I wholeheartedly disagree.
Firstly how is this divide, or perception of a divide hurting the club. It isn’t. It’s just something old fans throw around on two bit forums. It doesn’t effect the team one iota. The only way it holds the club back is through inaction re choosing between inner west and south west.
Secondly, how often do you hear Roosters supporters or Cronulla supporters moan about having to accomodate Norths or Newtown? Never. How much interest would there be in a stand alone reggies game if it weren’t for the brilliant carnival atmosphere brought by Newtown at Henson, Norths at Bear Park and Western Suburbs at Lidcombe. I’m also reliably informed by Magpies officials that the sale of merch makes a hefty contribution. This would be considerably reduced if the Magpies senior side was pushed down to Massey Cup. And for what? Because it just doesn’t feel right ? 🥴
As for the junior reps - why cut our representation in half. I can’t imagine the NSWRL copping us fielding two WT teams in both junior comps. As it is, our model is so advantageous, the Roosters copied it by sneaking in a second Matt’s Cup team under the Central Coast banner. If in the future our club were to actually decide on one area to represent ... then it may become a valid point of discussion, but we’d only be gifting rival clubs a swag of young talent.
I hear this argument occasionally thrown up by mostly old Balmain fans (funny that), but on closer analysis it has way more negatives attached than positives.
