Taking a wrecking ball to the club! (Recent Media Reports)

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Lauren said:
The idea that the club needs to distance itself from its foundation identities may sound appealing to some, but it’s simply not realistic. Unless I'm looking at this all wrong, the reality is that we cannot thrive without our juniors. The strength of the club’s future lies in its junior pathways. A joint venture needs to support and nurture both, as it's essential for the club’s long term success. It's why it’s not feasible to have all our juniors playing under the Wests Tigers name. These areas are geographically separate, each with its own historical identity, junior systems and competing financial structures. Consolidating them under one banner would create logistical chaos, undermine local engagement and risk losing the unique community connections that make both regions strong.

The club relies on the strength of both fanbases to stay relevant in an ever-evolving market - especially with two new teams purportedly coming into the competition within the next several years. Our next generation of supporters and players comes from these areas and distancing ourselves from the Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers would weaken local engagement and brand loyalty. This could ultimately harm the Wests Tigers' position in the long run. IMO, streamlining is not possible without diluting the distinct regional identities, which would jeopardise future growth.

I imagine these local connections are also a key factor in attracting sponsors. Sponsors are often drawn to the club because of its strong community ties and severing these relationships could hurt our ability to attract and maintain valuable partnerships.

To truly unite the club, one home ground may be the only way forward...for now. A shared venue would become the central point of connection, allowing everyone to find common ground and create a shared history together.

Maybe if we were a more successful club, this could change and both regions could coexist under one umbrella. But until that point, these traditional clubs remain essential for the club's relevance and growth. Therefore, I think it's highly important to have representatives from both on the Wests Tigers board. Their presence ensures that the interests of both regions are properly represented and safeguarded as the club navigates its future. The junior pathways from these areas are the lifeblood of the club and their expertise and understanding of the local communities are invaluable. Having both voices at the decision.making table guarantees that the needs of the grassroots are not overlooked.
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Congratulations Lauren 🥰 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Thank goodness someone has at last come out with some un-biased, wholesome, well-meaning common sence that covers BOTH SIDES of our JV.

And isn't this what it's all about, being fair to both sides 👍 and actually addressing each other on here with respect.
 
Lauren said:
The idea that the club needs to distance itself from its foundation identities may sound appealing to some, but it’s simply not realistic. Unless I'm looking at this all wrong, the reality is that we cannot thrive without our juniors. The strength of the club’s future lies in its junior pathways. A joint venture needs to support and nurture both, as it's essential for the club’s long term success. It's why it’s not feasible to have all our juniors playing under the Wests Tigers name. These areas are geographically separate, each with its own historical identity, junior systems and competing financial structures. Consolidating them under one banner would create logistical chaos, undermine local engagement and risk losing the unique community connections that make both regions strong.

The club relies on the strength of both fanbases to stay relevant in an ever-evolving market - especially with two new teams purportedly coming into the competition within the next several years. Our next generation of supporters and players comes from these areas and distancing ourselves from the Western Suburbs Magpies and Balmain Tigers would weaken local engagement and brand loyalty. This could ultimately harm the Wests Tigers' position in the long run. IMO, streamlining is not possible without diluting the distinct regional identities, which would jeopardise future growth.

I imagine these local connections are also a key factor in attracting sponsors. Sponsors are often drawn to the club because of its strong community ties and severing these relationships could hurt our ability to attract and maintain valuable partnerships.

To truly unite the club, one home ground may be the only way forward...for now. A shared venue would become the central point of connection, allowing everyone to find common ground and create a shared history together.

Maybe if we were a more successful club, this could change and both regions could coexist under one umbrella. But until that point, these traditional clubs remain essential for the club's relevance and growth. Therefore, I think it's highly important to have representatives from both on the Wests Tigers board. Their presence ensures that the interests of both regions are properly represented and safeguarded as the club navigates its future. The junior pathways from these areas are the lifeblood of the club and their expertise and understanding of the local communities are invaluable. Having both voices at the decision.making table guarantees that the needs of the grassroots are not overlooked.
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Great post. Couldn't agree more.
 
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Lestronge said:
Why ? The kids have no intrinsic connection to the foundation clubs outside of nostalgia , and legacy , which is really only ever presented to them via someone older .
The connection they have , and quite frankly need to have , is to the brand wests tigers .
Otherwise they have misplaced loyalties , and get stuck .
What value is there for a kid to come through with undying loyalty to Balmain , only for that to not transcend to the main club .
I don’t understand the necessity for pathways to be strong on legacy .
It should all be funnelled towards the idea of wearing a wests tigers jersey , and whatever that means as a club identity.
It’s because of this separation IMHO , why the storm were able to poach Ryan Hoffman , why a kid from Camden only ever had eyes for the roosters , why kids from the Balmain district are constantly lost to Souths .
There’s no intrinsic loyalty to wests tigers because that’s the jersey they put on when they playing youth rep footy .
It’s the big advantage Penrith have . The youth train on 1 side of the field , the nrl team on the other , and it’s all borderline manipulative strategies to create a loyalty.
They’re a Penrith ride or die before they even realise it . This is what we need to get to for our juniors .
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Who will fund these Wests Tigers Juniors?
 
