LIVE GAME Round 16 v Dolphins

[terriaa]

So you've said 3 or 4 times so far.
If your beloved Leichhardt wasn't left to become so run down and neglected by it's long term tenant . . . not just the last 25 years . . . maybe we could still play there.

Clubs and NRL don't pay for ground upgrades. Panthers didn't contribute anything to the $309m redevelopment. It's entirely state government funded. Leichhardt is used more than Penrith, the Leichhardt upgrade is 3 levels of government, including inner west council who own and operate the ground.

 

[innsaneink]

I am not sure where the us and them reared its head in my post mate.

I live an hour away from Campbelltown.

Do Manly fans travel an hour to Brookvale? Bulldogs an hour to Accor? Panthers an hour to Pointsbet? The answer is generally no.

I plan the 5 games I go to well in advance so I can make the games I do.

The people of that area do not put the effort in. It isnt an "us vs them". Its fact based on the attendance record.

I have always said I beleive the mcarthur region is our future - the people of the area just dont seem to feel the same. Could have something to do with the fact Wests play out of Lidcombe and not Campbelltown?

Edit: where do wests matts and ball play out of? Genuine question i havent looked it up

Apologies....the us and them was directed not at you in particular...just in general

 

[weststigers]

It's our opportunity to influence the hearts and minds of young families establishing themselves not only in the SW Grown Area but also in the Wilton Growth Area and Greater Macarthur Growth Area. Imo that is why it is so important the NSWRL and NRL assist the WTs with this initiative.

Key findings from the Planning Department are that Camden, Wollondilly and The Hills will experience some of the highest annual population growth rates in NSW.

That sounds like a great fairytale you would tell to some little kid.

They all support Parra, Penrith and Canterbury. We already have a fan base that turns up every week - why are you trying to manufacture a new one?

Just make Campbelltown the junior factory it was supposed to be and stop sending me government population growth documents. It's made no difference since 1987 - the support has been poor for 40 years.

I agree with you - the population is growing out there. It wasn't the point. In fact it is the very thing that makes the lack of support so tragic.

 

[tig_prmz]

As young families continue to establish themselves in the growth areas of the Southwest, the demand for infrastructure including sporting facilities and clubs will increase. The NSWRL and also imo the NRL have a role to assist the WTs with developing facilities/programmes to facilitate the expansion of RL.

That's a great point and shouldn't WT be the one to lobby NSWRL and NRL for that?
We clearly don't have money but we have organisation structures that have been put there for a while so let's use them and ask for more money..

 

[weststigers]

You asked about the success of the side and I gave you the answer which also includes the fact that Wests Ashfield hasn’t always acted in the best interests of Wests.

What in Earth are you talking about?

It's the only leagues club you had. It's how you survived.

The move to Campbelltown was a shocking move in alienating whatever fan base Wests had left in 1987, but the NSWRL put a lot of pressure on the move.

Unfortunately, you may as well have played out of Belmore or Parra Stadium because that is who all the westies were supporting out that way at the time. It's just carried through another generation.

 

[Kearnsy]

It's the only leagues club you had. It's how you survived.

The move to Campbelltown was a shocking move in alienating whatever fan base Wests had left in 1987, but the NSWRL put a lot of pressure on the move.

Unfortunately, you may as well have played out of Belmore or Parra Stadium because that is who all the westies were supporting out that way at the time. It's just carried through another generation.

I don’t care too much about the history of the move anymore. The NSWRL was going to kill Wests off one way or another eventually I believe. We are lucky to have found a joint venture party like Balmain. I would’ve hated a Western Bulldogs or something like that. Just a shame our boundaries don’t link up.
Anyway it’s a nice Sunday arvo.
Hopefully some of you can come to the Warriors game and we can have a bigger and larger crowd

 

[tig_prmz]

I dont disagree with the sentiment of your post.... but...

Yesterday 12,281 turned up and the club gave away FREE tickets.

Capacity is 17,500.

If the area isnt going to get behind the club (when its free), then what's the point?

