SMH Article 'We’ve lost faith in them’: Balmain consider shock exit from Wests Tigers merger

‘We’ve lost faith in them’: Balmain consider shock exit from Wests Tigers merger​

The Balmain board is set to call a crisis meeting to discuss removing the club from the joint venture with Western Suburbs in an ambitious bid to go it alone that could spell the end of the Wests Tigers.

In a move that will send shockwaves through the NRL, frustrated Balmain directors are preparing to call a vote on their involvement in the merger amid concern over decisions being made by the club’s majority owner, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG).
Balmain director and former Tigers first grade player Garry Leo told this masthead on Thursday he and his fellow board members had “lost faith” in HBG and was calling on fellow directors to endorse the end of the troubled joint venture 25 years after it was established.
“I really believe the time has come for us to step aside and resurrect the Balmain Tigers,” Leo, who played 156 games for Balmain in the 1960’s and ’70s, told the Herald.

“We’ve got more of a following than the Wests side of the merger. To be honest, we have lost faith in them. We’re getting Leichhardt Oval upgraded and we could play there every second week. If we can find the right backers, we want a shot at returning to the NRL.
“I don’t think the NRL would continue to allow the Wests Tigers to operate with the Tigers name without any involvement from Balmain. I really do believe the NRL competition needs a Tigers team. And not the Wests Tigers.”
The current licensing agreement between the NRL and its clubs expires at the end of the season.

Balmain see it as an opportunity to put forward a proposal that could force the NRL to choose between the Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies if the NRL team is unable to keep the Tigers name without Balmain’s involvement.
The Balmain side owns 10 per cent of the Wests Tigers, with the other 90 per cent owned by the Holman Barnes Group – of which 30 per cent is owned by the Western Suburbs Magpies.

HBG acquired 15 per cent of Balmain’s previous share in 2019 when it agreed to pay off Balmain’s $3.2 million debt to the NRL.
Balmain have already held private conversations about approaching 94-year-old billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff, a diehard Tigers fan, to gauge his interest in potentially backing a Balmain licence given their limited financial resources.
The other name being discussed is billionaire automotive businessman, Neville Crichton, also a Balmain fan.

“If we had the right backers, we could go to the NRL with a proposal to standalone,” Leo said. “The joint venture hasn’t worked. I’d rather risk ending up in NSW Cup than continuing on with the Wests Tigers.”
It comes a day after the Herald’s revelation that Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell is considering walking away from the club after he was recently told by HBG he would have to reapply for his job.
Balmain chairman Danny Stapleton, who is also the Balmain representative on the Wests Tigers’ four-person board, was contacted for comment.
Balmain directors feel they were blindsided by the external review that took place at the end of last year, and believe many of the decisions being made by the HBG have had a negative impact on the NRL club.

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“One day we’re being told Barry O’Farrell would be reappointed as one of the independent directors, now they’re saying he’s not,” Leo said.
“They want people they can control. Unfortunately, it’s why they have been going so bad all these years, and that’s because the Wests directors have had too much influence on what is happening at the club. I felt sorry for Justin Pascoe. He was basically being told what to do by Wests.”
Holman Barnes Group chair Julie Romero has not responded to calls.

The Wests Tigers NRL franchise began in 2000 as an equal joint venture between two foundation clubs.
 
I'll freely admit I came from the Wests side of the merger but see myself as a WT fan. If Balmain go ahead with this move it could be the end of the entire merger. Balmain's parlous position in the merger is entirely of their own doing and they should own their mistakes and seek to re-establish themselves as true 50% stakeholders in the JV.
 
coivtny said:
I'll freely admit I came from the Wests side of the merger but see myself as a WT fan. If Balmain go ahead with this move it could be the end of the entire merger. Balmain's parlous position in the merger is entirely of their own doing and they should own their mistakes and seek to re-establish themselves as true 50% stakeholders in the JV.
Click to expand...
Me too former Maggie supporter embracing the JV and am that surprised that the junior partners tail is wagging the Tiger
 
TigerTone said:

‘We’ve lost faith in them’: Balmain consider shock exit from Wests Tigers merger​

The Balmain board is set to call a crisis meeting to discuss removing the club from the joint venture with Western Suburbs in an ambitious bid to go it alone that could spell the end of the Wests Tigers.

