Nice to see all the respect flowing in this thread….Someone starts the thread by expressing their concerns about legitimate recognition of traditional western suburbs in WT (branding, colours, naming by media or WT is just a re-badged balmain tigers tag) and people here now suggest the tiny magpie on the sleeve must now go even though its been there since day one and has no hurt anyone. The tiny magpie is part of the wests branding which is there to serve as a legacy of western suburbs magpies - a foundation club and half owner of WT - not some obscure identity. Do we tear down the sign at ashfield leagues also? It also seems like whenever the issue is brought up or the word magpie is brought up people here are telling others to head over to the WSM forum - apparently making references to the half owner of WT or the term Western Suburbs Magpies on this forum is a crime and you must be a dinosaur and you must not love WT and you belong on the 'other' forum. Unbelievable.
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Everyone deserves respect. There only so much repetition that one should be forced to endure. I love the merger as it saved two foundation clubs.
Ask the majority of the market place and you like me will be astounded at the lack of knowledge about either Balmain or Wests.
We need to respect the past and embrace the future brand.
Ask the majority of the market place and you like me will be astounded at the lack of knowledge about either Balmain or Wests.
We need to respect the past and embrace the future brand.
Look all I can say is yes it was a shame Western Suburbs Magpies lost they're mascot.
But before the merge ALL Western Suburbs Magpies fans that I knew ALWAYS referred to them as WESTS!
I myself was a Balmain Tigers fan (have been for as long as I can remember), I ALWAYS called the team TIGERS, most all fans I can remember referred to the Balmain Tigers simply as TIGERS.
Now this is the reason we are called WESTS TIGERS and not something like Western Suburbs-Bamain Tigers/Magpies.
The name had to be rationalised.
News outlets referring to us (WESTS TIGERS) as simply the Tigers is exactly the same (in my opinion) as when a news report refers to Eels or Sharks or Dragons or Broncos.
I look at it a recognition that the media now see us (WESTS TIGERS) as just a footy club, not a special handle with kitt gloves 'merged' footy club.
One more thing, who said they were going to remove the magpie on the shoulder?
I have not heard anything from the club on this.
But before the merge ALL Western Suburbs Magpies fans that I knew ALWAYS referred to them as WESTS!
I myself was a Balmain Tigers fan (have been for as long as I can remember), I ALWAYS called the team TIGERS, most all fans I can remember referred to the Balmain Tigers simply as TIGERS.
Now this is the reason we are called WESTS TIGERS and not something like Western Suburbs-Bamain Tigers/Magpies.
The name had to be rationalised.
News outlets referring to us (WESTS TIGERS) as simply the Tigers is exactly the same (in my opinion) as when a news report refers to Eels or Sharks or Dragons or Broncos.
I look at it a recognition that the media now see us (WESTS TIGERS) as just a footy club, not a special handle with kitt gloves 'merged' footy club.
One more thing, who said they were going to remove the magpie on the shoulder?
I have not heard anything from the club on this.
Read the posts on this thread. There are members here calling for it to be moved or happy for it to be moved. There are no plans for the club to remove it. As for the name of course its suitable for the JV. The issue is its often not referred to by media most notably in radio and tv calls and often in print/online articles. Thats where its gets lost in translation.
I recall a game in early 2012 where the words wests tigers were not uttered once by the fox caller (just tigers the whole game). If the fans are not hearing it or seeing it then 'its out of sight and out of mind' for both WT fans and non WT fans.
Yes Tigers are the mascot but the name Wests has equal importance for the legacy of western suburbs. Its not so much the 'fault' of the club (although colours and merchandising is very black & gold influenced) but more the media in general who carelessly forget the origins of WT. Blocker calls WT the team he played for (although he never played for WT).
Mix the above with WT fans holding 'black & gold' army placards and 'tiger town' and 'leichhardt oval the spiritual home of the tigers' etc etc then it makes it harder to preserve the meaning and significance of 'wests'
WESTS forever!! WESTS to win NRL 2013!
WTFL
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I recall a game in early 2012 where the words wests tigers were not uttered once by the fox caller (just tigers the whole game). If the fans are not hearing it or seeing it then 'its out of sight and out of mind' for both WT fans and non WT fans.
Yes Tigers are the mascot but the name Wests has equal importance for the legacy of western suburbs. Its not so much the 'fault' of the club (although colours and merchandising is very black & gold influenced) but more the media in general who carelessly forget the origins of WT. Blocker calls WT the team he played for (although he never played for WT).