KevB said:
Who will fund these Wests Tigers Juniors?
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The same
People who fund them now HBG. What’s your point ? You guys are soo twisted that you still think this is some anti wests thing .
It’s about unity , not exclusion .
It’s like because they don’t have the WT majority board that , it’s like a dagger to your hearts .LOL it’s weird …
It’s a bunch of old dudes who don’t get to run the nrl club into the ground anymore , clinging to the glory days . Which for wests , were a very long time ago to be honest . Thats not a dig . Even Balmain , sure they made a couple GFs . Never won anything .
How you see them as a representation of yourselves is beyond me . I’d want nothing to do with them or be associated with them with how bad the wests magpies and wests tigers have performed at the top 2 levels for the last 5 years.
 
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Lestronge said:
The same
People who fund them now HBG. What’s your point ? You guys are soo twisted that you still think this is some anti wests thing .
It’s about unity , not exclusion .
It’s like because they don’t have the WT majority board that , it’s like a dagger to your hearts .LOL it’s weird …
It’s a bunch of old dudes who don’t get to run the nrl club into the ground anymore , clinging to the glory days . Which for wests , were a very long time ago to be honest . Thats not a dig . Even Balmain , sure they made a couple GFs . Never won anything .
How you see them as a representation of yourselves is beyond me . I’d want nothing to do with them or be associated with them with how bad the wests magpies and wests tigers have performed at the top 2 levels for the last 5 years.
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Mate, this is not a Wests or Balmain thing for me. Your post inferred that all representative sides should be called Wests Tigers, but I disagree. Currently, we have two junior league areas separated by Parramatta and Canterbury. HBG 2023 grants were $263,383 to Western Suburbs and $80,000 to Balmain. It takes a little more than this to run a Junior League, plus the many volunteers the clubs provide. Western Suburbs Magpies RLC and Balmain RLC would also add considerable income to junior football. This setup also creates more opportunities for aspiring rugby league players.
Why would you exclude these proud junior leagues from having a representative side?
 
As I said once before I dont know why it couldnt be
Wests Tigers South West JRL (Magpies) &
Wests Tigers Inner City JRL (Balmain) for Matts and Ball...It would have to be seperate up till about Flegg, I couldnt see the parents of a gun 15yo playing for Nth Ryde Hawks wanting to travel to cambo for training if theyre based there, kids still in high school.....likewise a kid from Minto Cobras having to go to Concord etc.
By the time they get to flegg its starting to get fairly serious the players possibly gunna have a career and these sacrifices then might have to be weighed up

I know this idea is very simplistic but it does highlite the "problems" sometimes of having two nurseries at opposite ends of the city
 
KevB said:
Mate, this is not a Wests or Balmain thing for me. Your post inferred that all representative sides should be called Wests Tigers, but I disagree. Currently, we have two junior league areas separated by Parramatta and Canterbury. HBG 2023 grants were $263,383 to Western Suburbs and $80,000 to Balmain. It takes a little more than this to run a Junior League, plus the many volunteers the clubs provide. Western Suburbs Magpies RLC and Balmain RLC would also add considerable income to junior football. This setup also creates more opportunities for aspiring rugby league players.
Why would you exclude these proud junior leagues from having a representative side?
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What are you talking about ? You’re adding 1 and 1 together and getting 7 .
Why would anyone want to do what you just said ? Reduce the base to change a name ? Huh? That’s illogical ..
What I’m saying is in response to what Lauren said .
All 3 districts need to have a clear line and throughout to wests tigers .
If that can be achieved with maintaining the existing structure , then whatever . All good . But I don’t think it can . When you and I both know it’s about pride in the Balmain jersey or pride in the wests jersey , which is fine right , and you should have pride for your area , but where does that leave wests tigers ?
If a kid grows up and it’s all Balmain , Balmain , Balmain , where’s the throughput to the brand wests tigers . Same for the magpies .
And it’s the people who work for these organisations. They still see the other ie. wests-Balmain and Balmain-wests as opposition. Which is good for healthy competition, but I think it runs far deeper than that , as evidence to posters on here . And that’s the issue . Finding a way to create a throughput to wests tigers , without sacrificing traditions .
And for me personally , I don’t think it can . I think we have to say goodbye to those traditions because after 25 years they’re holding the reason really all these 3 districts exist - funnelling talent to the nrl club .
But I could totally be wrong , and just jaded by all the bullshit that goes on with this club , and wanting to go scorched earth. I understand that .. but I don’t think I am .
And after conversing with the 5 or 6 people in here , I feel even more validated by this opinion .
 
