Are the Tigers safe in the NRL?

[TrigaTheTiger]

OK - so seems I have been a bit of a sh*t stirrer since Ive been one doesnt it?

Given there are so many Sydney based clubs do we think that the Tigers are safe in the comp going forward?

Souths - league wouldnt dare trying to kick them out again
Easts - No juniors, but lots of very well connected supporters
Panthers - Huge junior base and well diversified revenues
Eels - Hmmmm - not sure.
Dogs - see Eels
Sharks - On the verge of bankrupcy two months ago and have since bought a stack of players.....
Dragons - Perhaps move permanently to Wollongong?
Manly - trouble in the board room - would love to see them go......
Tigers - ???

My plan would see:
1. Wests
2. Souths
3. Eels / Panthers - merger
4. Dragons
5. Dogs

Leaves out Easts, Sharks and Manly - one of which could move to the central coast.

Perhaps Easts could merge with the Rabbits - that would be hilrious.

 

[Eddie.]

Various media and newspapers have looked at the situations of all Sydney clubs this year. The general theme were the Likes of Cronulla, Newcastle, Souths, Parramatta, Penrith etc allhad plenty more to be concerned about then the Tigers.

Not to say their are areas where imsure we are battling. However from reports we seem to ok compared to most.

 

[37916319]

I heard the the large sum of money we gave Cronulla to take John Morris has left us borderline broke. Thats how they can afford to make the recent purchases. LOL

My sources can be a little dodgy at times.

 

[madunit]

If any teams were to merge I dare say it'd be Parramatta and Dogs.

Penrith and The Tigers would be safe. Dragons won't move as they've just had Oki Jubilee fixed up somewhat. Roosters would be likely to relocate or Sharks (if they can't get themselves financially stable)

 

[DanOz]

Not that I ever want the Tigers to merge again, but if a gun was at their head, I'd vote for Penrith, keep the name Wests Tigers but dump C'town as a home ground for Penrith Park as a compromise.

Imagine Jennings paired up with Lawrence in the centres, Civoniceva as the other bookend with Keith - the list goes on - I reckon there would be another trophy in the cupboard.

 

[madunit]

Still no decent halfback though lol

 

[murraymob]

the problem with any merge the salary cap stil counts .So jennings and lawrence gallaway petro may not be a reality.If the building at tigers club ever gets done the tigers will be ok.At this point no sydney club will go.

 

[TrigaTheTiger]

DanOz - I like your thinking.

We tend to take their cast off players anyway......

Personally - all things being equal - I would rather merge with the dogs -

Yeah - I hate the dogs as well - BUT:

* Our junior stars tend to all be backs
* Their junior stars tend to all be forwards

Would build a monster club.

Us merging again might give us a new coach............

 

[DanOz]

the problem with any merge the salary cap stil counts .So jennings and lawrence gallaway petro may not be a reality.If the building at tigers club ever gets done the tigers will be ok.At this point no sydney club will go.

You get some salary cap exemptions when you agree to merger - the problems would come a few years down the track when you lost half your side, but hopefully there'd be a 2nd premiership by then

 

[DanOz]

DanOz - I like your thinking.

We tend to take their cast off players anyway......

Personally - all things being equal - I would rather merge with the dogs -

Yeah - I hate the dogs as well - BUT:

* Our junior stars tend to all be backs
* Their junior stars tend to all be forwards

Would build a monster club.

Us merging again might give us a new coach............

You are right, but I'm not sure I could face a merger with the Dogs, it would be up there with the Roosters in my mind....

 

[Magpies Forever]

The Western Suburbs side of things have been jostling with the Bulldogs territory wise for a long time. Part of the rationale for the move out to Campbelltown was to escape their encroachment into traditional Magpie territory. We moved to Campbelltown and then the Bulldogs put on that ill fated expansion to Liverpool but they seem to be backtracking towards Belmore area again.

Personally, if there is to be a merger or departure of a club to fairer pastures eg Central Coast / Perth / Adelaide / 2nd Brisbane- and I really can see the rationale for it (but dont necessarily agree sometimes- depending on level of beer intake and resultant rise of sentimentality for old days)- let some of the other clubs who have not had to already merge take this bullet. ESPECIALLY, the ones who stampeded in the rush of the league wars to throw off their Sydney / local clothes eg Roosters & Sharks and deliberately shed their local loyalties.

If it ever came to it my option would be a mega-merger with Parra and Penrith.

 

[Highlander]

Not that I ever want the Tigers to merge again, but if a gun was at their head, I'd vote for Penrith, keep the name Wests Tigers but dump C'town as a home ground for Penrith Park as a compromise.

Imagine Jennings paired up with Lawrence in the centres, Civoniceva as the other bookend with Keith - the list goes on - I reckon there would be another trophy in the cupboard.

Dump Campbelltown then you loose the likes of Lawrence and all the other Jnrs coming throught the district. The club will not merge again it is doing ok the only way would be if Wests/Balmain split and looked elswhere ie Parramatta Tigers or Wests Roosters.

 

[DanOz]

I didn't mean abandon C'town as a junior area, we'd still be the Wests Tigers, but incorporate Penrith as well.

It'd never happen I know, nor do I want the Tigers to merge again, but if it did, this would be the one I'd be happiest with.

 

[Highlander]

Mate if you play no games there you will loose 1 Local players 2 Local sponsers 3 Local Fans What would Wests get out of the J.V apart from the name??.

Also when you say i wouldnt Abandon Ctown what do the Wests tigers give to the area? Think about it

 

[DanOz]

Hey Highlander - I think you may be delving too deeply into an off the cuff topic with no substance, but hey to answer your questions somewhat
1/ Local players - clubs have had interstate feeder clubs, so providing C'town was still in the catchment area why would we lose local players?
2/ Local Sponsors - you may be right, but sponsorship is not restricted to an area, if the team plays at Penrith, the entire crowd does not come from Penrith, so C'town based businesses can still benefit from C'town based residents
3/Local Fans - the same thing happened when Wests moved from Lidcombe Oval / Pratten Park etc out to C'town, & even more so when they merged and Leichhardt / ANZ / SFS came into the mix, why would playing games at Penrith be much different.

What do Wests get out the JV? I was exploring this under the context that the number of Sydney based clubs once again had to be reduced, as I think will happen in the future once again, so they get survival, expanded catchment area, perhaps additional finances (not sure about the current state of Panthers) and maybe even additional success?

In any event, I understand you think the concept is ludicrous, and accept your opinion.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

If we merged with the Dogs, ever, I would not follow the team.

Having said that, I don't think I'd hang on if the JV moved into a 3 way either.

 

[Highlander]

If we merged with the Dogs, ever, I would not follow the team.

Having said that, I don't think I'd hang on if the JV moved into a 3 way either.

Same

 

[DanOz]

I'd follow them whatever happened, but please god not the Bulldogs...