NSWRL Wests and BRET

[R2Coupe]

In the NSWRL thread, there are posts suggestings Wests will standalone next year and field Raiders players and BRET will be replaced by a WTS team. According to thread(s), WTs contracted players will play in the latter team.

Has anyone learnt of this? Although one merged WTs team was suggested, I believed nothing more had come of it. And why should Wests and Balmain assist a former SL Club?

What are your thoughts?

 

[blackandwhite]

I followed The Magpies and of course still have a soft spot for them...But..Super league... Western Suburbs... Balmain are all in the past..the kids in the u20's our future NRL stars wouldn't even know or care about those things.

I want a Wests Tigers NRL team a Wests Tigers u20's team and a Wests Tigers NSW cup team....Ideally I would like them playing out of Campbelltown.

 

[meltiger]

& let's rename them the Magpies while we are at it


f**k off

 

[madunit]

Pretty sure Wests will remain as they are and BRET will be renamed Wests Tigers.

Haven't heard anything about Canberra players though. Pretty sure most of the Raiders lower graders play in the Brisbane comp.

If they have aligned themselves with Wests Magpies, then essentially the magpies would become the Raiders feeder club and the Magpies and BRET players from this season will be playing for Wests Tigers NSW Cup side.

I guess it helps keep the magpies alive, but it's a big kick in the guts to their players and long time fans, because for the first time in their long history, they will have essentially whored themself off.

Even though I'm Balmain fan, I was always proud of Wests fighting spirit, so if this is the case, then I'm really disappointed.

 

[innsaneink]

& let's rename them the Magpies while we are at it


f**k off

The Magpie on the shoulder's sufficient thank you

 

[meltiger]

Pretty sure Wests will remain as they are and BRET will be renamed Wests Tigers.

Haven't heard anything about Canberra players though. Pretty sure most of the Raiders lower graders play in the Brisbane comp.

If they have aligned themselves with Wests Magpies, then essentially the magpies would become the Raiders feeder club and the Magpies and BRET players from this season will be playing for Wests Tigers NSW Cup side.

I guess it helps keep the magpies alive, but it's a big kick in the guts to their players and long time fans, because for the first time in their long history, they will have essentially whored themself off.

Even though I'm Balmain fan, I was always proud of Wests fighting spirit, so if this is the case, then I'm really disappointed.

Please, only one club in this saga has allowed themselves to be bent over and whored off, and it certainly isn't Western Suburbs.

The Magpie on the shoulder's sufficient thank you

I suppose you do need it,


Had a chuckle last night, "that Balmain Tigers, sorry Wests Tigers combination"


After more than 10 years the JV is still seen as only one particular team ;-)

 

[N.C.]

Get over it like the rest of us have, eh?

 

[meltiger]

^ Hi, how about no. Frankly, shove it up your arse. I'm entitled to my opinion as much as anyone else. Something you "One club" scums have never accepted.


The "One club" BS only flies as far as it suits people. You see, I'm more than happy with the JV as is, short of the SFS games. Would love to see a 6/6 split. Yet it's always the Sth Westerners and old Magpie supporters pushing for full relocation down to their sh*tful pocket of the planet.


So who is that really needs to get over it, join hands and participate in the "One club" group hug?


If you want the team to relocate to Campbelltown (Which was what annoyed me about the OP), that's fine. Shame they can't draw decent crowds with the only 4 games they get now...


If they want the club full time, how about selling out the tiny amount of games they get under the current arrangements...


I actually have gained alot of respect for Wests over the years and their desire to stick up for themselves, something Balmain (And you can see it in the supporters) have never done. Hence my reply to MU, Balmain have whored themselves off to satisfy Supercoach, Wests have stood up for themselves. One club is to be appluaded in the State Cup affair, and it most certainly isn't Balmain.

 

[westie]

Balmain ARE WT now. A rebranding won't really make a difference.

 

[meltiger]

^ Do you mean at State Cup level? Or my statement about "Magpies"? That was solely directed at the 12 games at Campbelltown comment.


At State cup level, such a statement is of course true, which is why I don't get MU's statement about Western Suburbs selling themselves off, simply because they have agreed to a feeder arrangement with Canberra.


Firstly, Western Suburbs should be applauded for standing up for themselves and not allowing an employee of theirs to destroy their JV agreement. I don't care what people think of him, Supercoach is not the club, the club is made up of a joint history of the two foundation clubs, and to their credit, one half is standing up for themselves.