If that game is at Leichardt then its sold out the Wednesday prior - with some tickets being $100 plus. So where is the disconnect? The onus is on the fans of the area, those on here, to get people to the games.

You cant blame us fans for calling campbelltown for what it is.. theres all this fairy dust talk about how special the area and fans are , but they cant even turn up on a sunny Saturday at 3pm when tickets are free.

That's a great point.

I apologise if I came out a little strong but let's say Perth starts off great but then starts getting 10k at the stadiums, will we blame the fans or the Club?

I'm not blaming fans at all, almost never are fans to blame.

The potential in SWS is astronomical. Every club knows that and honestly if WT don't have the funds and can't get enough funds to give this area the care it needs, then yeh maybe give it up.

I treat a few young footballers and their parents take them to Revesby or Milperra all the way from Leppington or Narellan areas to be in the Bulldogs comp.

We don't have money but we have exposure. Get the players, get the coaching staff, get as many free Merch and footballs in to schools to make this your area.

This area is down the bottom socioeconomically. It needs way more love and support than most other areas in Sydney.

If you can't do it, then yeh, maybe it's time to move out because you're letting the community down tbh.

It's got nothing to do with winning games, but more to do with giving the right support to the community that clearly loves rugby league.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

That sounds like a great fairytale you would tell to some little kid.

They all support Parra, Penrith and Canterbury. We already have a fan base that turns up every week - why are you trying to manufacture a new one?

Just make Campbelltown the junior factory it was supposed to be and stop sending me government population growth documents. It's made no difference since 1987 - the support has been poor for 40 years.

I agree with you - the population is growing out there. It wasn't the point. In fact it is the very thing that makes the lack of support so tragic.

I view it as an opportunity for WTs, the NSWRL and NRL. If it is not WTs, it will be another NRL club.

 

[weststigers]

I view it as an opportunity for WTs, the NSWRL and NRL. If it is not WTs, it will be another NRL club.

Brother - the opportunity has been taken. You're living in Disneyland if you think we will get people supporting us.

Try to separate the point of the NRL home ground and the juniors. Juniors in Campbo = YES, Home Ground = NO

 

[Glenji95]

I view it as an opportunity for WTs, the NSWRL and NRL. If it is not WTs, it will be another NRL club.

Not to sound mean but if WT did stop playing at Campbelltown which clubs comes in to play there? I know some might say Bulldogs but they’ll make heaps more money playing out of Accor than they will Campbelltown.

 

[TigerBurnsy]

Not to sound mean but if WT did stop playing at Campbelltown which clubs comes in to play there? I know some might say Bulldogs but they’ll make heaps more money playing out of Accor than they will Campbelltown.

no one would play there, dogs are committed to Accor and only play 1 at belmore, maybe Penrith would’ve during the Reno but that’s close to completion

 

[mtd#2]

Apologies....the us and them was directed not at you in particular...just in general

Yeah all good mate

I think the issue we have is its not just "us and them"

There's 3 locations with vested intetest. Balmain, Mcarthur/ Campbelltown and Ashfield.

Two's company.
Threes a crowd.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Not to sound mean but if WT did stop playing at Campbelltown which clubs comes in to play there? I know some might say Bulldogs but they’ll make heaps more money playing out of Accor than they will Campbelltown.

Another NRL will want to pick up the catchment area for juniors. With the expanded NRL, the WTs will be one of a handful of clubs with large catchment areas. The Dragons, the Panthers and the Knights are other clubs which enjoy large catchment areas.

The NRL, the NSWRL should be providing additional resourcing as well as making representations to the NSW and Federal Govt for a new stadium in one of the growth area locations in the SW on behalf of the WTs.

 

[Glenji95]

Another NRL will want to pick up the catchment area for juniors. With the expanded NRL, the WTs will be one of a handful of clubs with large catchment areas. The Dragons, the Panthers and the Knights are other clubs which enjoy large catchment areas.

