Campbelltown is only 35 kilometres from the heart of Sydney as the crow flies – yet growing up there in my formative years in the late ’60s through most of the 1970s, it may as well have been a world away.
It was a timed and expensive STD phone call to the Big Smoke, and to get there by public transport was a train straight from a Hitchcock film, with those separate little compartments made for going on epic cross-continent adventures. Add sleeping berths and a food carriage and you’re on the poor man’s Orient Express.
Like everywhere else in NSW, rugby league may as well have been the only winter sport in town. And as the area grew and expanded, it became a great nurturer of football talent.
The Super League war
By the 1990s, rugby league was becoming less and less a sport that had been instituted for the working man and his family. It was more and more of a business, with some of the good, but also all of the bad which that entails.
It culminated in News Corp forming a separate competition in 1997, taking some of the existing clubs with it and forming new ones.
That league lasted one season before the then existing peak body, the ARL, combined with the Super League to form the NRL.
Like all wars, there was collateral damage with the 1999 season seeing two new teams form as “joint ventures” – one between St George and Illawarra and another between North Sydney and Manly. But the fallout didn’t stop there.
It continued one more year – this time with a forced Joint Venture between two foundation clubs; the Western Suburbs Magpies and the Balmain Tigers.
Western Suburbs’ problems actually go back to the early 1980s court battles to stay in the competition, and a move to Campbelltown which saw them survive until the end of the 1999 season prior to the 2000 birth of the new Wests Tigers.
Wests: the poor relation
After the 2005 season when the team won the NRL grand final, the future seemed assured of much more success. But this has not been the case.
Benji Marshall of the Tigers (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
The bright future quickly turned into a succession of bitter disappointments on the field and off, amid a growing feeling of the alleged 50/50 partnership becoming more and more lopsided.
Commentators referred to the team as “Balmain”, with ex-Balmain players being the “go-to” interview subjects whenever comment was sought.
It has now sunk to Campbelltown being relegated to a paltry three games per year. In short, the Wests Tigers are no more than a rebranded “Balmain” with the Macarthur Region expected to keep young talent on tap with Campbelltown Sports Ground being treated as the home of the Unwanted Uncle you force yourself to visit once in a blue moon.
All of this unevenness exists despite the Balmain half of the deal being in severe financial distress for several years, culminating in entering into voluntary administration in late October of 2018. The Western Suburbs half of the deal will continue to foot the bills.
This has been the final straw for many Western Suburbs fans now calling for the Joint Venture to be annulled, with the return of their beloved Magpies to stand alone again in the premier competition.
The major obstacle is the Wests Ashfield Leagues Club board, determined to see the Wests Tigers as the only possible future. More equitable treatment of Wests may or may not have seen this current push staved off. We will never know.
The nature of puerile and partisan politics is partly to blame. It has seen the flowering of many a good intention literally nipped in the bud. And that is what is happening with Wests Ashfield and the NRL. The mindset is mind-boggling; the machinations within the club, excruciating; the self-deceit in declaring they actually look after the Macarthur area, pure Trumpian.
The Tigers’ Robbie Farah in action during the Round 19 NRL match against the Rabbitohs. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
The Macarthur Magpies
It is now just a local call to phone the city from Campbelltown. Trains from and to there are plentiful and modern.
New and better roads have been built into and across the district. Infrastructure has boomed, even if not always keeping pace with the population growth.
In short, we are no longer in 1968, Dorothy! But that is seemingly where Wests Ashfield and the NRL are stuck, at least when it comes to the Magpies and the Macarthur district. The Macarthur Magpies is the future and we have secured the rights to the name for any future team willing to call Campbelltown home.
The current population of Campbelltown is 167,468 and is forecast to reach over 275,000 by 2036. Across the whole region, the population is expected to nudge 600,00 by that same year.
Meanwhile, soccer is about to establish a team in Campbelltown for their national A-League competition and Campbelltown Council would love nothing better than to have the stadium used all year round. Other major centres outside of Sydney, such as Newcastle, show that a regional centre can and will, get behind national teams in more than one code or sport.
With the NRL talking about additional teams and or a restructured competition for 2022, now is the time to have the conversation about really doing something meaningful in Macarthur.
Now is the time to make plans and put down roots in one of the greatest rugby league nurseries ever. But that conversation cannot be allowed to be behind locked doors among the Old Boys clubs and networks.