Secondly, I'm actually mildly concerned personally about how much antagonising of them they will take from Sheens and the JV (I AM for the merger contrary to what people think)


Although, maybe my view is slightly skewed in that I don't believe in the "one club is better" BS. Sheens virtually refuses to promote from State Cup as it is, what's going to change under next years arrangements? Fact is, two clubs gave us a greater talent pool to draw on, and I honestly don't get this, less is better argument.

 

[gronkathon]

A fulltime cobranded State Cup side is the best way forward. I am a Balmain fan in State Cup and part of me would love to see both State Cup sides keep their identity.

However in terms of creating a professional team of full time players and having a fulltime coach it creates a more clearly defined pathway to the NRL if set up correctly. Whilst there will always be NYC bolters to the NRL side having State Cup as the next progression in development under the one banner in the one training regime will stand us in great sted for years to come

 

[N.C.]

Here it is for you again, mel...

Get over it like the rest of us have, eh?

Or you could cry some more.

Up to you...

 

[westie]

How quickly we forget the disaster it was when we tried this a few years ago. We went from having two semi finalists (like this year) to both sides being impotent and not developing any players.

 

[meltiger]

Here it is for you again, mel...



Or you could cry some more.

Up to you...

Or you can accept that my position is you shove your opinion up your arse.

I've long since stopped caring what you one clubers think.

If you can accept the team playing full time out at Campbelltown, then head down and buy yourself a Magpie heritage abd burn any orange jerseys you may own.

Otherwise, unless you want to add something to the conversation rather than snipe, shut the f**k up. Simple.

A fulltime cobranded State Cup side is the best way forward. I am a Balmain fan in State Cup and part of me would love to see both State Cup sides keep their identity.

However in terms of creating a professional team of full time players and having a fulltime coach it creates a more clearly defined pathway to the NRL if set up correctly. Whilst there will always be NYC bolters to the NRL side having State Cup as the next progression in development under the one banner in the one training regime will stand us in great sted for years to come

& what evidence, at all is there to support these claims?


It's easier for Sheens, the JV board have tried to dismantle key planks of the original JV agreement, to suit an employee of the board, and in turn the two foundation clubs.


Guess what, we had 3 teams make prelims this year, one (Balmain) should have made the GF but choked, Wests put up a fair fight and the JV, after a bastard of a finals series managed to get within a point of the eventual premiers in their prelim, tired and broken. Some better decision making in the last 10 minutes / penalty for the knees and we very well could have been celebrating an NRL premiership.


With..... :shock: Two State Cup sides below the NRL side.



Next season, we now have one club bending over, lubing up and doing whatever the JV board ask them to do, and on the other hand we have the other half of the JV *edit* being forced to stand alone without JV assistance, because :shock: they are proud of their damn club and expect the JV to honor the 1999 agreement.


:x


Maybe we should give up on junior development as well and force the HM & SG Ball sides into one "Wests Tigers" team. After all, we are one club now, aren't we?


We are f**king not, we are two seperate clubs, representing two unique regions, in a partnership at the highest level to ensure our regions are represented in the NRL.

 

[yappy]

there is no agreement with Canberra

 

[meltiger]

^ Well that's at least a positive.

Yappy, where do Wests intend to pull their playing stocks from? The senior comps around the district?

 

[gronkathon]

Or you can accept that my position is you shove your opinion up your arse.

I've long since stopped caring what you one clubers think.

If you can accept the team playing full time out at Campbelltown, then head down and buy yourself a Magpie heritage abd burn any orange jerseys you may own.

Otherwise, unless you want to add something to the conversation rather than snipe, shut the f**k up. Simple.



& what evidence, at all is there to support these claims?


It's easier for Sheens, the JV board have tried to dismantle key planks of the original JV agreement, to suit an employee of the board, and in turn the two foundation clubs.


Guess what, we had 3 teams make prelims this year, one (Balmain) should have made the GF but choked, Wests put up a fair fight and the JV, after a bastard of a finals series managed to get within a point of the eventual premiers in their prelim, tired and broken. Some better decision making in the last 10 minutes / penalty for the knees and we very well could have been celebrating an NRL premiership.


With..... :shock: Two State Cup sides below the NRL side.



Next season, we now have one club bending over, lubing up and doing whatever the JV board ask them to do, and on the other hand we have the other half of the JV *edit* being forced to stand alone without JV assistance, because :shock: they are proud of their damn club and expect the JV to honor the 1999 agreement.


