Balmain legend Ben Elias says 100,000 fans will hit the streets in protest, as South Sydney supporters did at the turn of the century, if the club’s majority owner attempts to replace the Wests Tigers joint venture with Wests Magpies.
This masthead on Friday reported on the latest drama playing out behind the scenes at the Holman Barnes Group, the majority owner of Wests Tigers, and how at least one director held grave fears for the future of the Tigers-Magpies merger.
Former HBG chairman-turned-director Tony Andreacchio, one of three members currently suspended, wrote to several members via text message: “Their [HBG] misguided ambition is to see the Western Suburbs Magpies replace the Wests Tigers in the NRL competition.”
Elias was stunned talk of a divorce continued to surface after nearly 25 years of marriage between Balmain and Wests, rating the chances of Wests Magpies returning to the NRL about as good as “the Balmain Tigers coming back”.
“And the suggestion that this group now wants the return of the Wests Magpies instead of the continuation of the Wests Tigers as an NRL entity is simply outrageous,” Elias said. “It demonstrates a complete disrespect to our passionate fans, our players and the NRL.
“If this mob wants the Wests Magpies to return, and that is their brief for the future, you can expect 100,000 fans to take to the streets and protest, just like South Sydney fans did when their team was kicked out of the competition [in 1999].
Jarome Luai meets Tigers fans on Saturday.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“The article in the Herald explained that the HBG is controlled by 18 debenture holders. In turn, the HBG controls the Wests Tigers.
“The debenture system at the HBG is archaic. It lacks both democracy and lacks merit. It means that our great fans and supporters have no voice with respect to the running of our great club. The debenture system must be scrapped.
“Our great club deserves the best possible stewardship. Unfortunately, we are a far cry from that. And regrettably, it impacts our on-field performance.
“It’s just farcical. I also can’t see the ARL Commission and [chairman] Peter V’landys allowing this to happen.”
Fellow Balmain legend Garry Jack, said: “We’re in this together, and if you look back through history, Wests weren’t that strong at the turn of the century. They were on their knees. We were a stronger club at the time, but we formed an allegiance and became the Wests Tigers. They should not forget the past. I’m offended when I hear talk of a push to have the Wests Magpies replace Wests Tigers.”
The HBG board is separate to the Wests Tigers board, but any decisions will have a direct impact on the NRL club.
Wests Tigers have collected three straight wooden spoons during a troubled period for the joint venture.Credit: NRL Photos
The Tigers and the other 16 clubs recently signed licence agreements with the NRL, which will expire in 2034. Even if Wests Magpies wanted to return, they would first need to convince the ARLC why they should revoke the Wests Tigers licence.
HBG chair Julie Romero could not be contacted on Friday, but said via a prepared statement on Saturday: “The Holman Barnes Group slogan is ‘be true to the review’, and we mean it. Our commitment is to the West Tigers and ensuring the Wests Tigers is positioned for success. Seeing reports suggesting anything other than our total commitment to the club is disappointing.
“We will not be moving away from Wests Tigers and to claim that is fiction. The group is disappointed to see damaging inaccuracies reported.”
In the same statement, it said the HBG’s formal investigation into the alleged misconduct of three individuals who held directorships on the boards, including Andreacchio, Dave Gilbert and Rick Wayde, was almost complete. The investigation was conducted by a third party. Included in some of the “trivial claims” levelled against the trio was that an official’s wife had been called “darl”, and telling another she was in the wrong corporate box at a game.
Andreacchio would not comment on Friday about the text message he had sent, but did say: “All I will say is that my only concern is the best interests of the Wests Tigers. Some on the board couldn’t cope with losing their blazers as part of the review. If I was a passionate Wests Tigers fan, of which I am, I would be very worried about the future of the merger.”
Jarome Luai trains with the Tigers in front of loyal fans on Saturday.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Luai last man standing at fan day
Jarome Luai met Wests Tigers fans for the first time on Saturday, and stood in the blazing sun for 90 minutes posing for every photo and signing every autograph.
Luai was even gifted a gold necklace with a tiger, and wore it around his neck as he was the last one standing at Concord Oval, at least 30 minutes after his teammates had finished their commitments.
There is a lot of excitement in Tiger Town because of the arrival of four-time Penrith premiership winner Luai, as well as Terrell May, Sunia Turuva, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird, not to mention the untapped potential of young guns Jahream Bula, Lachie Galvin, Fonua Pole and Samuela Fainu.
Luai was not due to report for Tigers training until the new year because of his international commitments with Samoa, but began work at his new club this week. The fans showed their appreciation, with the loudest roar coming when he stepped past a couple of defenders and almost scored a try during a training drill, only to be held up by Tallyn Da Silva.
Front-rower May, who thought Trent Robinson was “prank calling him” when the Sydney Roosters coach told him he was free to leave the club despite having two more years to run on his deal, refused to discuss Robinson or his former club.
“I don’t want to comment about where I was previously, sorry,” he said.
“I just feel like I’m a Tiger now, and I’m in the present. I don’t want to talk about the past any more, and whatever was said, was said. Let’s move on from that.”
As for joining his Samoan Test teammate Luai in Tigers colours, May said: “I grew up with ‘Romy’; I’ve known him since I was like six years old. A lot of people have speculated that I came here because of him. He was a little bit in my ear, but I came because I wanted to come.
“He’s blossomed heaps. I remember him always being immature and just that guy that mocks everyone. But he’s really taken on his role of leadership. It’s surprising to see because I’ve known him as that mocking, young, immature dude. It’s good to see him like this now, and hopefully he can prove to all the young boys.”