Why I currently cannot support 1 NSW Cup team

G

galahs

New member
Constantly remarks are made about why the Magpies supporters wont just "get over it" and support the Wests Tigers proposal to replace the Magpies through and through.

Well I understand some Magpie supporters will never change their feathers for fur, but I can only offer my own opinion.

First and foremost, I became a Magpie supporter because they represented the area I grew up in.
My parents didn't go for them, I didn't hop on a winning teams bandwagon. I just supported my local team that turned up to my junior footy training, the team that was in the local papers, the team that regularly turned up for school visits, the team my mates aspired to play for in junior reps.

Now the biggest gripe I have with the Wests Tigers proposal is that it doesn't offer a better deal for the community I grew up in than we currently have, or once had.

We no longer have a full time NRL team based out here.
I can accept that, we have a joint venture NRL team now, they got moved to Concord.

We now no longer have a Jersey Flegg under 20's team either. They also got moved to Concord.

Next we lose having a full time reserve grade NSW Cup team. Again to Concord.

So over the last 13 years, my local area has lost 3 senior full time representative teams that used to play and train locally.

Now the Wests Tigers proposal would be much better if the "Rugby League Centre of Excellence" they are proposing to be built at UWS was well under way in the planning stages and a definite timeline to completion is in place. But it isn't. It is still just a "nice thought".

The proposal would be harder to dismiss if a set timeline was in place when the Under 20's will move to the Macarthur, but again there isn't one.

The proposal would be harder to reject if there was a plan to continue having the 104 year old Magpies club running around in the Bundy Cup, representing the Macarthur and with full support by the Wests Tigers. Again this is absent.

So basically the area will definitely lose out with the Wests Tigers proposal in the short term , and without any real substance or concrete time lines in place, how long is the area to suffer before the Wests Tigers truly fill the void left if the Magpies are completely removed from the picture.

And all this is before we even talk about the loss of Wests idenity in the Wests Tigers, the shrinking Magpie on the sleeve and the measly 4 NRL games a year played at Campbelltown.

So until the Wests Tigers proposal offers more to the local community I grew up in than it currently has… I am afraid other local Rugby League supporters and myself, cannot support this half hearted proposal by the Wests Tigers.
 
Fair enough galahs, your reasoning is well laid out. Will you support any rugby league side if this comes to pass?
 
I will continue to support the Wests Tigers team in the NRL. I always like to seperate what happens on the paddock vs what happens in the board room. It isnt the players fault.
 
I assume you are referring to the meeting that was going to be held last week regarding the Magpies and wests Tigers? What was proposed Galahs?
 
What I never understand is why does it make a difference where the club trains?

So Tigers mostly train at Concord - they have to pick somewhere to set up HQ. If they were to set up right in the middle of Macarthur Square, then inner westies could then complain about the "lack of representation". Perhaps the use of Concord simply represents better logistics for the club - a more central location for players/club staff, more financially viable, closer to preferred medical facilities etc.

Apart from the location of the HQ, they still play 4 games at each venue and get pretty good crowds. The players still visit tonnes of schools in both the Wests and Balmain catchments. Junior players from both regions are well identified and brought through the WT structures.

Yes there is a little magpie on the sleeves of the first grade team - it may or may not be smaller than the first year, I haven't got out my microscope to measure. I personally feel like some old Wests are still a bit aggrieved that the mascot is the Tiger, despite the prominent use of "Wests" in the club name. There is no little "Balmain" on the jerseys to placate old time Balmain supporters like myself.

Time to do away with the last remnants of segregation. I want to see players coming through Wests Tigers teams from as young as possible, not clining to remnants of old Balmain or Magpie teams.
 
@jirskyr said:
What I never understand is why does it make a difference where the club trains?

So Tigers mostly train at Concord - they have to pick somewhere to set up HQ. If they were to set up right in the middle of Macarthur Square, then inner westies could then complain about the "lack of representation". Perhaps the use of Concord simply represents better logistics for the club - a more central location for players/club staff, more financially viable, closer to preferred medical facilities etc.