It has to be an open forum and include the fans. After all, isn’t the game supposed to be for that particular stakeholder above all others?
In fact, this could be just part of a much bigger conversation about the long-term future of the game itself and it’s ongoing relevance in the swirling diorama that is sport in Australia.
Family day planned
The Bring Back the Magpies Committee will be holding a family day at Campbelltown Bowling Club on February 16 starting at 11:00 am. There will be talks, pass the ball competitions and a sausage sizzle. The Macarthur region deserves a presence in the national competition. Help us make that point by turning out in numbers.
If you are unable to come along, you can also voice your opinion directly to the NRL and to Wests Ashfield Leagues club.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
"Well one of the old magpie loonies learnt how to use a laptop – and they say the education system is failing us. Sadly it gets worse from thier [sic]" No, they are right. It is failing us, as evidenced by your spelling and grammar. Went to a Private School, did we, cob? "Lets [sic] look at some real live facts" Oh yes, please, Mr. BoonBoon sir! "Campbelltown crowds over the years have averaged 9362, with last year a massive 9945 so not much off the long term average despite this boom in population." To quote Benjamin Disraeli (look him up, if you can work out how) "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics." Statistics can be used to make any argument, especially if stripped of context. The context here is ( a ) the people of Campbelltown are well aware that this is not their team, and that the team itself treats it like an away game. They also get only a small number of games there, usually at times of the year that are not crucial, and not against against opposition that might actually help boost the crowd. Give the area it's own team with the name Macarthur and the crowds will flock back to the games. As for this Wests Tigers was/is just a rebadged Balmain – the number of games have always been equally been [sic] shared between the clubs, the clubs [sic] training centre is at the origional [sic] home of the Wests Magpies, the jersey has always had a Magpie on it but never a Balmain logo, extra games such a trials have always been predominatley [sic] at Campbelltown and Camden much closer to Magpies world then Balmain, Wests are now the majority owners but it is Wests Ashfield (which has both Tigers and Magpies logo’s adorning it) as Cambelltown stopped putting in money well before Balmain did. Here are the facts about why Wests Campbelltown stopped kicking in. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/why-the-western-suburbs-magpies-are-saving-the-balmain-tigers-20160406-gnzbyc.html?fbclid=IwAR2HymU46pLXXaG2Qlrhpoex37u5fOl3GIYAnwmUOFzioxZ_wqB6JoVlKQI The Magpie logo: you need a guided tour and a compass to find it. And the tiger is splattered all over the merch. No sign of a magpie. As for rest of your dribble (wipe your damn chin, please!), the team is NEVER referred to as Wests - always "The Tigers", and sometimes as Balmain... and whenever they play at Leichhardt, those idiot commentators fall over themselves to see who is going to be the first to say how great it is to be the spiritual home of the Tigers... blagh.... "Now for this population thing – Yes the population of Campbelltown is booming so that by 2036 the Cambelltown Council will still be smaller then the Inner West Council. What the inner west has going for it is that it is still close to many other council areas so the overall population will still be massively more then those within 15-20mins of Cambelltown which is a long way from almost everyone else other then Cambelltown. Also the growing population is from migration and migration alone with more people from Australia leaving Cambelltown then moving too it which is fine in itself but the game and definatly [sic] the Magpies have never shown much ability to engage migrant communities other then by the Wests Tigers." Ah huh. Sorry, but I have to guess what you are trying to say here. Is English YOUR second language? If you are really saying what it looks like you are saying, you are probably beyond arguing with, reaching out to, or attempting to educate. So I will ignore the racial BS factor you've brought into it, and which could not possibly be more wrong on so many levels -- I'll just remind you that the inner city has limited juniors - unlike Macarthur. In fact, the whole reason Balmain and Wests were forced into this shotgun wedding was because Balmain was so poorly served by junior talent, we were forced to share ours with them long before the Joint Venture. Frankly I don't know why your post was even left up. Your "facts" are anything but, and your ad hom couldn't be more obvious. If I had called a tosser like you a "loony" and cast asparagus at your edjucashun, I'm pretty sure my ass would have been modded right out of here.
