Will you be attending the Save the Wests Tigers March?

[Charred]

I am unsure of what outcome the protesters are attempting to achieve, other than to divide the club and get rid of the Western Suburbs' 90 percent ownership of the club. How the HGB is structured is a matter for this club, and its members, and in my view, Wests Tigers members and supporters should have no involvement in this matter, severely damages Wests Tigers brand to prospective members and players etc.
Concerning the internal review of Wests Tigers by Tony Crawford (North Sydney Bears Board Member) and Gary Barnier (controversial aged care executive), and implementing an independent board, I think it was always doomed for failure. Most successful NRL clubs do not use this, to my knowledge. I couldn't imagine Sydney Roosters handing over control of their football club.

Ok so if the Sydney Roosters who are largely a very successful club are run by Sydney Roosters people can you explain to me why the Wests Tigers should be run by Western Suburbs Magpies people?

OR

Would it be better if it were run by independent Wests Tigers people like how it has been for the last year, quite successfully?

Additionally, bringing into question the characters of the people running the review is ridiculous. Do you seriously think a North Sydney Bears board member who's club is NOT in the NRL and was not yet announced to be in the NRL via the Perth Bears would then try and put together a faulty review. Furthermore, Gary Barnier as a fan certainly wouldn't allow that and what does his aged care executive record really have to do with anything (I don't know if you are making up that he's controversial or he actually is as well btw). Instead of attacking the people who made the report on their character maybe attack specific things within the report that got implemented and demonstrably had a negative impact on the club. As far as I'm aware since that report came out and subsequently implemented until a couple weeks ago where HBG then threw that all in the bin the club was moving in a VERY POSITIVE direction.

But regardless if the review was a bad review, then why have we failed so miserably over the decade and a bit despite having the coaches who have won the last 5 premierships at the club. Is it the players? If so how do players decide to want to join a club if getting similar money from multiple clubs, maybe their image helps or stadiums or fanbase selling out stadiums or a strong governance system and good CEO? I mean you literally said prospective members and players get swayed away when a brand is being damaged. What is damaging our brand the most? The fans or the governance system causing instability within the club?

 

[LiverpoolTiger]

No one cares about Balmain and Western Suburbs anymore, they don't even exist anymore.

Not so sure about this reading on here.

 

[Tom Shines]

I mean what is this and why is it allowed?

Only certain views are encouraged.

You’ll have to speak to the peeps running the club …

I found the people at the rally to be exemplary

 

[LARDS]

I was there and I think 1000 was a bit of a exaggeration. I know a lot was there "in spirit" but I also think a lot of fans don't fully comprehend the significance of what's going on.
You can directly attribute the lack of wests tigers success to this hbg governence.
The loss of markee players like tedesco and Moses. The ivan clearly fiasco. Even players like galvin desperate to leave before they've even started. They all know something stinks at this club. It's hbg.

 

[weststigers]

There was alot of Balmain paraphernalia there, glad my 88 yo grandfather who played at Pratten Park didn't want to come, he thought it was developing into an anti Wests thing.

I think in the context of a Wests Tigers unite movement Balmain paraphernalia is divisive yes.

I'm sure some of those would like it to be just Tigers.

You only answered half the question. Would Magpies paraphernalia be divisive?

Perhaps the Balmain support was for the juniors? I mean they are still part of the club are they not? Are you suggesting our juniors are divisive if they play for Balmain? Or suggesting our junior support should not be shown amongst Wests Tigers events?

Would it stand to some reason that you are in the heart of the inner west? Would you say that there might be more Wests jerseys if it was held in Campbelltown?

 

[LiverpoolTiger]

Yes Magpies stuff at the rally would also be divisive.
And that 3x board member and Barnier, I mean who knows what ther political motives are.

 

[The Chad]

I would imagine saying either Wests Magpies or Balmain Tigers are 'dead' is just as divisive.

I think we are given a unique opportunity to allow 2 clubs that simply wouldn't have survived on their own to continue on into one, stronger club.

And I think fans should lean into that history even more. But also adopt the other club history to agree, understand it.

And that then becomes Wests Tigers history.

There will always be some factions in this kind of relationship.

The issue isn't Wests or Balmain.

It's the balance of the involvement of both clubs.

 

[NT_Tiger]

There was alot of Balmain paraphernalia there, glad my 88 yo grandfather who played at Pratten Park didn't want to come, he thought it was developing into an anti Wests thing.

I think in the context of a Wests Tigers unite movement Balmain paraphernalia is divisive yes.

I'm sure some of those would like it to be just Tigers.

Yesterday a Wests Tigers supporter said he was going to the protest wearing his LEGACY black and white Victa shirt. I thought, great an ex magpie supporter going to support the merged club so, why would it be a problem for ex balmain supporters wearing their LEGACY gear?
The problem is not what clobber a supporter wears, it's what is between the ears of the viewer.

 

[vlad]

I just sent an enquiry to the SMH why there isn't an article on the rally?

