Balmain great Ben Elias has warned of a massive fan protest if reports of a push to replace the Wests Tigers with the Western Suburbs Magpies in the NRL prove true.
The controversy erupted after a leaked text from former Holman Barnes Group (HBG) chairman Tony Andreacchio suggested ambitions to dissolve the joint-venture club.
Elias, a legendary hooker who played 234 games for the Tigers, condemned the idea as disrespectful to fans and players, predicting 100,000 supporters would take to the streets in a demonstration akin to South Sydney’s historic protests in 1999.
He criticised HBG’s governance structure as undemocratic, urging reforms to ensure fans have a voice in the club’s future.
The Balmain side of the merger, which holds a 10% stake in the Wests Tigers, has been vocal in its opposition, with club legend Garry Jack also expressing outrage.
Jack reminded stakeholders that both clubs were struggling before their merger in 1999, emphasising the importance of unity and respect for history.
Meanwhile, HBG, which owns the remaining 90% of the Tigers, released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the joint-venture club and dismissing rumours of a Magpies resurgence as baseless. However, tensions remain high as the group investigates alleged misconduct by Andreacchio and two other board members, raising further uncertainty about the future of the embattled club.
