Balmain Leagues Club

[Geo]

point taken Geo but they were not willing to bail out magpies in 1999 or didn't have the funds back then etc as the merger was pretty unanimous from a western suburbs end at the time

It wasn't a case of funding ..Wests didn't meet the criteria set by the NRL on crowds and results on the field back then to be invited into the competition..NRL was by invite not franchise like it is now..they saw the writing on the wall...Wests Group mainly led by Wests Ashfield have always met their financial responsibility to the JV from day 1..In fact the removal of the agreement that one side can only contribute what the other can was removed in the restructure in 2016 with Wests Ashfield absorbing the debt..

This move to now take control of the Leagues Club will only strengthen the Wests Tigers brand..they do not want to get rid of Balmain..they want Wests Tigers to grow..ironically a lot of the Wests diehards are very upset by this..

 

[Geo]

If West’s want to rebadge the Tigers to Magpies the Heritage agreement won’t stop anything. The simple reality is the team have been known to a whole generation of fans as West’s Tigers. It’s commercially beneficial to the West’s Group.
Roy Masters article was interesting regarding West’s Ashfield reducing their grant in line with the Victa Sponsorship years ago and West’s Campbeltown backing Balmain.

The powerhouse of the group West’s Ashfield taking control is the best outcome for the Footy Club. The old Tiger Vs Magpie argument is dead in the water financial return is all that matters for them. As it should.

Wests Ashfield have the Wests Tigers logo plastered over the Leagues Club now as it is...they do not want the Magpies back ..

Their clientele love the Tiger..lucky 88

 

[mike]

point taken Geo but they were not willing to bail out magpies in 1999 or didn't have the funds back then etc as the merger was pretty unanimous from a western suburbs end at the time

It wasn’t a funding issue for the Magpies it was the biased criteria that they couldn’t meet. Hence the merger was agreed by both parties.

 

[hammertime]

For all the naysayers, imagine how powerful we are going to grow. This is essentially an expansion plan from Wests and they're going to control a significant amount of licenced premises.

Our funding becomes simpler, our junior development should also, we remove all us v them wastage and finally become a unified club.

People talk about the all-powerful Canturbury, Penrith or Parramatta leagues. Just wait till we hit our straps.

 

[OzLuke]

I remember back at the time the eels were hell bent on merging with us.....god imagine the self loathing that would take as a tigers fan....Parramatta Tigers??? Makes you want to vomit

 

[wonka]

I remember back at the time the eels were hell bent on merging with us.....god imagine the self loathing that would take as a tigers fan....Parramatta Tigers??? Makes you want to vomit

Snake would be in Heaven.

 

[WT2K]

I remember back at the time the eels were hell bent on merging with us.....god imagine the self loathing that would take as a tigers fan....Parramatta Tigers??? Makes you want to vomit

I feel nauseous just reading this post

 

[hobbo1]

I remember back at the time the eels were hell bent on merging with us.....god imagine the self loathing that would take as a tigers fan....Parramatta Tigers??? Makes you want to vomit

But we would of had a new stadium now lol

I remember after winning the comp , Fitzgerald ( I think ) noted that Parramatta had the chance to merge with Balmain and he was loathing it didn’t happen lmao

 

[LeichhardtTiger]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

 

[OzLuke]

I remember back at the time the eels were hell bent on merging with us.....god imagine the self loathing that would take as a tigers fan....Parramatta Tigers??? Makes you want to vomit


But we would of had a new stadium now lol

I remember after winning the comp , Fitzgerald ( I think ) noted that Parramatta had the chance to merge with Balmain and he was loathing it didn’t happen lmao

The 20 year nrl plan to merge the teams by dangling a new stadium as a carrot.... still sickening....

 

[OzLuke]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

wasn't Fitzgerald one of the original grubs!!!! what an absolute flogbag!!!

 

[Geo]

Don't worry Wests fans felt exactly the same as regarding the Dogs..It was seen more as a takeover by them much like the Dragons took over Illawarra and Manly devoured Norths...

It terms of an actual JV Wests and Balmain made sense...it really has been a successful marriage ...now we just need to get it right on the field..

 

[Flash089]

@Geo
I agree this is the best possible outcome after years of amateurish management by a bunch of dinosaurs and cheap grifting by so-called heroes of the foundation clubs. Some people on here still seem confused about what our brand is. It's a Tiger. An apex predator in the wild, and on its day, on the football field as well. Google Tiger and click on images. The Tiger is a Black, White and Gold striped beast. Three cheers for Wests Ashfield! As a Balmain lad all that matters for our future growth is that Wests Tigers is the one and only brand. Next step: get the Canterbury Cup team rebranded Wests Tigers. Then feel the hairs on the back of your neck tingle as the Tigers chant rings out loud and proud across our many home grounds. Tomorrow belongs to us!

 

[hobbo1]

Don't worry Wests fans felt exactly the same as regarding the Dogs..It was seen more as a takeover by them much like the Dragons took over Illawarra and Manly devoured Norths...

It terms of an actual JV Wests and Balmain made sense...it really has been a successful marriage ...now we just need to get it right on the field..

When’s the second honeymoon coming ?

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

So basically only two or three members of the the many who have posted in this thread want this rejected so that Balmain can officially die (no other potential suitors want to support the footy club,) and weirdly, they are Balmain fans.

 

[mike]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

That is 100% correct, they were only interested in the Tigers logo. So happy they are stuck with the slimy eel, it so suits.

 

[cochise]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

No colours either, they were to be the Parramatta Tigers playing in Blue and Gold!

 

[hobbo1]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

No colours either, they were to be the Parramatta Tigers playing in Blue and Gold!

Nah ...
Are you for real ?

Lol

Would love to see some old artist renditions !

 

[WT2K]

@OzLuke The Late John Chalk told me on the Night of the Merge Meeting that when they went to Parra all Fitzgerald wanted was the Tigers Brand - no staff, or players just the Tiger! He even had a baseball cap with the Parramatta Tigers logo embroidered on it!.

No colours either, they were to be the Parramatta Tigers playing in Blue and Gold!


Nah ...
Are you for real ?

Lol

Would love to see some old artist renditions !

Put the bong down, Fitzgerald.

 

[Snake]

@Cultured_Bogan Don’t you believe it there are die hard Magpie supporters agitating as we speak , I know because I know a few of them .
I give them there dues but that ship has sailed long ago.