‘Hasn’t worked’: Balmain’s bombshell plot to blow up Wests Tigers merger

Balmain, one half of the Wests Tigers joint venture, is reportedly plotting a bombshell move to become a stand alone NRL club again.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 22: General view during the round 25 NRL match between Wests Tigers and Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval on August 22, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Balmain, one half of the Wests Tigers joint venture, is aiming to remove itself from the fold in a bold bid to become a stand alone NRL club.

According to a report from the Sydney Morning Herald, Balmain directors are set to call a crisis meeting to remove the club for its joint venture with Western Suburbs over frustrations and concerns relating to decisions made by the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) - majority owner of the Wests Tigers.

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Garry Leo, Balmain director, told the SMH he was fighting for the club’s board to endorse a split from Western Suburbs that would threaten the existence of the Wests Tigers - who have been in the NRL for the past 25 years.

“I really believe the time has come for us to step aside and resurrect the Balmain Tigers,” he said.

The Tigers are tearing themselves apart. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Leo explained the club has a greater following than the Wests side of the venture, before adding Balmain have “lost faith in them.”

“We’re getting Leichhardt Oval upgraded and we could play there every second week. If we can find the right backers, we want a shot at returning to the NRL,” he said.

In an ominous warning of fans of the Tigers, who can’t seem to catch a break in recent years, Leo doesn’t believe the NRL would “allow the Wests Tigers to operate with the Tigers name without any involvement from Balmain.”

“I really do believe the NRL competition needs a Tigers team. And not the Wests Tigers.”

The current licensing agreement between the NRL and its clubs expires at the end of the season, with Balmain believing the time’s right to submit a proposal that would force the NRL’s hand in picking one of the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs, if the NRL team can’t keep the Tigers name without Balmain’s involvement.

The Balmain Tigers last made the finals in 1989, before merging with Western Suburbs in 2000.

As it stands, Balmain owns 10 per cent of the Wests Tigers, having lost an additional 15 per cent of its share in 2019 to HBG after the latter paid Balmain’s $3.2 million debt to the NRL.

Holman Barnes Group own the remaining 90 per cent of the Tigers - with 30 per cent of that portion owned by the Western Suburbs Magpies.

According to the SMH’s report, Balmain have already begun prospecting with prominent billionaire Balmain fans - including Meriton managing director Harry Triguboff and automotive businessman Neville Crichton - about potentially backing a Balmain NRL license.

Leo believes with the right backers Balmain could provide the NRL with a proposal to stand alone.

“The joint venture hasn’t worked. I’d rather risk ending up in NSW Cup than continuing on with the Wests Tigers,” he said.

Originally published as ‘Hasn’t worked’: Balmain’s bombshell plot to blow up Wests Tigers merger