The dysfunctional board from the Tigers appear to have been the problem with the merge. Whilst not a match made in heaven this has moved to survival mode. If Wests Magpies were to become a stand alone entity, why would you force them to have the Tigers moniker?
Fanciful....:roll:
This ain't the AFL.
The Magpie moniker in Rugby League has heritage, but it's non-existent in the NRL and many of the new supporters of Wests Tigers in their teens and early twenties identify with the Tigers. The branding and identity of the 'Tiger' has much better opportunities going forward than 'Magpie'.
What Wests could do is take on the license and the commitment that comes with it, and focus on Campbelltown for its inter-metropolitan and smaller intra-metropolitan opposition home games such as Cronulla - Manly - Penrith, but move its home games against Souths - Parra - Saints - Canterbury - Easts to Olympic Stadium. The corporate suites as well as the old Wests areas such as the outer inner west and Lidcome/Auburn area can be serviced here, as well as the Balmain areas north of the river here such as Ryde etc, where kids, teens and younger adult supporters really don't remember or have an allegiance to Western Suburbs or Balmain - it's always been Wests Tigers for this group.
The issue with retaining the Tiger is the obviously that is not their asset. As I understand it, Wests Tigers is still a JV, so the Tiger would be an asset contributed and owned by Balmain. It would have to be purchased off them which could be significant in the short term. However, it would be beneficial in the long-term.