Stephen
Guest
Greg - just be grateful that Western Suburbs merged with Balmain. If Balmain had gone to Parramatta, Wests would have been forced to 'MERGE' with Canterbury. That would not have been a merge - it simply would have been a takeover and these arguments wouldn't exist today because Western Suburbs would have had no say in anything and would not exist in any fashion. My children - two of whom are now adults - are all fanatical Wests Tigers supporters. They know who Western Suburbs and Balmain are & were, but they never supported either of those teams - they, like tens of thousands of others of their generation, are Wests Tigers supporters. Time to move on. Wests have control the club, everybody knows that and the Wests Tigers continue to move forward. Ray Chesterton wrote back in 2005 - "October 2nd, 2005 - the day the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies died & the Wests Tigers were born"
boonboon
Roar Pro
Well one of the old magpie loonies learnt how to use a laptop - and they say the education system is failing us. Sadly it gets worse from thier. Lets look at some real live facts then and some myths that are just perpetuated by the Magpie loonies from the south. Campbelltown crowds over the years have averaged 9362, with last year a massive 9945 so not much off the long term average despite this boom in population. As for this Wests Tigers was/is just a rebadged Balmain - the number of games have always been equally been shared between the clubs, the clubs training centre is at the origional home of the Wests Magpies, the jersey has always had a Magpie on it but never a Balmain logo, extra games such a trials have always been predominatley at Campbelltown and Camden much closer to Magpies world then Balmain, Wests are now the majority owners but it is Wests Ashfield (which has both Tigers and Magpies logo's adorning it) as Cambelltown stopped putting in money well before Balmain did. Now for this population thing - Yes the population of Campbelltown is booming so that by 2036 the Cambelltown Council will still be smaller then the Inner West Council. What the inner west has going for it is that it is still close to many other council areas so the overall population will still be massively more then those within 15-20mins of Cambelltown which is a long way from almost everyone else other then Cambelltown. Also the growing population is from migration and migration alone with more people from Australia leaving Cambelltown then moving too it which is fine in itself but the game and definatly the Magpies have never shown much ability to engage migrant communities other then by the Wests Tigers. I could go on and on but let it be enough to say I hope this ridiculous idea that Cambelltown could support its own NRL team or should split with the Wests Tigers any time soon is either possible or even a good idea dies quickly
greg parker
Roar Rookie
Wests was Madge’s second preference. He was also Broncos second preference. So what did we end up with? Someone who rates Wests behind Broncos and who Broncos rate behind Seibold. That does not inspire confidence an any front – least of all his ability to stay the distance.
Big Daddy
Guest
Quite a few years ago when Gallop was in charge the prerequisite for all teams was that they had to have an up to date stadium in relation to seating amenities etc. If they are trying to model their stadiums on the AFL footprint it will never work as Homebush an Parramatta are the only two until Moore Park has been done. You just can't compare. If they are to retain suburban grounds the clubs must do upgrades similar to the Geelong ground. Although in manlys case its a waste of money as it virtually has no public access accepts for buses which run from Manly wharf.
Fred
Guest
With Melbourne too, the city is more 'central', whereas Sydney is geographically divided into distinct regions
League4Ever
Roar Rookie
Surely not Penrith? That would be like asking Geelong to play their home games at the MCG. Having said that all the Melbourne based AFL clubs play their home games at Docklands and the MCG and they have collectively seen increased ticket sales and much larger box sales. I do remember reading that the Dragons made more money playing games at Homebush with low ticket sales then sell out games at Jubilee or WIN. The point was that the corporate facilities make a lot more money and they sell boxes and they get guaranteed payments regardless of ticket sales. This would ruin the Sharks and disenfranchise further the Illawarra half of the Dragons, plus it would gibe GWS and potentially Football (soccer) easy entrance into Western Sydney. Thanks for bring this up as it definitely is thought provoking.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
