There are two seemingly unrelated events occurring on the sidelines of the National Rugby League at the moment.
The NRLC is soon due to announce the successful bidder for a new Brisbane-based club to enter the NRL from 2023.
At the same time, calls are coming for a major overhaul of the Wests Tigers amalgamation, a grouping that, despite tasting early premiership success, has largely failed to solidify its new identify, and seems to have difficulty finding a true home, uniting their administration and effectively developing and drawing one of the largest potential nurseries available to any NRL club.
But could these seemingly two unrelated challenges provide a mutually agreeable solution?
Head west
Some argue the merger have never worked. Two clubs with very different core values, different bases and different cultures, separated geographically and lead by different administrations.
At the time of the merger, the Western Suburbs Magpies had already taken steps to move further west, establishing their home ground at Campbelltown and beginning to tap into this new market. The merger pulled them back in to the inner west, reduced the number of games played at Campbelltown Stadium and stymied the ability of the new club to fully embrace its move to the major centres of Liverpool and Campbelltown.
The Wests Tigers merger led to an uptick in games played at Leichhardt Oval (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Splitting the merged club back and giving the South West Sydney Magpies clear running to establish themselves in this area could reignite the fortunes of this part of the club and let it fully focus on growing the game in its chosen region and fight off the advances made by soccer and AFL in these areas.
Wests would be back in their traditional garb, with a similar outer suburban outlook to its original character.
So, what happens to the Tigers?
The key is in the name, though it might not be clear to anyone who has limited knowledge of rugby league north of the Tweed. There are three clubs currently bidding on for the new NRL licence in Brisbane. The Brisbane Jets (a merger of the original Bombers proposal and the Ipswich Jets), the Redcliffe Dolphins and the Brisbane Firehawks.
The Dolphins appear to have the front running. They have already successfully hosted a couple of NRL games at their boutique stadium in Redcliffe and are hosting the Warriors while that side is facing exile on the wrong side of the Tasman.
However, the Brisbane Firehawks could provide a solution to the Tigers problem.
I like the Firehawks name, it is something that is both catchy and unique Australian, referring to Australian raptor species that seemingly spread bushfires further by picking up burning sticks and depositing them in new areas. However, the club behind the Firehawks brand is the Easts Tigers.
If the Easts Tigers group, which has an estimated $80 million worth of assets and $25 million in cash, was to successfully win the bid then it could potentially compete under its own name as the Brisbane Tigers. It would preserve one of the oldest names in the NRL, in a similar way that the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans carry on the original names of the Fitzroy and South Melbourne clubs.
Easts Tigers could also bring in or potentially buy out (the second option may work better) the Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment and Leichhardt Juniors – maintaining a real presence in both cities and states and drawing on two long Tigers traditions while developing a new presence for the NRL on the south side of Brisbane, initially playing their games at Suncorp, but perhaps down the track shifting their games to the Gabba after its 2032 Olympic Games redevelopment.
This would set up a north-south divide in Brisbane – something, as a former Brisbane resident, I think would have a real tribal appeal. One or two home games a year could also be played at Leichhardt Oval to further cement the links to the Sydney-based Tigers fraternity.
If the Tigers-Firehawks bid is not successful (as I suspect might be the case), another option remains. Keep the Wests Tigers name but invite interested parties in WA to bid for the licence and base the team out of Perth (again with an opportunity to maintain their presence in Sydney and play the odd game in Leichhardt).
The Magpies would still be freed up from the Wests Tigers merger, but, in this case, to form the Macarthur Magpies but still maintaining all the advantages discussed above – back in black and white, back out west and developing rugby league in the south-west corridor and in an area that will be, no doubt, boosted by the development of Sydney’s second airport (or the Western Sydney Aeorotropolis as Liverpool City Council call it).
Grow the game into new areas, keep and actually returning some of the old traditions while unshackling two traditional clubs from an ineffective and unproductive partnership. It’s an idea I think has a lot of merit.
Gary McDonald
Guest
They have invested too much money with the centre of excellence in Concord and will not be going anywhere. The clubs main focus is corporate and why the preferred home ground is Parramatta as both Leichhardt and Campbelltown offer limited corporate facilities. I was a Balmain supporter and Wests tigers sponsor and was happy to go to games at Leichhardt and Campbelltown but hated Parramatta stadium. When they moved the last game of 2020 from Leichhardt to Parramatta so more corporates could be entertained I walked away. The problem is we treat the players like s$%t and have done so for many years to the point people just do not want to play for the club. How many players that were at the club last year and previous 2 years played in Semi-finals this year? Corey Thompson, Sam McIntyre, Benji Marshall and we got rid of Paul Momirovski for Joseph Leilua???? In Benji's case he is past his best but we need to look after our players and show some loyalty. Too many home grounds and poor decisions hold the club back regardless if they are called magpies, tigers or Donald ducks. The average punter does not matter anymore it is all about the corporates and our $30,000 grand a year. Behind the scene's people like John Skandalis, Josh Atherton and Pat Richards put in a huge effort and if the board put in half the efforts of those guys and others not as well known they would move forward.
Jim
Guest
:rugby: I just think that the West tigers have lost their way they have had too many unsuccessful coaches going but don't know how to get success. A great coach can make any average player are great player. Define the West tigers I would be asking for Craig Bellamy to give the West tigers go and offer him a million a year .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Tony, first player to play 100 games for 2 clubs.