:x


Maybe we should give up on junior development as well and force the HM & SG Ball sides into one "Wests Tigers" team. After all, we are one club now, aren't we?


We are f**king not, we are two seperate clubs, representing two unique regions, in a partnership at the highest level to ensure our regions are represented in the NRL.

The structure mooted ivolves a fulltime coach and fulltime players training in tandem with the NRL squad. The only evidence I have of this is what I have been told by officials within the club.

Time will tell as this usually falls through at the last minute every time it comes around.

in the end for the players it is all about trying to earn a NRL squad spot. I doubt whether those with a serious chance care what the name of the club is that gets them there.

HM & SG Ball will always exist at both joint venture partners as it is an essential tool for disseminating talent. The NYC has added a further step which helps clarify a State Cup decision.

But each to there own

 

[meltiger]

& again I ask, what evidence of any benefit whatsoever is there to reducing our talent pool & competition for spots in the NRL side?


3 senior level sides in 2010, 3 preliminary finalists. Should have been at least one and almost nearly was two grand finalists.


Clearly, the current structure does not hurt the club, what evidence is there to suggest any benefit?


& the Harold Matthews, SG Ball reference is a valid one. Wouldn't the club be better time and money spent if it fielded ONE Wests Tigers team in each comp?


Assuming of course, the theory is valid, and the '99 JV agreement hasn't been flushed down the tube all to suit one man who has delivered 2 finals series in what, 7 seasons?

 

[gronkathon]

I would think looking at each of the State Cup sides would provide the evidence of this. There are at least 7 players in each squad (excluding NRL talent assigned) that will most likely never play NRL. If we can concentrate those players who have a likelihood of an NRL shot into one structure that work under the same processes currently in place in both NYC and State Cup than there should theoretically be a greater ease of replacing injured NRL players or promoting based on form.

For mine the biggest aspect of this is the entire squad and coaching staff becoming full time. The difference in level of fitness required for an NRL game is quite immense and this will help bridge the gap.

Any evidence is of course only theoretical until such a move would happen. This is merely more than the previous case of dumping all NRL players in one side. it is about structuring the entire side and it gives the NRL coach a better look at State Cup players every day which could not hurt their chances of earning a call up.

The Harold Matts and SG Ball squads recieve zero funding from Wests Tigers and the Junior Rep system is designed to start the sorting of real football chances from those that may play some Bundy Red Cup or A Grade etc. It is important at the ages of 16 and 18 to have the widest draw possible. This need becomes less necassary with age and experience.

This is merely my opinion on the matter though. But I do not believe that merely because something is not doing any harm that it is the best course of action moving forward. Not doing harm does not equate to doing any good either.

Only time will tell

 

[Front-Rower]

& again I ask, what evidence of any benefit whatsoever is there to reducing our talent pool & competition for spots in the NRL side?


3 senior level sides in 2010, 3 preliminary finalists. Should have been at least one and almost nearly was two grand finalists.


Clearly, the current structure does not hurt the club, what evidence is there to suggest any benefit?


& the Harold Matthews, SG Ball reference is a valid one. Wouldn't the club be better time and money spent if it fielded ONE Wests Tigers team in each comp?


Assuming of course, the theory is valid, and the '99 JV agreement hasn't been flushed down the tube all to suit one man who has delivered 2 finals series in what, 7 seasons?

I'm not having a shot at you but this type of opinon is what is holding our club back. I was/still am a magpie supporter but we have to come the realisation that Western Suburbs and Balmain no longer exist as major forces in the premier rugby league competition in this country as it's been preceeded by the Wests Tigers. We have to stop holding on to memories and allow Wests Tigers to become the club it should be and embraced by all ex magpie and tiger supporters along with the current and future Wests Tigers supporters.

In twenty years time the generation that we are today are not going to know who Western Suburbs were or who Balmain were and they will be talking about legends like Marshall, Farah who played at the Wests Tigers and the year when Richards broke an ankle but played in a winning grand final side or (dare I say) the dark days of Craig Field, Kev McGuniness and John Hopoate. It's time to move forward.

In relation to creating a Wests Tigers state cup side, it should happen today. There is no need for our club to run two sides in a state cup competition. Player strength will increase and depth will be far greater as only the best players from the junior ranks progress. There is no need to carry players who have no hope of reaching the NRL just because older heads who can't let go want to field a team to be nostalgic.

Like I said, I'm not having a shot but it is time we moved forward and embraced a new era and our team Wests Tigers.