger and magpie to reflect our heritage but a totally new brand to go forward. I'm sick of the in fighting the Tiger vs Magpie emblem but I will note the passion is not meant with hate.
 
Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon said:
In theory, it wouldn’t be a new club at all !

Wests have been around since 1908, and Wests Ashfield (aka HBG) have been their benefactor since 1955.
The emblem is but a piffling matter of branding.

Wests rebranded as Wests
Nothing new about that 🤷‍♂️
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it would go from being wests TIGERS
a hard thing for you to say as you always refer to them as T's

it would be a new club if it reverted to wests magpies what are you talking about.

Same as if they elected to go the Dolphins route and drop the wests and just call them tigers.
it would be a new club

after 25 years keep it as wests tigers
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
No interest at all in the Balmain tigers coming back. What is said was if a name change was to occur Wests Tigers to Wests Magpies then half a fanbase would likely leave as in theory it would be a new club
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that wasn't what the original post to which you replied was about at all - it was comparing the other 2 JVs who dumped or devoured their partner compared to HBG keeping Balmain on as a partner. There was no mention of name changes - and lets be honest - even you must know the magpies will not return to the NRL. So had HBG dumped Balmain the club would have remained as Wests Tigers. So my question was why would half the fanbase walk away.
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
it would go from being wests TIGERS
a hard thing for you to say as you always refer to them as T's

it would be a new club if it reverted to wests magpies what are you talking about.

Same as if they elected to go the Dolphins route and drop the wests and just call them tigers.
it would be a new club

after 25 years keep it as wests tigers
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Nah mate.

If I painted my home and changed the front porch plaque from Kia Ora to Emoh Ruo ...

It's still the same old house 🙄
 
diedpretty said:
that wasn't what the original post to which you replied was about at all - it was comparing the other 2 JVs who dumped or devoured their partner compared to HBG keeping Balmain on as a partner. There was no mention of name changes - and lets be honest - even you must know the magpies will not return to the NRL. So had HBG dumped Balmain the club would have remained as Wests Tigers. So my question was why would half the fanbase walk away.
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the meaning of my post was by reference of dumping the Tiger, e.g. in 2012 when balmain went bust and western suburbs reverting to wests magpies.
if hbg had dumped balmain back in 2012 and kept wests tigers terrific great no problem which they did.

if hbg had in 2012 changed from wests tigers to wests magpies, I dare say half of the LO membership base would have deserted the club.

if they came in now and changed St George Illawarra Dragons to Illawarra Steelers what do you think the St George part of the JV fanbase would do, they would probably chuck it in.

We are fortunate the club works well over two geographical areas inner west and south west)
Hopefully PVL blocks any HBG attempted name change in 2030
 
The Chad said:
See, I think this is where I disagree with a fair few people.

My original point, a while back, regarding Manly/Norths & St George/Illawarra was that the "ideal" was an amalgamation of 2 clubs into 1 joint venture. But BOTH those JV's had one hungrier club than the other that took over.

Wests were in a position to do just that. Balmain was on it's knees. Still is, really. But instead of now supporting the Wests Magpies (Northern Bears are what now?), we still have Balmain Tigers representation at the club, no matter how small.

A large portion of people want to label HBG & Wests as these 'bad guys'. This is the only JV that has remained, largely, a JV. I think it should be celebrated. I think Wests & Balmain should never die. For everything that HBG have, or may have, messed up- they kept the JV alive. Did they do it all on their own? No, of course not.

I just don't think the 'bad guys' would hold the door open the way they have. And why NOT congratulate them for doing something good?

We are quite happy pointing out what they do bad after all.
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The difference is in the strength of the agreement negotiations and as a consequence the branding. St George dragons became “st George Illawarra dragons” while the other joint venture became Manly Norths Eagles, not far away from “sea eagles”, so the dilution of Illawarra and norths became a fait accompli more or less.
Our situation is more complex with two struggling clubs forming a new identity with branding continually being weakened and held in place by a heritage deed that may not be renewed in 2030, which could allow the team to be known as wests magpies?
 
Jedi_Tiger said:
tell that to a north sydney bear supporter when they look at manly
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Jedi_Tiger said:
tell that to a north sydney bear supporter when they look at manly
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Ah yes, but in that particularly tragic instance, one needs to include a north of the harbour,
Three Little Pigs clause.

The Norths - Manly house was very clumsily built of cut price straw and this ramshackle abode was easily huffed & puffed into oblivion by an unruly eagles fan returning home from a big night on The Corso and with a penchant for howling at the moon.

Hopefully the Bears learned their lesson from the ensuing quarter of a century of homelessness and the new Perth address is constructed of top quality double-brick.

“The Three Little Pigs” is a rich tale that, through Jungian analysis, reveals important psychological insights. The pigs’ journey from building fragile houses to a sturdy brick home symbolizes the path to individuation and maturity. The Big Bad Wolf serves as the shadow that must be faced and overcome. Ultimately, the story teaches the value of resilience, preparedness, and the integration of all aspects of the self to achieve psychological wholeness and strength".

#YourWelcome
 
Bus 2 Terrigal Lagoon said:
Well said Lestronge.
That’s exactly the reason why the once great Canterbury Bankstown club died back in the early 1980s. They made the fatal decision in 1977 to switch from The Berries to The Bulldogs.
Fans couldn’t cope !

#TragicTale #Sacrilege #Emblematic
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Not even close to being the same - they never merged with anyone - there identity was never at risk.
A big difference to branding and identity.
Our first fans identified with either Wests Magpies and or Balmain Tigers.
After twenty five years we now have fans who only identify with Wests Tigers - the club in the here and now
Old fans who still want to push or pedal something from times past for self interest are one of the main barriers to the clubs stability strength and identity.
 
Telltails said:
Not even close to being the same - they never merged with anyone - there identity was never at risk.
A big difference to branding and identity.
Our first fans identified with either Wests Magpies and or Balmain Tigers.
After twenty five years we now have fans who only identify with Wests Tigers - the club in the here and now
Old fans who still want to push or pedal something from times past for self interest are one of the main barriers to the clubs stability strength and identity.
Click to expand...
Old fans (or boards/administrators) who still want to push or pedal something from times past for self interest are one of the main barriers to the clubs stability strength and identity
 
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