Apart from the location of the HQ, they still play 4 games at each venue and get pretty good crowds. The players still visit tonnes of schools in both the Wests and Balmain catchments. Junior players from both regions are well identified and brought through the WT structures.

Yes there is a little magpie on the sleeves of the first grade team - it may or may not be smaller than the first year, I haven't got out my microscope to measure. I personally feel like some old Wests are still a bit aggrieved that the mascot is the Tiger, despite the prominent use of "Wests" in the club name. There is no little "Balmain" on the jerseys to placate old time Balmain supporters like myself.

Time to do away with the last remnants of segregation. I want to see players coming through Wests Tigers teams from as young as possible, not clining to remnants of old Balmain or Magpie teams.
Click to expand...

Well said!!!!!!!
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Just a few thoughts (hope I don't bore you all!)

Taking emotion out of it the suggested proposals that galahs has outlined sound promising. A solid committment to put efforts into the Macarthur should of happen years ago but for one reason or another never enventuated.

The UWS move was proposed before the Magpies set up base in Liverpool. This all collapsed quite quickly though. The Magpies moved in and then due to reasons I never believed moved out and set up in Liverpool. Football club relationships with the council, junior league, UWS, leagues clubs and the Wests Tigers then got strained. Whats the common factor here?? :unamused:

A committment to setup up junior base at UWS to me is a sign that the Wests Tigers are serious about the Macarthur district. This will provide a clear path for juniors to progress through the grades and then hopefully on to first grade at the Wests Tigers if they are good enough. Like it or not, the senior team in the area is the Wests Tigers and that is what these kids strive to play for when they are older.

Let me ask; is it more important that the Wests Tigers setup a base in the local community that has a professionally run junior league –> a clear path for these juniors to make development squads -->junior reps --> and then into the under 20s NYC ? OR is it better that the community has a 2nd tier team called the Wests Magpies that the local area doesn't support and gets smashed every weekend by 50+? Also take into account that this team won't be invited into a reserve grade competition once the ARLC restructure the game from top to bottom. The UWS move to me is also a sign (like it or not thats upto you) that the Wests Tigers see the Macarthur district as the future. Whether that means a fulltime base will be something the board will have to decide in the future.

Some old/former Wests Magpies fans will most likely disagree with me. Thats fine they are entitled to there own opinion (and shouldnt be shot down by the powers to be on this forum). This football club has been guided down the wrong path for years. The path should of always been to be closely aligned with its local community and the Wests Tigers. Yet time after time they shot themselves in the foot by choosing to go at things the wrong way (alone).

I first became a Wests supporter way back in 1976 (as a fat little wog kid who thought football/soccer was the only code). The team was called Wests back then. I followed Wests from Lidcombe to Leumeah. Went to uni at UWS. Grew up supporting the mighty black and whites during the tough times (and some good). When the merger was formed I wasn't into it. I went to the first game and though I enjoyed the game it wasn't the same. I still followed the Wests Tigers but not passionately. It wasn't until 2002/2003 that I fully embraced the new entity. The team that I now supported was still called Wests. I have read posts that people think of the Wests Tigers as an extension of Balmain, that the Wests Tigers are really Balmain etc etc. Let these people think that, it doesnt really bother me. Its up to the individual to determine how they see the team, nobody can tell you otherwise. I proudly support the Tigers, the Wests variety.

People also seem to bring Balmain's financial position into the argument. Any proposal needs to be judged equally ONLY on two points in my opinion; on whats best for the football clubs major asset and that is the Wests Tigers. Without this asset both football clubs would not exist. Secondly the proposal needs to be also equally judged on whats best for the local junior league and what paths they are provided to make it to the top.

I feel its time the Wests Tigers was set free from its past, to stand on its own and allowed to flourish in the Rugby League world. To become the super power we all know it can become. The past will always be there, its how you remember and cherish it that counts the most.
 
There is also the very real chance that if the allegiances to the past start interfering with the future that real resentment will tarnish the standing of our Foundation Clubs in the eyes of members and fans in the many, many years to come.

Well said as always though Staks
 
@jirskyr said:
What I never understand is why does it make a difference where the club trains?

