Pretty crazy how the club has imploded because they missed the 8.
i reckon it's the JV that's imploding.
Balmain are contributing their 'tiger' brand, and also, their large base of supporters to the venture, but financially, they're an anvil keeping the venture down.
It's all good when they're playing well and making finals as crowds come to the games, gate receipts increase, they're getting promotion and increases in the value of their partners sponsorship.
Poor seasons really expose the lack of funding from the Balmain side required to operate the venture. Decisions and strategies have to be put on hold and are determined on Balmain's ability to cough up their part of the necessary cash.
How long do we give it before tensions on the board ramp up to a point that the JV becomes unworkable? Could Western Suburbs go it alone financially and supporter wise?
Would the NRL award the license elsewhere - to Perth or Brisbane - instead?
