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 theThis 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.
“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. “It’s just farcical. I also can’t see the ARL Commission and Peter V’landys allowing this to happen.”
Wests Tigers have collected three straight wooden spoons during a troubled period for the joint venture.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.
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, and telling another she was in the wrong corporate box at a game.
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.