Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
While the tradition and history of foundation clubs, Western Suburbs and Balmain, must forever remain in the DNA of the Wests Tigers, the joint…
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Publisher of ‘Magpie Memoir Magazine’, ‘Gosford Rugby League: the Eye of the Storm Magazine’, and author of ‘Here Come the Townies: the early history of Gosford Rugby League’.
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While the tradition and history of foundation clubs, Western Suburbs and Balmain, must forever remain in the DNA of the Wests Tigers, the joint…
Just to be clear, your final paragraph is saying that Wests Tigers are in fact Balmain, and that Wests “has been lost”.
I totally disagree that dueling cultures need be too hard to deal with. I’m simply suggesting that people/journos refer to ‘Wests’ as often as they do Manly, Souths, Penrith etc … which in turn reduces the use of the ‘Tigers’ in line with common use of Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Panthers etc. It shouldn’t be a huge issue. It’s a respect thing. Language is important, which is why terms and references are forever being revised, most recently the batters v batsmen change (out of respect for half the population).
Peachey finds new home for 2022
So if you hear tigers, it’s an old Balmain reference?
You know like Tigers greats Elias, Roach etc … or Tigers spiritual home blah blah. Tigers history flows into the modern day Tigers but for some reason, Wests history isn’t allowed to flow into a modern day Wests.
I just think it’s time to redress the balance a bit and reconfigure the lexicon. It’s a respect thing.
Peachey finds new home for 2022
My favourite bit was “Newtown knew what he was talking about”.
Yeah, go the Bluebags !
I understand Sir Isaac was a season ticket holder out at Henson back in the day.
Revisiting my five fearless predictions for the 2021 NRL season
That’s true, but not really relevant here. The northern beaches team is named Manly Warringah yet people/journos are happy to call them Manly. Same with Cronulla Sutherland, Canterbury Bankstown. So the fact that the Tigers is part of the name, doesn’t preclude journos from throwing in the occasional, Wests.
Peachey finds new home for 2022
I do come from the Wests side of the equation.
But putting that aside, why is it so hard for people to occasionally call the team ‘Wests’?
Peachey finds new home for 2022
Why do all these articles start with a seemingly obligatory ‘Wests Tigers’ and then follow with blanket use of ‘the Tigers’. I see this pattern so often throughout MSM. It’s so repetitive and dull. Mix it up. Throw in the occasional Wests to break up all the wall of Tiger references. You managed a Canberra in there I see, without resorting even once to using the Raiders.
Re Peachey, yeah well Madge better have the boys running some straight lines cos Peach loves to crab in search of a direct runner.
Peachey finds new home for 2022
It’s a bit of fun mate!
The people of the Macarthur, like those of the Central Coast have been used by the game. They are great supporters of the competition, but deemed not worthy of representation in the NRL.
Re’ the 1970s at Wests – the minor premiership in 78 was a tremendous achievement. They were at hundreds to make the semis that year. The Magpies made semis in 78,79, 80 & 82 and were kicked out of the comp at the end of 83. The on going battle with the NSWRL just to survive lasted until beyond mid decade and a generation of talented kids were lost. So yeah, they struggled at times in the 80s but there were extenuating circumstances.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
A two decade whim. I’m not suggesting Wests and Balmain roots be abandoned, they just need to be pushed under the surface. The Wests Tigers today are a pale, undernourished runt of a teen, trying to survive two overbearing and overprotective parents. Parents whose relationship went sour the moment the runt was born. Time for the runt to grow a pair and move out.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
It’s more deep seated than current roster etc … the club has played three finals series in 22 years. They flit about from ground to ground and represent no one. They need a concrete identity and a district to bleed for.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
Clearly the Afterthoughts was a tongue in cheek moniker. But a rebranding and full relocation would only encourage the Macarthur juniors to play for their local club. As it is, the district has totally lost touch with the region. An interesting stat – of the first 75 players to debut for Wests Tigers – 12 were from the south west. Of the last 75 players to debut for the Wests Tigers – none have been from the south west. Somethings needs to change.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
Yes that’s true. They’d need to apply to the NRL. Surely it’s for the good of the game to have less inner city/inner west teams and a genuine entity set up in Sydney’s south-west. I don’t see this as a major stumbling block.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
There are no guarantees in footy. But it would be nice to see the club assume a tangible identity and actually play for a set region.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
I’m basing the future of the club on the Penrith model, and you make a good point re finance – Wests Campbelltown Leagues ain’t no Panthers. Yet with all home games guaranteed for Leumeah and a team that genuinely represents the region, surely the Leagues club would come on board big time. The south west is growing at a tremendous rate and corporate support would only grow as time rolled by. The move would undoubtedly lead Wests Ashfield to lessen its role and influence. A Macarthur team may struggle early, but surely the NRL would applaud the move. Less clubs jammed into the inner city, inner west region and a genuine south west entity. Perhaps they might even stump up a wad of start up cash.
Re the playing roster, it would kick off with whatever the Wests Tigers had at time of rebranding.
Wests Tigers: Time for a knock-down rebuild
You do realise it’s the Wests Tigers, not west tigers as you continue to offer.
Of course you do, but figured disrespecting the already disrespected would be a hoot.
My reference to the batter vs batsmen scenario was simply to highlight an ever changing need to tinker with language/emphasis etc to help ensure greater equity. Being more inclusive can only ever be a good thing.
I put it to you that post the joint venture, very few Balmain fans drifted away from the Wests Tigers , but a hell of a lot of Western Suburbs fans did. There is a reason for that. I also suggest that if a genuine effort was seen to be made by the Wests Tigers to find a genuine middle ground, many of the old Magpies could still be won back.
Peachey finds new home for 2022