So Tigers mostly train at Concord - they have to pick somewhere to set up HQ. If they were to set up right in the middle of Macarthur Square, then inner westies could then complain about the "lack of representation". Perhaps the use of Concord simply represents better logistics for the club - a more central location for players/club staff, more financially viable, closer to preferred medical facilities etc.

Apart from the location of the HQ, they still play 4 games at each venue and get pretty good crowds. The players still visit tonnes of schools in both the Wests and Balmain catchments. Junior players from both regions are well identified and brought through the WT structures.

Yes there is a little magpie on the sleeves of the first grade team - it may or may not be smaller than the first year, I haven't got out my microscope to measure. I personally feel like some old Wests are still a bit aggrieved that the mascot is the Tiger, despite the prominent use of "Wests" in the club name. There is no little "Balmain" on the jerseys to placate old time Balmain supporters like myself.

Time to do away with the last remnants of segregation. I want to see players coming through Wests Tigers teams from as young as possible, not clining to remnants of old Balmain or Magpie teams.
Click to expand...

x3
 
@Gary Bakerloo said:
Did the white paper proposed to Wests and Balmain contain any budgeting? How will Wests Tigers pay for this Centre of Excellence?
Click to expand...

They might need to ask Michael Searle for tips.
 
@Gary Bakerloo said:
Did the white paper proposed to Wests and Balmain contain any budgeting? How will Wests Tigers pay for this Centre of Excellence?
Click to expand...

galahs post suggests the centre will be at UWS. The infrastructure is already in place in that case. If its similar to the previous plan then it probably involves the sports/medical science departments on campus. Other costs would occur for grounds maintenance, office setups, salaries etc I would imagine.
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Great post yeeros!

One day hopefully we may go as far and be so bold as to have something
like Wests Tigers District Junior League/Sth West (Wests) ….and Wests Tigers District Junior League/City (Balmain)
 
@galahs said:
Constantly remarks are made about why the Magpies supporters wont just "get over it" and support the Wests Tigers proposal to replace the Magpies through and through.

Well I understand some Magpie supporters will never change their feathers for fur, but I can only offer my own opinion.

First and foremost, I became a Magpie supporter because they represented the area I grew up in.
My parents didn't go for them, I didn't hop on a winning teams bandwagon. I just supported my local team that turned up to my junior footy training, the team that was in the local papers, the team that regularly turned up for school visits, the team my mates aspired to play for in junior reps.

Now the biggest gripe I have with the Wests Tigers proposal is that it doesn't offer a better deal for the community I grew up in than we currently have, or once had.

We no longer have a full time NRL team based out here.
I can accept that, we have a joint venture NRL team now, they got moved to Concord.

We now no longer have a Jersey Flegg under 20's team either. They also got moved to Concord.

Next we lose having a full time reserve grade NSW Cup team. Again to Concord.

So over the last 13 years, my local area has lost 3 senior full time representative teams that used to play and train locally.

Now the Wests Tigers proposal would be much better if the "Rugby League Centre of Excellence" they are proposing to be built at UWS was well under way in the planning stages and a definite timeline to completion is in place. But it isn't. It is still just a "nice thought".

The proposal would be harder to dismiss if a set timeline was in place when the Under 20's will move to the Macarthur, but again there isn't one.

The proposal would be harder to reject if there was a plan to continue having the 104 year old Magpies club running around in the Bundy Cup, representing the Macarthur and with full support by the Wests Tigers. Again this is absent.

So basically the area will definitely lose out with the Wests Tigers proposal in the short term , and without any real substance or concrete time lines in place, how long is the area to suffer before the Wests Tigers truly fill the void left if the Magpies are completely removed from the picture.

And all this is before we even talk about the loss of Wests idenity in the Wests Tigers, the shrinking Magpie on the sleeve and the measly 4 NRL games a year played at Campbelltown.

**So until the Wests Tigers proposal offers more to the local community I grew up in than it currently has… I am afraid other local Rugby League supporters and myself, cannot support this half hearted proposal by the Wests Tigers**.
Click to expand...

So don't…..
 
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