Wests Tigers have been left frustrated by the NSW Governments decision to hand funding to revitalise Netsrata Jubilee Oval as well as plans to renew venues for both Manly and Penrith, with the Tigers missing out on a piece of the pie, per The Sydney Morning Herald.
Kogarah is in line for a $3 million upgrade after the government abandoned an $800 million plan to redevelop ANZ Stadium, with Brookvale and Penrith set to gain from the change of heart as the league looks to gain funds for several "mini Bankwest Stadiums".
While the Dragons, Panthers and Sea Eagles are all set to gain major facelifts and new suburban grounds, Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has expressed his disappointment that Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Sports Stadium won't receive any upgrades from the government.
“You can’t expand or grow the game unless you look after your own backyard,” Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis said.
“And the backyard of the NRL is traditionally suburban Sydney, even though it has expanded successfully to Melbourne and Queensland. But you can’t forget its roots.
“I don’t think any stadia policy dealing with the suburbs could overlook Liverpool, Leichhardt or Campbelltown.
“You couldn’t possibly put into place any sort of proposal that wouldn’t include one of those locations.
“I don’t need to urge the government because it would be so obvious that it wouldn’t need stating. It would be impossible to develop a football stadium in the suburbs for the purpose of promoting the game without seriously considering Campbelltown or Liverpool or Leichhardt.
“It would be a huge oversight if they ignored the traditional heartland of the south-west of Sydney.”
Parramatta have flourished since their arrival to Bankwest Stadium, with the Tigers keen more a rise up the league as their finals drought continues.
Hello? Wests Tigers have made plans to use BankWest Stadium for some home games again this year, so I don’t understand what Lee Hagipantelis is bleating about. Not every NRL club will have their own mega-stadium and at this stage the Tigers have 3 grounds to choose from. Look at Cronulla, who are planning to build their own mega-stadium, and don’t want to use a revamped Jubilee Oval. If anything, it makes more sense to build a new stadium in Liverpool, which could also be used by the Bulldogs. I don’t see any favouritism in the state government’s decisions and in my opinion the Tigers don’t really have anything to complain about.
Who are the West’s Tigers anyway?
They are a defunct Western Suburbs Magpies club, combined with the defunct Balmain Tigers.
They don’t know if their home ground is at Balmain, Parramatta, Campbelltown? Plus, throw in Liverpool now evidently.
They placed themselves further west than they were before. Taking area from Parramatta, Penrith.
Most of their up & coming star players are players that come from the Penrith & Parramatta juniors . Developed by those clubs. That’s if they don’t just buy first graders , or those ready for first grade from those clubs. Or from other clubs.
Where is their home ground & exactly what value are they?