I had no plans one way or another about being a regular here. I write. I like certain sports. Those things leave the door open – unless of course, it is being closed on me. Yes, some people move on. And some jump on everything said. My last post on the Wests Canterbury hypothetical was mainly aimed at someone in that latter group, who extended the jumping to answering despite apparent ignorance of what a hypothetical actually is. You may be quite at home with a forced JV to form the Canterbury Tigers, but the “loudest” ones here opposed to the ideas presented, I believe would be wailing like Banshees if the Balmain history and identity was subsumed by Canterbury. As for not replying to inquiry regarding Liverpool, sorry… but I am one person. It has been impossible to answer every single point, or even every point in every post – and I suspect that would not be seen in a good light anyway. As for Liverpool – Canterbury can and should have the area. “Smug”? Moi? “Won”? Won what? I was attempting to get the most vocal to try and see it from a different perspective. Either they “got” that is what I was doing, or they didn’t. My point with Taylor is this: Marina Go stood before the media and explained the sacking on the grounds that large losses would no longer be acceptable, and nor would not making the finals. On that basis, his successor should not have lasted as long as he did. We were lied to again for no reason, or they make the rules up as they go along, or there was a hidden agenda. As an example of hypocrisy, it does not get any clearer.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
Quotes from a 2013 Masters’ article: Future investment in the joint venture has been the cause of friction between Wests and Balmain. A $6.8 million debt at Balmain Leagues Club has meant the Tigers have experienced difficulty answering calls to satisfy the joint venture’s rising debt. The Wests Group offered to provide Balmain’s share of new funding in exchange for a casting vote at board meetings but this was rejected by Balmain. It is understood Wests Campbelltown’s frustration with the failure of the two owners to reach agreement on funding precipitated their withdrawal. Wests Campbelltown chief executive Tony Mathew claimed his club’s exit would allow the Wests half of the joint venture to consolidate. ”There has been a lot of discussion in regards to an overdue change and restructuring. Those arrangements will still be 50-50. It’s just that our one director out of 10 won’t be there. We’ve still got our support of rugby league, that’s still our primary charter and we’re still going to be involved in junior rugby league out here. We just think in the consolidating and restructuring of Wests Tigers going forward, we’re happy to do this to allow Wests Tigers to move forward.” Asked why Wests Campbelltown had chosen now to exit the joint venture that began in 2000, he said: ”Our operation at Wests Campbelltown is very different now to the one 13 years ago … Our circumstances have changed here and yet we still spend an enormous amount of time on Wests Tigers. We just feel it needs to be consolidated … We do get on well with Wests Ashfield … we’ve never been closer.”
greg parker
Roar Rookie
"I’ve been to a couple of Tigers games, and the magpie image is the minority." That is because of a longstanding strategy to boycott WT games and show the black and colors at Western Suburbs games in lower grades only. I am a bit ambivalent about this, though I understand the reasoning.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
Some comments from a December 2018 story by Roy Maserts The Magpies have been the under-acknowledged half of the Wests Tigers merger for half a generation now, with most NRL followers under the age of 25 knowing the club only as the Tigers. Manly-Warringah is known universally as Manly; Canterbury Bankstown as Canterbury and Cronulla Sutherland as Cronulla but the NRL and media tend to lop off the first name of Wests Tigers. Not so for another joint venture club, St George Illawarra. Many Steelers supporters will argue their club disappeared in the merger but Illawarra joined the then NSWRL in 1982, while the Magpies are a 1908 foundation club. All of which makes it difficult for passionate Wests supporters to understand why, with the March 31 deadline expiring for penniless Balmain to remain in the joint venture, that the Ashfield-based Magpies club have steadfastly insisted the Tigers name will remain forever. But Wests insist the retentions of the Tigers name and some Balmain equity are not negotiable. Given this, the question must be asked: would Balmain do for Wests what Wests are doing for Balmain? Based on the early operation of the Wests Tigers joint venture, the answer would be, no.
Sammy
Guest
It is stupid to keep referring to the West Tigers as a JV. The Wests Tigers Club that is a member of the NRL is a privately owned company limited by shares (West Tigers FC Pty Ltd) who just so happen to be owned by a Leagues Club in Ashfield and former Balmain RLFC members. The West Tigers Brand is strongly linked with the “Inner West Council” Local Government Area that was formed in 2016 out of a merger between Ashfield, Leichhardt, and Marrickville councils, and will eventually merge with Burwood, Strathfield and Canada Bay. So perhaps the Club should be the “Inner West Tigers”.