innsaneink said:
As I said once before I dont know why it couldnt be
Wests Tigers South West JRL (Magpies) &
Wests Tigers Inner City JRL (Balmain) for Matts and Ball...It would have to be seperate up till about Flegg, I couldnt see the parents of a gun 15yo playing for Nth Ryde Hawks wanting to travel to cambo for training if theyre based there, kids still in high school.....likewise a kid from Minto Cobras having to go to Concord etc.
By the time they get to flegg its starting to get fairly serious the players possibly gunna have a career and these sacrifices then might have to be weighed up

I know this idea is very simplistic but it does highlite the "problems" sometimes of having two nurseries at opposite ends of the city
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That's what we do now isn't it? Are you talking about changing the names?
I can't see any other option unless you drop one area altogether.
 
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gallagher said:
That's what we do now isn't it? Are you talking about changing the names?
I can't see any other option unless you drop one area altogether.
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Im not sure if thats what were currently doing, been outta the loop juniors wise for a decade or more now
But no, not even thinking of dropping one area .

My point was about what kids want to aspire to....all the juniors at some stage will do profiles just for fun thru their clubs, and its alway "I wanna be an NRL player"....but its never for the Magpies or Balmain, Its WTs, or parra dogs etc
 
On the new appointments and board restructure….
Finally the changes to the WT Board have been completed - i am happy this has been done now and hope we can look forward to better management as a club.
From what I’ve read about the new appointees they all seem great and this should breathe some new life and enthusiasm into management of the place.
For me it all points to travelling in the right direction, so next is improved results and performance on the field in all grades.
As much as the last couple of seasons have been a disaster they have led us to this point where, fingers crossed, we can start to climb back up to where we belong as a proud club playing consistent tough and entertaining footy.
Bring on the season!!!
 
Lestronge said:
What are you talking about ? You’re adding 1 and 1 together and getting 7 .
Why would anyone want to do what you just said ? Reduce the base to change a name ? Huh? That’s illogical ..
What I’m saying is in response to what Lauren said .
All 3 districts need to have a clear line and throughout to wests tigers .
If that can be achieved with maintaining the existing structure , then whatever . All good . But I don’t think it can . When you and I both know it’s about pride in the Balmain jersey or pride in the wests jersey , which is fine right , and you should have pride for your area , but where does that leave wests tigers ?
If a kid grows up and it’s all Balmain , Balmain , Balmain , where’s the throughput to the brand wests tigers . Same for the magpies .
And it’s the people who work for these organisations. They still see the other ie. wests-Balmain and Balmain-wests as opposition. Which is good for healthy competition, but I think it runs far deeper than that , as evidence to posters on here . And that’s the issue . Finding a way to create a throughput to wests tigers , without sacrificing traditions .
And for me personally , I don’t think it can . I think we have to say goodbye to those traditions because after 25 years they’re holding the reason really all these 3 districts exist - funnelling talent to the nrl club .
But I could totally be wrong , and just jaded by all the bullshit that goes on with this club , and wanting to go scorched earth. I understand that .. but I don’t think I am .
And after conversing with the 5 or 6 people in here , I feel even more validated by this opinion .
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Strange response mate, I never said or implied Wests Tigers should be reducing their base, this is what you inferred by suggesting...
"I don’t understand the necessity for pathways to be strong on legacy .
It should all be funnelled towards the idea of wearing a wests tigers jersey , and whatever that means as a club identity."
 
It's good that the board is now setup, lets hope the independents are indeed independent and bring value to the club.

The issue for HBG to be run professionally is next. There's simply no way that anyone can justify the debenture system. Saying that a bunch of people who donated $100 a few decades ago have a permanent right to manage the club forever is absurd, totally unprofessional. How can anyone argue against wanting HBG to be run by sound businesspeople with acumen and a proven track record of success?

Would you let a hot dog vendor manage your finances? Would you want a student studying an arts degree to give you a root canal surgery? No. Jobs require skills. Being on a board requires skills. Either you have them or you get democratically replaced by someone who does.
 
Lestronge said:
The same
People who fund them now HBG. What’s your point ? You guys are soo twisted that you still think this is some anti wests thing .
It’s about unity , not exclusion .
It’s like because they don’t have the WT majority board that , it’s like a dagger to your hearts .LOL it’s weird …
It’s a bunch of old dudes who don’t get to run the nrl club into the ground anymore , clinging to the glory days . Which for wests , were a very long time ago to be honest . Thats not a dig . Even Balmain , sure they made a couple GFs . Never won anything .
How you see them as a representation of yourselves is beyond me . I’d want nothing to do with them or be associated with them with how bad the wests magpies and wests tigers have performed at the top 2 levels for the last 5 years.
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The 'bunch of old dudes' did keep the club afloat when it was not far off being booted from the comp after Balmain went belly up: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...s/news-story/c1ad29c94b88eb024686ebc1daf5c98a
 
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