Having lived through that era, I can assure you the Magpies got no financial help from the NSWRL. They kicked us out in 1983 and then again at the end of the 1984 season. The only thing that saved us was the rock concert at Lidcombe Oval in 1984, the Neville Wran and Bob Hawke fund raiser nights at Wests Ashfield in 1984 and Rick Wayde who was like the Winston Churchill in the second world war. They would have kicked us out again in 1985 had Campbelltown not come along.
This whole thread is based on The Magpies performance in State Cup. As I don't recognize State Cup as a reputable competition, for me it's not an issue. If the Magpies board want to field a team and get flogged every week … That's up to them. I don't associate myself with that as an ex-magpies fan in any way. While ever the Wests is kept in the Wests Tigers, the colors are black, white and gold and the games are shared equally, I am more than happy. By rights, if the league had their way in the early 80's, we should be the same as Newtown and Norths ... Ie no first grade representation. I reckon the last 12 years as Wests Tigers has been the most enjoyable in my Rugby League supporter career. Smeg reckons next year it will be one reserve grade team ... I hope he is right ... That will be another divisive piece of the jigsaw removed. I love the Wests Tigers ....I hope we never go back to the way we were ... The way we are now is so so great.