Tony
Roar Guru
How good a player was Roy Ferguson. What a beauty.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
You might find that east Brisbane approached Balmain with this proposal when the mergers started. Balmain as I understand didn't bother even looking at the proposal. Also with the Parramatta merge it was all agreed to then they merged with wests. Strange days indeed.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Tony, very good summation of the situation as it stands. I was once an avid Wests Magpies supporter but when the joint venture was formed that did me in , so subsequently crossed to the dark side and became a staunch Broncos man due some old naval association with Shane Webckes father. Grew up with Roy Ferguson and was fortunate enough to meet Tommy and Ned . The club hasn't been the same since those old days .
Greg
Roar Pro
best summary of the Tigers woes ive ever read.
Pelican
Guest
With what money Wests own ure tiger
inanch mehmet
Guest
West’s Tigers are dead. They won’t make the semis again and will eventually be thrown out the league. They are a basket case. Macarthur magpies is a great idea. New club independent of west’s and Balmain. Souths are already getting their juniors out of macarthur and look at them!
Adam Douglass
Guest
The NRL Admin are too stupid to admit defeat. The merger has clearly failed. The NRL refuse to recognise the Magpies massive junior growth area in the Macarthur Region and this is why the NRL is never going to be a National Competition. In case no one has noticed, only NSW and QLD care about League, the rest of Australia dont give 2 shits about it and the NRL still refuse to be its full potential in its own heartlands. Such a shame so many kids are being lost to other codes because CEO's are so dumb. Let the Magpies be the Magpies and let Balmain be Balmain. We need our foundation clubs, look at Souths! And dont give me the old "they will never be competitive" horseshit, there are really only about 4 competitive teams in the comp at the moment anyway and only 2 consistent ones. Good luck NRL ur going to need it!
Backdoor Benny Boy
Guest
Not a chance , that’s going backwards .
Benny Boy
Guest
Fkn brilliant Couldn’t agree more , it’d be the best of both worlds and Wests could lose the anchor that is Balmain and rise again .
Pakgrocks5@gmail.com
Guest
I enjoy comedy and this piece you have written is by far and away your best. Let's look at the obvious, yeah? The Tigers and The Magpies merged, were the first merged club to win a grandfinal and have since failed to replicate their initial success, as we are constantly reminded of but mate as far as I'm concerned, a divorce is off the cards. Screw sending a licence to Brisbane and remember this, foundation clubs. Up the Tigpies.
MidCoastMagpie
Roar Rookie
Of course Campbeltown Stadium had slightly lower average crowds than Leichhardt when Campbeltown was always given the poorer share of clashes. Campbeltown copped the out of town teams like Canberra and the Warriors etc a hell of a lot more often than Leichhardt did, whilst Leichhardt got most of the "big" clashes against teams with big supporter bases. Also a lot more Wests Tiger fans in the Macarthur-Liverpool region are prepared to travel to Leichhardt than those in the Inner West, Cumberland, North and North West were prepared to travel to Leumeah. Overall there isn't a huge difference in crowd averages over the last 5 years or so.
Just a Tigers fan
Guest
Maybe people should pay more attention before writing on the Tigers. Ashfield leagues bascally owns the Tigers now as they have the majority. Tigers are about to build an acadamy in the southwest and if you listen to the last interview with the chairman you will hear there is a plan in motion for the Tigers to settle thier home in the south west for good
Mick
Guest
To the author, if your theory is right, then the first team you would get rid of is roosters. But because they have had success, their model of having a rich owner pump cash in every year into the business of poaching other teams juniors is just fine. Cronulla is down the road from Kogarah, why weren't they merged? Illawarra Steelers, like Newcastle, should have been a stand alone club if we go by your argument. Canterbury and cronulla only in the comp cos they defected to superleague.Brisbane have the whole of south Queensland (that's bigger than campbelltown by the way), and how has that worked out for them? Honestly mate, give it a rest.
Paul Monaro
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
MidCoastMagpie
Roar Rookie
The talk of a 25k seat stadium at Liverpool (not the old Bulldogs proposal) was not for it to be actually built in Liverpool but at a site nearer Glenfield/Casula (possibly Edmondson Park?) with both Liverpool and Campbeltown councils contributing 2/3 between them (a third each) with the state government chipping in the remaining third though there was also hope the feds could also cough up (lessening the cost to the other parties) either with a cash grant and/or gifting of Commonwealth Crown Land.
MidCoastMagpie
Roar Rookie
There's not a snowflakes chance in hell of that happening, Balmain only have a 10% stake in the franchise (it is no longer a joint venture), and are lucky to have even that as they defaulted on money Wests Ashfield shelled out to keep them going and Wests had the legal right to take 100% control of the club. I can't see Wests Ashfield or WSDRLFC putting a "Balmain Tigers" branded team in the NRL whilst relegating "Wests Magpies" to merely be a feeder club. If anything it would be the other way around. Balmain are in the same position as North Sydney were in the "Northern Eagles" just prior to Manly reverting back to a stand alone club. The only way Balmain could divorce Wests now would be to sell their 10% stake either to the NRL, a third party or to Wests Ashfield in a total buy out. Unfortunately for Balmain fans, some of their clubs "legends" and their business partners went into the folly of trying to redevelop the leagues club on its original site rather than sell the premises and build the club elsewhere in the district where planning, approvals, parking, access, proximity to the casino (soon to be 2 casinos) and even the local demographics wouldn't have been such impediments to the eventual costly failure it became. Maybe selling out their share to Wests and linking up with Easts Brisbane (in the expansion consortium) or to the Central Coast are the only real options for Balmain to exist outside the Wests Tigers franchise. As for the Wests Tigers franchise itself? If they don't embrace Liverpool and the Macarthur as a more permanent base, they may as well get used to sitting on the bottom end of the table, losing sponsorship $$ and fighting off the wooden spoon year after year.
David
Guest
You are spot on. ????