See, I think this is where I disagree with a fair few people.
My original point, a while back, regarding Manly/Norths & St George/Illawarra was that the "ideal" was an amalgamation of 2 clubs into 1 joint venture. But BOTH those JV's had one hungrier club than the other that took over.
Wests were in a position to do just that. Balmain was on it's knees. Still is, really. But instead of now supporting the Wests Magpies (Northern Bears are what now?), we still have Balmain Tigers representation at the club, no matter how small.
A large portion of people want to label HBG & Wests as these 'bad guys'. This is the only JV that has remained, largely, a JV. I think it should be celebrated. I think Wests & Balmain should never die. For everything that HBG have, or may have, messed up- they kept the JV alive. Did they do it all on their own? No, of course not.
I just don't think the 'bad guys' would hold the door open the way they have. And why NOT congratulate them for doing something good?
We are quite happy pointing out what they do bad after all.