sssgid4l
Roar Rookie
I am very much for a Western Suburbs return, however it is close to impossible. Attendance at CSS is always low, and it takes a long time to get to the Macarthur region without traffic, let alone during and a bit after peak hour. However, the team is 75% owned by Wests and 25% owned by Balmain. Yet, majority of the supporters would prefer the tiger as an image. The club needs to do something for the SWS region and not focus on the inner west. I've been to a couple of Tigers games, and the magpie image is the minority. In fact, I saw more Dragons and Eels jerseys than Magpie jerseys at a game last year. When it comes to the St George Illawarra merger, the St George side dominates due to the financial ownership. However, this is not the case for Western Suburbs. Playing out of the new Parra Stadium won't help the Macarthur plan, just look at the A League. It would take a lot of work to separate the Magpies from other teams. Hence, being unlikely that they return. But honestly, it would be great to see them back in the comp and no Balmain in the comp.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
People tend to move on... but not all. Many have replied to a number of posts and my last comment on the hypothetical was aimed mainly at the poster who allegedly replied without knowing what a hypothetical was. As for me missing a question from you... fair dinkum? I am one person replying to how many? It has been impossible to address everything thrown at me. I am not a Russian troll factory! Liverpool should be absorbed by Canterbury. No if's, no buts. My point regarding Taylor was this: he was sacked after 3 rounds because large floggings were no longer acceptable, and nor was missing making the finals. That was in essence, what Marina Go said. Based on that, his successor shouldn't have lasted as long as he did. Those are the facts - not emotion. As for me not hanging around, I have no plans either way. I write. I also have an interest in League and boxing and major sporting events like the Olympics. I had no thoughts either way about any future here. Smug? Moi? Winning? Winning what? I was making a point to draw out how the current pro Wests Tigers 4eva group would react if the team was forced into a JV and bit by bit, had it's identity stripped to the point where the new team is a just a rebranded Canterbury. You claim you are good with it - good for you. I believe you. I don't believe those with the loudest protests against my proposal for a Macarthur Magpies would be quite so relaxed about it.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Would you prefer they play all their games there and ignore Kogarah? Steelers side currently contributes very little to the merger and is basically on life support. Lucky they even get games at WIN
BA Sports
Roar Guru
You are a first time contributor - and I am guessing you won't be back often - but what you find is, people tend to move on after a day, that is why nobody is really responding to your Wests Bulldogs post, not because you have stumped everyone. You didn't respond to my question about why you would call it the Macarthur Magpies when Liverpool makes up such a large chunk of your region. Can I assume your silence speaks louder than words? You have raised your issue which is close to your heart, so it is emotional to you. People have been pretty respectful in disagreeing with you (not all, but in the large part). So maybe quieten down on the attitude coming through that sounds like you think you have won or something. Coming across a little smug given I think the majority are not in agreement with you (whether you agree with their opinion or not). If we wanted to be smug - we would counter this "coach can say they are rebuilding unless you are an ex-Magpie player", with - Wests Tigers have had 6 coaches effectively (excluding Webster). One had any affiliation to Balmain - and not just any affiliation - regarded as arguably the clubs best ever, and he was given a single season. Two have playing affiliation to the Magpies and they were given two years each. Given their coaching credentials it was a wonder they were given the job at all. Once again - it is your heart not your head making the argument. As for your hypothetical; If that happened, so be it. Why not? If we need to drop Sydney clubs and nobody takes up the option to relocate at some point, then you leave it in the NRL's hands and Wests Bulldogs would be one of two or three options available s an alternative to shutting a club down. Why not? You like Collingwood Magpies, well the Western Bulldogs as well already exist - going quite well actually - considering it changed its name from Footscray in 1996 (over 100 years after the club was formed) and had to leave its spiritual home to play its home games a larger stadium, not in Footscray.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi 40/20 Nothing wrong with a challenge mate. Madge is up for it.
Shane
Guest
If Balmain and Wests had the stones to stand up to Murdoch and co. like the mighty Bunnies, they would exist as sole entities today and their respective fans would be happy. Alas, neither club has any real balls, they showed what whores they really are by chasing the money and getting into bed with News Limited and "merged". Now all you have is a rabble of two former clubs and their fans that never has and never will work. 2005, they got lucky because Parra and the Dragons saved their worst games for the GF qualifiers. Kick the whole mess out.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
Interesting that no one is game to say what they would do or how they would feel if this hypothetical became reality. But silence often does speak louder than words.
greg parker
Roar Rookie
Tommy doesn't need a last name, There is no other Tommy. The ratio of ex-Balmain boofheads being interviewed for WT stories, compared to ex-Magpies runs at about 100:1 and Elias is allowed to get away uncorrected with calling them Balmain. If the team had been called Balmain Magpies and only ex Wests players were ever interviewed and they referred to the team as Western Suburbs... you would hear the screaming all the way to Timbuktu.