The NRL, the NSWRL should be providing additional resourcing as well as making representations to the NSW and Federal Govt for a new stadium in one of the growth area locations in the SW on behalf of the WTs.

There’s no point in making a new stadium if there’s not gong to be a professional team playing from it. Panthers are getting a new stadium, Knights are in Newcastle they won’t want to play games in Sydney for home games and Dragons have the whole Illawarra region and the St George area of Sydney, they won’t play games at Campbelltown. The only team that might’ve had a look might’ve been Souths but they’re moving back to Allianz full time in a few years. If WT stop playing there I don’t see another team using it they won’t add another team in Sydney too many teams already.

 

[Glenji95]

no one would play there, dogs are committed to Accor and only play 1 at belmore, maybe Penrith would’ve during the Reno but that’s close to completion

That’s what I’m thinking as well, I don’t see any team coming to use it should we ever stop.

 

[Stevec]

I think Benji must wake up to the fact that Makasini is not yet ready for 1st grade .He's a liability atm but maybe in a year or so he can make it .
Tavana on the other hand is a defensive weak link but he is truly special under the high ball which would lead to a few tries .
We have a few future stars in CUP .Attard and others impressive !

 

[weststigers]

Another NRL will want to pick up the catchment area for juniors. With the expanded NRL, the WTs will be one of a handful of clubs with large catchment areas. The Dragons, the Panthers and the Knights are other clubs which enjoy large catchment areas.

The NRL, the NSWRL should be providing additional resourcing as well as making representations to the NSW and Federal Govt for a new stadium in one of the growth area locations in the SW on behalf of the WTs.

This is where the conversation goes off the rails.

You connect playing the NRL games to using it as a catchment area.

They are 2 different things.
Teams up to NSW Cup should train and play out of Campbelltown - paint the town black.
NRL to Leichhardt and the block busters at Homebush, Commbank or SFS to accommodate the bigger crowds.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. We can use it as the catchment area.

 

[tig_prmz]

This is where the conversation goes off the rails.

You connect playing the NRL games to using it as a catchment area.

They are 2 different things.
Teams up to NSW Cup should train and play out of Campbelltown - paint the town black.
NRL to Leichhardt and the block busters at Homebush, Commbank or SFS to accommodate the bigger crowds.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. We can use it as the catchment area.

You're right that it can be two different things but once we move out of Campbelltown, there won't be any difference between us and other Clubs vying for that catchment.

We can paint it white, black and orange but Dogs will come in trying to paint it blue and white and Penrith will try to paint it black.

The only point of difference we have is we have invested there for so many years in playing games there that we have to continue doing.

Hence, it is an all or nothing because no way we compete with other Clubs when it comes to a catchment area simply because we got no money for that.

 

[weststigers]

You're right that it can be two different things but once we move out of Campbelltown, there won't be any difference between us and other Clubs vying for that catchment.

We can paint it white, black and orange but Dogs will come in trying to paint it blue and white and Penrith will try to paint it black.

The only point of difference we have is we have invested there for so many years in playing games there that we have to continue doing.

Hence, it is an all or nothing because no way we compete with other Clubs when it comes to a catchment area simply because we got no money for that.

The pathways need to play out of Campbelltown. That is the difference.

NSW Cup can't keep playing at Lidcombe.

 

[innsaneink]

This is where the conversation goes off the rails.

You connect playing the NRL games to using it as a catchment area.

They are 2 different things.
Teams up to NSW Cup should train and play out of Campbelltown - paint the town black.
NRL to Leichhardt and the block busters at Homebush, Commbank or SFS to accommodate the bigger crowds.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. We can use it as the catchment area.

Id be perfectly fine with this IF we were guaranteed our juniors in the S/W
However its unfortunately not happening, will never happen...we know what the club is doing and their ideas
The fact the club charges punters $120 to sit near the 20m at LO...yet you can sit on halfway at CSS for $50 and kids free tells me theyre well aware of the situation, are content with it...but are they killing their cash cow with a 7/3 or 8/2 split from 2029?
Wouldnt surprise me as we have idiots running the joint