BZN, I say this with all due respect as I can see how much the Wests Magpies mean to you... but most people don't care what happened last year, let alone 25 or 50 years ago. Its just the reality of the world we live in... Its all about the shiny new toy which is the Wests tigers
From what I have seen, I don't think the MAJORITY on here care about the Magpies or Balmain, let alone dismiss the supporters of those clubs in the junior grades - because generally speaking, they don't care.. You're probably focusing on the opinions of a select few Balmain heads, because again, most people don't care about the past, they just want success for the Wests Tigers for the future. For note, I grew up with the Balmain Tigers throughout the 90s (sounds like you might be older than me) but if someone was to say that they are merging Maggie's and Balmain as a whole, I'd be very happy.
I work in the tech industry and I see mergers and acquisitions all the time... The businesses that succeed are the ones that move forward under the new brand and umbrella... The ones that try and hold onto the past end up just 'existing'... They don't succeed and are always fighting to survive - because they don't move forward into the future. They are too caught up in the "this isn't exactly a 50/50 split and there isn't enough representation from business A'. When they should infact be using that time working on strategic plans as one business to move forward into the future.
Legacy clubs like Balmain and Magpies have their place in history. But the fact we are 20 years post the JV and there's still talk of us vs them should really tell you everything you need to know..
Its my opinion that the Magpies and Balmain need to fully amalgamate under the Wests Tigers umbrella to stop simply surviving, so we can focus on thriving. I know it might feel like a stab to the heart as a loyal traditional fan but it's what needs to happen for the betterment of the Wests Tigers...
***Thanks, mtd#2--I truly respect what you have written and your effort to see the bigger picture.
I've always wanted the JV to thrive.
I want the Wests Tigers to succeed...on the field, at the boardroom level, and in the eyes of the rugby league community.
But I do need to gently share how hard it's been for some of us from the Magpies side.
Over the years, I've felt bullied, sidelined, and sometimes outright mocked...not for bad takes, but for simply identifying with the Magpies. There's been talk of 'sell the club', replacing Wests Ashfield with Balmain figures, even whimsical calls for the Wiggles to take over ownership. I know some of it is satire, but the subtext often sounds personal.
When people signed the petitions to dismantle the current board...without clearly expressing whether the intention was to rebalance governance or push a Balmain resurgence...it left a lot of us confused and concerned. Thats not to say criticism isn't valid. But when criticism turns into identity attacks, it's no longer about progress...it's about power.
And with the Magpie emblem seemingly disappearing from official gear, or at least seemingly getting smaller each year, when the black and white Magpies colours are slipping quietly into history as if they're irrelevant, it feels like symbolic erasure...not evolution.
Those symbols aren't just visual...they're cultural signposts for thousands of supporters that still bleed black and white.
I don't cling to the past mtd#2.
I just ask that we respect the whole history, the full ownership, and the fans who've stuck with this JV through thick and thin.
If we can do that, maybe we move forward in a way that honours everyone!!!
