BRET team to play Wentworthville in trial

[magpiecol]

jeeeezus what a side!

That backline is a killer and could probably drop off a few NRL teams

totes excited

What was the score again?

 

[system]

I believe you can categorize the score as dissapointing but not entirely unexpected.

It is going to take a while for this side to settle into a rythym this season. Massive uphevals and alot of guys whose first game togather was Saturday evening.

No real hooker is going to be a major issue this season as well

 

[alien]

To be quite honest, why should Wests get the contracted players if they are the people who don't want to have one side? Why put all those players who are trying to get into the top grade at a place where they are not wanted? Balmain have clearly warmed to the idea of one State Cup side, even if it means losing 'Balmain' in the State Cup, and Wests haven't. I'm sure if it wasn't for this, we would be talking about the Wests Tigers State Cup side this year.

Because Wests Magpies are right when they say there should be 2 feeder clubs. It is a benefit to the Wests Tigers to have 2 feeder clubs. It's actually an advantage that we have over other NRL teams. It means we can keep more of our juniors that are too old for Toyota Cup now. Wests Magpies only want half of the WT contracted players that don't play for first grade and they also don't want their best players like Akeripa, Davis and Pearn to play for Balmain Ryde Eastwood. When the joint-venture was formed they never agreed to merge the NSW Cup teams and now the Wests Magpies are being treated like rubbish. Do they think all of the fans will just accept this. I definately don't and I never will no matter what excuses people try and give me. How are Wests Magpies meant to compete when Balmain Ryde Eastwood takes all of their best players and when Balmain Ryde Eastwood get all of the contracted WT players who aren't in 1st grade. It's going to make it very hard. Also having all of the best NSW Cup players in the one team doesn't benefit the other NSW Cup players that we have because they wont be playing with the better players. The system we had worked. We won the Grand Final with the 2 feeder clubs getting the WT contracted players evenly. It worked last year very well too. What they have done this year is going to create more problems for the club than it's worth. And those Balmain fans who are ok with what's happening definately wouldn't be if the shoe was on the other foot.

 

[alien]

When I first saw that team I thought - that's a real strong Balmain team. I didn't process at first that it had also been bolstered by quality Magpies players. I'm a BRET fan, I go to their games and don't really travel to see the Magpies, so it's in my interest to shut up and just accept the good luck we've been given but I know if the shoe was on the other foot - no matter the long term desire of Wests Tigers to have one State Cup team - I wouldn't be happy either. Magpies supporters have every right to be up in arms.

It is in the best interest of the Wests Tigers

no it really isnt

 

[alien]

When I first saw that team I thought - that's a real strong Balmain team. I didn't process at first that it had also been bolstered by quality Magpies players. I'm a BRET fan, I go to their games and don't really travel to see the Magpies, so it's in my interest to shut up and just accept the good luck we've been given but I know if the shoe was on the other foot - no matter the long term desire of Wests Tigers to have one State Cup team - I wouldn't be happy either. Magpies supporters have every right to be up in arms.

i want to thank you for being honest

 

[matty119]

To be quite honest, why should Wests get the contracted players if they are the people who don't want to have one side? Why put all those players who are trying to get into the top grade at a place where they are not wanted? Balmain have clearly warmed to the idea of one State Cup side, even if it means losing 'Balmain' in the State Cup, and Wests haven't. I'm sure if it wasn't for this, we would be talking about the Wests Tigers State Cup side this year.

Because Wests Magpies are right when they say there should be 2 feeder clubs. It is a benefit to the Wests Tigers to have 2 feeder clubs. It's actually an advantage that we have over other NRL teams. It means we can keep more of our juniors that are too old for Toyota Cup now. Wests Magpies only want half of the WT contracted players that don't play for first grade and they also don't want their best players like Akeripa, Davis and Pearn to play for Balmain Ryde Eastwood. When the joint-venture was formed they never agreed to merge the NSW Cup teams and now the Wests Magpies are being treated like rubbish. Do they think all of the fans will just accept this. I definately don't and I never will no matter what excuses people try and give me. How are Wests Magpies meant to compete when Balmain Ryde Eastwood takes all of their best players and when Balmain Ryde Eastwood get all of the contracted WT players who aren't in 1st grade. It's going to make it very hard. Also having all of the best NSW Cup players in the one team doesn't benefit the other NSW Cup players that we have because they wont be playing with the better players. The system we had worked. We won the Grand Final with the 2 feeder clubs getting the WT contracted players evenly. It worked last year very well too. What they have done this year is going to create more problems for the club than it's worth. And those Balmain fans who are ok with what's happening definately wouldn't be if the shoe was on the other foot.

