Then & Now..... how things have changed

Highlighting a few things to show how much has changed since the joint venture started in 2000.Its seems wests identity within the wests tigers brand is slowly diminishing almost deliberate in some cases, to the point the wests tigers dont want to co-exist with the magpie "brand" simply forge ahead under the "tigers" brand. The magpies are now looking at having its senior team culled for good in favour for a wests tigers branded team in nsw cup.How long will it be before the magpie jnr reps become a victim of " branding" ???  Many wests supporters have embraced the joint venture since its inception but  always had some comfort knowing they still had their team to support even if it was at nsw cup level . The wests tigers board now believe its time to  "move forward" and embrace the joint venture , but many believe wests tigers are simply an extension of Balmain , evident in that they arent fighting for recognition within the joint venture nor are they concerned that their club will be culled at nsw level also.Is it any wonder wests supporters have had enough.

Then: A predominately black or a predominately orange jumper reflecting both wests & balmains colours & identity

 

Now: The white belly jumper and the eye of the tiger jumpers have no true reflection on wests heritage

 

Then: Two senior feeder teams with double the depth and fringe players sent to Balmain & wests:

Now: Balmain now merged with ryde eastwood who are a 0% joint venture partner receive all of wests tigers fringe senior players , wests magpies receive none. This year we have seen a Balmain side laced with Magpie players make the nsw cup grand final, whilst the Magpies took a hiding to get the wooden spoon.The Magpies were given no financial, logistic or coaching support by the Wests Tigers and Balmain was , yet the magpies were referred to as the "other" feeder team for the wests tigers in a recent report by stephen humphreys ???

Then: Had an increased presence in the area & trained often in the macarthur area

Now: Since 2004 relocated operations to concord.A permanent move back to campbelltown doesnt seem feasible due to the money already invested at the concord facility and Developement Applications already in council to further improve their training base. The geographical divide wasnt an issue previously because the wests tigers had two feeder teams, now culling it to one and having football operations in the one place has caused real headaches for "pathways". So an increased presence in this area is not going to happen unless the wests tigers cut their losses at concord and build the "proposed" centre of excellence at campbelltown,(their words not ours) somehow i cant see that happening.

Then: Wests had a jersey flegg team.

Now: Due to competition restructure in 2008 lost another representative team from the area to be based at concord.

Then: Magpie was on the shoulder of the players sleeve and legible

 

Now: Smaller magpie on the cuff of the players sleeve and barely legible

 

 

Then: 6 games at Campbelltown stadium

Now: Campbelltown Stadium had its NRL games reduced from six games to three in 2005 when Wests Tigers claimed that the corporate facilities were inadequate and that it cost too much to hire extra lighting and a big screen television.
The ground has since then had over $8 million spent on it from Government grants to meet Wests Tigers requirements.

In 2012 Wests Tigers played just four NRL home games at Campbelltown Stadium whilst it played eight games in the inner city at Leichhardt Oval , and the Sydney Football Stadium.