‘Give power back to the fans’: Hundreds rally against Wests Tigers owners

Wests Tigers fans came from as far afield as Perth to register their displeasure with the Holman Barnes Group following the latest upheaval in the boardroom.

www.smh.com.au

 

[twentyforty]

There was alot of Balmain paraphernalia there, glad my 88 yo grandfather who played at Pratten Park didn't want to come, he thought it was developing into an anti Wests thing.

I think in the context of a Wests Tigers unite movement Balmain paraphernalia is divisive yes.

I'm sure some of those would like it to be just Tigers.

Tell us more about your experience LT?
What is your estimate of crowd number?
Was the crowd well behaved?
Why would Balmain paraphernalia be divisive?

 

[kiwitiger]

There was alot of Balmain paraphernalia there, glad my 88 yo grandfather who played at Pratten Park didn't want to come, he thought it was developing into an anti Wests thing.

I think in the context of a Wests Tigers unite movement Balmain paraphernalia is divisive yes.

I'm sure some of those would like it to be just Tigers.

What was the paraphernalia?
Obviously not just a jersey Or you are trying to use a fancy word.

so what made it Balmain paraphernalia over Wests Tigers?
Can't be the Balmain trophy cabinet as that is as impressive as the Maggie's you would mistake the two.
So what is the paraphernalia?

 

[cochise]

I ended up going on my own and thought there was about 500 people.

Thought it was a bit divisive though, alot of Balmain paraphernalia and was disappointed Barnier who led the review spoke and noticed former sacked board members there so one wonders what their agendas were. Would've preferred just regular fans.

Saw Roach there, wonder what he was hoping for,

Mate I did not see any Balmain paraphernalia, outside of 1 guy in a Balmain jersey.

 

[tiges69]

I am unsure of what outcome the protesters are attempting to achieve, other than to divide the club and get rid of the Western Suburbs' 90 percent ownership of the club. How the HGB is structured is a matter for this club, and its members, and in my view, Wests Tigers members and supporters should have no involvement in this matter, severely damages Wests Tigers brand to prospective members and players etc.
Concerning the internal review of Wests Tigers by Tony Crawford (North Sydney Bears Board Member) and Gary Barnier (controversial aged care executive), and implementing an independent board, I think it was always doomed for failure. Most successful NRL clubs do not use this, to my knowledge. I couldn't imagine Sydney Roosters handing over control of their football club.

The independent board was getting somewhere until it was blown up by HBG. As for the ownership i don't think you need to get rid of HBG, you just need directors on there board who are pulling in the right direction . That will go along way to ceasing most of the problems. as for voting , no other club has a debenture system in place that basically makes you a protected species if you have one. if you want to base your argument on owners and football clubs than you need a fairer voting system so there is accountability.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

@WestsEffTheRest did you rock up in your Pies gear? Any issues?

 

[cochise]

I am unsure of what outcome the protesters are attempting to achieve, other than to divide the club and get rid of the Western Suburbs' 90 percent ownership of the club. How the HGB is structured is a matter for this club, and its members, and in my view, Wests Tigers members and supporters should have no involvement in this matter, severely damages Wests Tigers brand to prospective members and players etc.
Concerning the internal review of Wests Tigers by Tony Crawford (North Sydney Bears Board Member) and Gary Barnier (controversial aged care executive), and implementing an independent board, I think it was always doomed for failure. Most successful NRL clubs do not use this, to my knowledge. I couldn't imagine Sydney Roosters handing over control of their football club.

The Roosters can successfully run a football club. HBG clearly can not.

 

[cochise]

There was alot of Balmain paraphernalia there, glad my 88 yo grandfather who played at Pratten Park didn't want to come, he thought it was developing into an anti Wests thing.

I think in the context of a Wests Tigers unite movement Balmain paraphernalia is divisive yes.

I'm sure some of those would like it to be just Tigers.

Surely you can find some of that in the many pictures online from the event.

 

[LiverpoolTiger]

Tell us more about your experience LT?
What is your estimate of crowd number?
Was the crowd well behaved?
Why would Balmain paraphernalia be divisive?

Probably 500 people or so.

Crowd was really well behaved,

 

[LiverpoolTiger]

What was the paraphernalia?
Obviously not just a jersey Or you are trying to use a fancy word.

so what made it Balmain paraphernalia over Wests Tigers?
Can't be the Balmain trophy cabinet as that is as impressive as the Maggie's you would mistake the two.
So what is the paraphernalia?

Weird.

 

[LiverpoolTiger]

Mate I did not see any Balmain paraphernalia, outside of 1 guy in a Balmain jersey.

I saw plenty of people with Balmain supporter clothing.

 

[KevB]

The independent board was getting somewhere until it was blown up by HBG. As for the ownership i don't think you need to get rid of HBG, you just need directors on there board who are pulling in the right direction . That will go along way to ceasing most of the problems. as for voting , no other club has a debenture system in place that basically makes you a protected species if you have one. if you want to base your argument on owners and football clubs than you need a fairer voting system so there is accountability.

I don't agree to independent boards having control of sporting clubs. However, I somewhat agree with you that the debenture system within licensed clubs is not the most democratic. This was set up many years ago to protect the club from being taken over by people with no interest in sports within their community, I think, much like what has happened to RSL clubs. How you fix this is above my pay grade. Cheers