Mix the above with WT fans holding 'black & gold' army placards and 'tiger town' and 'leichhardt oval the spiritual home of the tigers' etc etc then it makes it harder to preserve the meaning and significance of 'wests'
WESTS forever!! WESTS to win NRL 2013!
WTFL
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@wtfl1981 said:
Ok fair enough, but I have also sat through games where Ray Warren especially has called the game referring the whole way through to the team as Wests.
Now I didn't get onto here whinge and whine about that.
We are one team.
You talk about merchandise.
Please think with clear mind on this subject, most clubs merchadise does revolve around the teams mascot.
The other point I will make is merchdise and marketing a footy team is a very competative market. The colour orange is something that sets us apart from the pack as no other team has the colour.
There are the retro range and also the heritage strips.
Last point I will make, if you think you as Magpies fans have it bad, spare a thought for old Illawarra Steelers fans which have far less say in how they are represented and acknowledged
Gary_Bakerloo
New member
@Basil Tiger said:
Souths won on appeal in the High Court. Worst decision in Australian sporting history with a close second being the readmission of Manly after the Northern Eagles folded.
There were and still are too many teams in Sydney and that was a major factor in the Super League War as well as why our two great foundation clubs decided to merge. Prior to the War, the ARL was a glorified NSWRL competition and despite the pain and anguish we all went through, it is still the same NSW centric competition with club's self interest continuing to dominate the game's direction.
We have a team ready to go in Perth, but we can't expand. Why? Because the NRL wants to ensure all existing clubs are viable under the new tv deal. Cronulla, Manly, Parramatta, Penrith all holding up expansion because after 15 years of the NRL and tv deals, they still can't get their house in order.
Meanwhile, Perth has had enough and rightly so:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/west-coast-pirates-may-play-in-english-league-20121110-294vr.html#ixzz2Br5onFnS
Wake up NRL.
AngryEmu
Member
@wtfl1981 said:
If you have time to do this while watching the game, then you are watching for the wrong reasons. How about paying attention to what is going on on the field and not the rubbish that is coming out of the commentators mouths.
@DavidDuncan said:
Mate, contrary to popular belief some of us blokes can multi task.
Are you trying to tell me that if during a whole 80+ minute broadcast the side were referred to as Wests, and nothing but Wests then the fans who have come from the Balmain side of the JV wouldn't feel just a little peeved.
And rightly so I might add.
Revolutions are avoided by keeping the factions happy … Not by telling loyal subjects to, "get over it".
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
look what you done Sue. The magpie will never die. You have the evidence before you. Judge Judy would stand no chance.
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I've honestly heard Ole Rabs call the Tigers Western Suburbs more than Balmain…
Doesn't offend me either way (I usually just chuckle)
The Magpie on the sleeve doesn't hurt anyone, It's a small gesture from the club to ensure the respect is there for the Magpies.
Although, I do openly look forward to the time when fans feel like we can celebrate our own history, Where we play the Dragons in Rivalry round (Because we hate them as much as they hate us) And we laugh when Benji makes Sowie look like a schoolboy again. One day.....
Doesn't offend me either way (I usually just chuckle)
The Magpie on the sleeve doesn't hurt anyone, It's a small gesture from the club to ensure the respect is there for the Magpies.
Although, I do openly look forward to the time when fans feel like we can celebrate our own history, Where we play the Dragons in Rivalry round (Because we hate them as much as they hate us) And we laugh when Benji makes Sowie look like a schoolboy again. One day.....
Brisbane_Tiger
New member
I'm not saying get rid of the magpie.
This is just getting very old after 13 years.
Would you rather they had called the Wests tigers the Balmain magpies?
Would it of changed anything?
No get over it, out team is the Wests Tigers!
Embrace it or leave.
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This is just getting very old after 13 years.
Would you rather they had called the Wests tigers the Balmain magpies?
Would it of changed anything?
No get over it, out team is the Wests Tigers!
Embrace it or leave.
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@Snodgrass said:
"Factions" shouldn't exist in **our** club. The fact that even a decade since **our** club was founded, rumours of **our** board fighting for things like "their fair share" is pathetic.
We need everyone on the same page if we are ever going to reach our potential. That will never happen until people get over their "factions".
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
even the conspiracy theorists?
A reminder to consider what you're writing prior to posting, this topic always results in passionate debate but personal insults will not be tolerated.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
How can people not be entertained by these threads? great banter