I will try to be nice and respectful, but please bear with me, and just to state the obvious, yes I am a former Balmain fan.

There is no logic in having two State Cup teams, and there are plenty of reasons, all of which have been previously stated. The overriding one is that both Wests and Balmain should collectively be doing absolutely everything for the benefit of Wests Tigers, and the success of the First Grade club. It is foolish to believe that either club will survive as a stand alone, and if either is not doing their utmost for the success of Wests Tigers, they shouldn't be in the merger.

Firstly, the finances. Why should both Wests and Balmain waste money and resources on State Cup teams when they can either pool finances for one team, or let Wests Tigers pay for the team and put that money into them? I mean no disrespect to the players who fall into this category, but having two teams just to keep average reserve graders and former under 20s who may be local juniors is a complete waste of money. Whether you like the players or not, or whether they may play a couple of first grade games in 7-8 years time, it is still a waste of money. In a time when all businesses are struggling, both Balmain and Wests are spending way too much on something that just isn't going to be.

Secondly, player welfare has to be thought about. There is again no logic in one week players going out and bashing each other, then turning up the next week in the top grade and playing together. Why should we not have one team, streamline coaching and culture, and make the structure so much more cohesive. We drop dead weight, and have people forming relationships and combinations throughout the grades.

I could go on forever, but I sense this wouldn't be overly constructive. **We are one club, and we need to start acting that way.** Stop the petty fights and arguments, the stubbornness, and get the structure right. To be honest, I couldn't care less if all WT contracted players were playing for Western Suburbs, Balmain Ryde Eastwood or Wests Tigers in the State Cup, so long as we have one side. At the moment it is how it is because of stubbornness and naivety among some of the Wests administrators who seem to think that State Cup success is more important than First Grade success. It is not. This should not be a Wests vs Balmain fight, but somehow it is. In my opinion, Balmain should not be in this years State Cup, neither should Wests.

If you don't agree with me, so be it, but I think that there should be one State Cup team, and it is foolish to think otherwise.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

good post Matty… Plenty wont agree with you, but plenty will!

 

[Guest]

Great post Matty. Unfortunately there will be no convincing the likes of alien, Balmain Bug and co, but what you are saying I totally agree with. The disappointing thing in all of this is, is that one team was prepared to move forward and one was not. And here we are discussing the aftermath of it all.

 

[alien]

Who do you think you are to say that it's a waste of money for Wests Magpies to fund their own NSW Cup team? Maybe they want to survive at NSW Cup level. They never agreed to merging with Balmain at that level when the joint-venture formed. Wests Ashfield are funding Wests Magpies NSW Cup team themselves but are losing their best players to Balmain Ryde Eastwood and are also now getting none of the Wests Tigers contracted players that aren't playing firstgrade even though those players are technically half payed for by the Wests side. When they couldn't agree to merge at NSW Cup level they could have kept the system that they have been using (which was working) but instead they have chosen a different path to weaken the Wests Magpies NSW Cup team as much as they can which is going to make it hard for them to compete. It's just a way of putting pressure on them and their supporters to give in and accept Wests Tigers demands of merging at NSW Cup level. They don't care how much they are hurting supporters that have spent alot of money and time supporting Wests Magpies AND Wests Tigers. I went through this heart brake in 1999 when we had to merge at first grade level and now it's happening again. The only difference is that the people causing it this time are the people that I have supported. I think some people are forgetting what sport is all about.

 

[Guest]

He's entitled to his opinion alien, as are you. Fact of the matter is, this is the hand that has been dealt to Wests because of their own doing. You can sugar coat it any way you want. Their was a proposal to merge the two sides, Balmain said yes, Wests said no. That's what it boiled down to. Now Wests are left to deal with the aftermath.

It may not seem fair and as a Wests supporter I can understand anyone being upset, but it's happened now and at least for this season, it's not likely to change unless Wests Tigers decide differently for next year. The 100 or so people who support Wests at State Cup games are just going to have to deal with it.

 

[Sabre]

The Irony is that Balmain never had to merge in the first place and if they didnt the Magpies would not have played a game after 1999.

 

[alien]

The Irony is that Balmain never had to merge in the first place and if they didnt the Magpies would not have played a game after 1999.

They might have done what Souths did and take the NRL to court and won.

At NSW Cup level they would exist. Even Newtown and Mounties do.

The truth is NONE of the foundation clubs should have been kicked out or forced to merge but that's an entirely different subject. I'm not sure why you brought that up.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

What are you doing about this alien?

What is your plan of attack to try and fix your concerns?

