The point is, HBG are not wests magpies. Anyone getting hung up on this is focussing on the wrong thing.
There's a pretty long list of evidence to show that they've moved way beyond the Balmain v Wests stuff that gets rolled out by old timers. In fact, I'd say the majority of magpies footy club members can't stand HBG.
Ditching the former wests junior program at Campbelltown and switching to funding Balmain juniors (in exchange for the former Balmain commercial assets) is an excellent example of how little they're motivated by old factional stuff and far more motivated by making money.
As long Wests Tigers run at financial losses and going cap in hand to HBG, they're always going to demand board control. It's just a business reality.
Shane Richardson actually made this point a number of times. He said HBG would be happy to step back once they see that the footy club is running at a sustainable profit.
If supporters want to see the club governed more independently of HBG, they should be asking what wests tigers management is doing to make the club more profitable.