Danny Stapleton, the chairman of Balmain, has refuted rumors that the team wants to break away from the Wests Tigers.
Following Balmain director Garry Leo’s admission to the Sydney Morning Herald that he was trying to persuade other directors to sever their connections with Wests, Stapleton made his statement to the Daily Telegraph.
According to the report, Balmain directors were scheduled to cast a vote on dissolving their association following disagreements with the Holman Barnes Group (HBG), the club’s majority owner.
HBG own a 90 per cent share of the Wests Tigers with Balmain owning the other 10 per cent.
Stapleton, who represents Balmain on the Tigers board, said he had contacted the other Balmain directors adding Balmain was committed to the Wests Tigers.
“I have spoken to my board,” Stapleton told The Daily Telegraph.
“Balmain is fully supportive of the joint venture with the Holman Barnes Group, the Wests Magpies group and more importantly Wests Tigers.
“We want nothing but sustained success for Wests Tigers and we have a wonderful working relationship with Holman Barnes.
“I have spoken to every single board member and every board member has told me it is not true. We are solid as a rock.”
Leo said on Thursday Balmain were set to depart the joint venture that was formed in 1999.
“I really believe the time has come for us to step aside and resurrect the Balmain Tigers,” Leo told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We’ve got more of a following than the Wests side of the merger. To be honest, we 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.
“I don’t think the NRL would continue to 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.”
Tigers legend Benny Elias rubbished Leo’s comments and called for his sacking.
“Leo is delirious,” Elias said. “They are absolutely farcical comments.
“It’s a joke. There is no way in the world Balmain will separate from Wests Tigers. No way. It won’t happen in this century.
“The Balmain board should hold an emergency board meeting and sack Leo, effective immediately.
“Wests Tigers have a licence with the NRL. Balmain is a big part of Wests Tigers, just as Western Suburbs are. We are partners and will continue being partners.
“It has taken 25 years for Balmain and Wests to marry and it will go on for an eternity. We have built our brand over those 25 years.
“That relationship is as strong as it’s ever been. Splitting with Wests Tigers is totally unrealistic.”
Leo’s call comes ahead of the expiration of the current licensing agreement between the NRL and clubs.
He stated he’d rather have Balmain end up in the NSW Cup than be affiliated with Wests.
