Doesn't matter whether it's inconsiderate, it's true.
All those aspiring young players coming through, they actually start out as Five Dock RSL or Carlingford Cougars or St Pats Dundas players. Then for a handful of years they play for the Balmain Tigers.
But the real show is Wests Tigers, you want to be picked up by the Wests Tigers pathways and play FG for Wests Tigers. Balmain Tigers are just a step in the junior district process.
And you have been at pains to reiterate, Balmain Junior District is funded by Wests Ashfield. Wests Ashfield absorbed Balmain Leagues Club. Balmain Leagues not longer has premises or assets. Holman Barnes gift Balmain a seat on the Wests Tigers Board out of obligation (and possibly respect) to the origins of the merger.
But where are Balmain Tigers? Apart from the jerseys of 3 teams running around in juniors, where can you point to? The old club is a hole in the ground, the premises are rebranded (the Flemington backup club is called "Markets Club") and you can't vote in Balmain elections any more.
So I'm sorry, as a former Magpies fan you couldn't understand what Balmain was and now is. Balmain is just a brand now with some retro cred. Kind of like Newtown Jets but without the NSW Cup side.