 

[matty119]

Who do you think you are to say that it's a waste of money for Wests Magpies to fund their own NSW Cup team? Maybe they want to survive at NSW Cup level. They never agreed to merging with Balmain at that level when the joint-venture formed. Wests Ashfield are funding Wests Magpies NSW Cup team themselves but are losing their best players to Balmain Ryde Eastwood and are also now getting none of the Wests Tigers contracted players that aren't playing firstgrade even though those players are technically half payed for by the Wests side. When they couldn't agree to merge at NSW Cup level they could have kept the system that they have been using (which was working) but instead they have chosen a different path to weaken the Wests Magpies NSW Cup team as much as they can which is going to make it hard for them to compete. It's just a way of putting pressure on them and their supporters to give in and accept Wests Tigers demands of merging at NSW Cup level. They don't care how much they are hurting supporters that have spent alot of money and time supporting Wests Magpies AND Wests Tigers. I went through this heart brake in 1999 when we had to merge at first grade level and now it's happening again. The only difference is that the people causing it this time are the people that I have supported. I think some people are forgetting what sport is all about.

I think you may have just proven my point here. Its a waste of money because Wests Tigers **should** be the primary objective for Wests, but as you've shown here, it clearly isn't. They are more worried about Wests Magpies surviving at State Cup level than Wests Tigers thriving at NRL level, and therein lies the problem. If they effectively don't give a crap about Wests Tigers, then why should Wests Tigers send their players there? And by the same token, why would Wests Tigers players want to go there if they don't give a crap about anything other than the State Cup, and whats good for Wests?

 

[alien]

I think you may have just proven my point here. Its a waste of money because Wests Tigers **should** be the primary objective for Wests, but as you've shown here, it clearly isn't. They are more worried about Wests Magpies surviving at State Cup level than Wests Tigers thriving at NRL level, and therein lies the problem. If they effectively don't give a crap about Wests Tigers, then why should Wests Tigers send their players there? And by the same token, why would Wests Tigers players want to go there if they don't give a crap about anything other than the State Cup, and whats good for Wests?

That's not true at all. Wests just want a fair go. The joint venture is supposed to be 50/50 but sadly it isn't anymore.

 

[Guest]

I think you may have just proven my point here. Its a waste of money because Wests Tigers **should** be the primary objective for Wests, but as you've shown here, it clearly isn't. They are more worried about Wests Magpies surviving at State Cup level than Wests Tigers thriving at NRL level, and therein lies the problem. If they effectively don't give a crap about Wests Tigers, then why should Wests Tigers send their players there? And by the same token, why would Wests Tigers players want to go there if they don't give a crap about anything other than the State Cup, and whats good for Wests?

That's not true at all. Wests just want a fair go. The joint venture is supposed to be 50/50 but sadly it isn't anymore.

If Wests had agreed to merge with BRET at State Cup level then it still would be 50/50 alien. Don't you get it? Wests and BRET were both offered a ladder to climb. BRET took the offer to climb it while Wests opted to grab a shovel instead and dig a hole.

 

[redemption]

I think you may have just proven my point here. Its a waste of money because Wests Tigers **should** be the primary objective for Wests, but as you've shown here, it clearly isn't. They are more worried about Wests Magpies surviving at State Cup level than Wests Tigers thriving at NRL level, and therein lies the problem. If they effectively don't give a crap about Wests Tigers, then why should Wests Tigers send their players there? And by the same token, why would Wests Tigers players want to go there if they don't give a crap about anything other than the State Cup, and whats good for Wests?

That's not true at all. Wests just want a fair go. The joint venture is supposed to be 50/50 but sadly it isn't anymore.

Come on alien - this sort of close-minded naivety is not befitting an extra-terrestrial!!!!

 

[redemption]

On this matter - I for one still cannot grasp how BRET are going to fit in all the fringe players on a weekly basis - & unless the remainder play park footy - there is going to be a need to send alot of them to the Magpies!!

How do you fit Schirnack X 2, Pearn, Curran, Farlow, Davis, Akeripa, Vunakece, Davidson, Ryan, Hyland, Moors, Achurch, Tovo, Utai, Daniela, Latu, Meaney, Waters, Woods, Roqica, Clarke, Flanagan, Mullaney, Meaney, Noilea, Tagive, Politoni, Miller etc into one team when all are fit????

 

[Balmain_Bug]

If Balmain want one State Cup side, why can't that one State Cup side be Wests Magpies ?

 

[redemption]

If Balmain want one State Cup side, why can't that one State Cup side be Wests Magpies ?

Who ever said Balmain want a single NSW Cup side??????

That is the prerogative of WT!!!