In a move that will send shockwaves through the NRL, frustrated Balmain directors are preparing to call a vote on their involvement in the merger amid concern over decisions being made by the club’s majority owner, the Holman Barnes Group (HBG).
Balmain director and former Tigers first grade player Garry Leo told this masthead on Thursday he and his fellow board members had “lost faith” in HBG and was calling on fellow directors to endorse the end of the troubled joint venture 25 years after it was established.
“I really believe the time has come for us to step aside and resurrect the Balmain Tigers,” Leo, who played 156 games for Balmain in the 1960’s and ’70s, told the Herald.

“We’ve got more of a following than the Wests side of the merger. To be honest, we have lost faith in them. We’re getting Leichhardt Oval upgraded and we could play there every second week. If we can find the right backers, we want a shot at returning to the NRL.
“I don’t think the NRL would continue to allow the Wests Tigers to operate with the Tigers name without any involvement from Balmain. I really do believe the NRL competition needs a Tigers team. And not the Wests Tigers.”
The current licensing agreement between the NRL and its clubs expires at the end of the season.

Balmain see it as an opportunity to put forward a proposal that could force the NRL to choose between the Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies if the NRL team is unable to keep the Tigers name without Balmain’s involvement.
The Balmain side owns 10 per cent of the Wests Tigers, with the other 90 per cent owned by the Holman Barnes Group – of which 30 per cent is owned by the Western Suburbs Magpies.

HBG acquired 15 per cent of Balmain’s previous share in 2019 when it agreed to pay off Balmain’s $3.2 million debt to the NRL.
Balmain have already held private conversations about approaching 94-year-old billionaire property developer Harry Triguboff, a diehard Tigers fan, to gauge his interest in potentially backing a Balmain licence given their limited financial resources.
The other name being discussed is billionaire automotive businessman, Neville Crichton, also a Balmain fan.

“If we had the right backers, we could go to the NRL with a proposal to standalone,” Leo said. “The joint venture hasn’t worked. I’d rather risk ending up in NSW Cup than continuing on with the Wests Tigers.”
It comes a day after the Herald’s revelation that Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell is considering walking away from the club after he was recently told by HBG he would have to reapply for his job.
Balmain chairman Danny Stapleton, who is also the Balmain representative on the Wests Tigers’ four-person board, was contacted for comment.
Balmain directors feel they were blindsided by the external review that took place at the end of last year, and believe many of the decisions being made by the HBG have had a negative impact on the NRL club.

Related Article​

Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell.

Exclusive​

NRL 2024​

Former NSW premier caught in crossfire of political turmoil at Wests Tigers​

“One day we’re being told Barry O’Farrell would be reappointed as one of the independent directors, now they’re saying he’s not,” Leo said.
“They want people they can control. Unfortunately, it’s why they have been going so bad all these years, and that’s because the Wests directors have had too much influence on what is happening at the club. I felt sorry for Justin Pascoe. He was basically being told what to do by Wests.”
Holman Barnes Group chair Julie Romero has not responded to calls.

The Wests Tigers NRL franchise began in 2000 as an equal joint venture between two foundation clubs.
Click to expand...
Seems the infighting is not dead. I hope the nrl come out and say only a weststigers can continue to hold the licence or it goes to a new team
 
Respectfully as someone who was born after the merger eff both Wests & Balmain. I promise you in 20-30 years no one is gonna give a shit about these two washed up clubs. Why can’t these dinosaurs ever seem to move on from the past & move forward AS WESTS TIGERS. This is the most optimistic time to be a fan & AGAIN THEY ARE LETTING STUPID POLITICS GET IN THE WAY
 
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