Save Our Sides Protest Rally - Campbelltown

[slide rule]

The Sharks are my main priority but I do care about the direction of the game.

I'm genuinely interested in this topic and I think it's relevant to the development of the game as well as the preserving of traditions.

I don't see what the big problem is. This is a general Rugby League forum as well. Why not just ignore this thread? Some of us do find this interesting.

I think it's terrible that the game is neglecting such a significant region.

IMO the West Tigers should be playing nearly all of their games in Campbelltown.

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

Maybe do something about it. Pention the wests league club. Do something, besides posting things about it, sharks ain't that good off ATM, our CEO (what ever damien is) is doing a damn good job ( man needs a medal). Most of us understand where you are at, however we are more worried about OUR team staying in the comp.

Suggestion, maybe do a south Sydney thing, and do the court thing. Or put more pressure of the west tigers administration. One thing I know, siting and talking about it ain't going to a thing, action is the key.

This isn't a attack, but constructive critisming/ help

 

[josh11223344]

I don't mind him coming on here. I do care about other teams and wouldn't wish extinction on anyone (dragons wouldn't upset me though). Nothing pisses me off more than reading idiots comments on paper articles saying we should just be kicked out.

I'm pretty sure we were asking for all league fans to support the development weren't we?

 

[Gil]

We saw it with the Dragons/Steelers take over, less Steelers on the Jersey's
We saw what happened with the Sea Girls and the Bears
Now the Tigers are doing it to the Magpies.

It's the fans and players who will suffer from this, maybe they need to get some TV time to outline what is happening and get a response from the NRL.

What team/club will be next ?

It's tuff up hill battle, but I wish the Magpies fans and players all the best and hope they can achieve a positive result.

 

[Matty C of the Shire]

I don't know mean it as an attack, or anything. I do want teams to stay, however I was suggesting how they need more exposure. Wests need to be around

 

[galahs]

I definately didn't mean to offend anyone by coming here. I was just trying to inform people of the struggles we are having out our way.

I completely understand that the Sharks are also in a tough battle for survival.

If anything it shows that the game isn't in as great shape as it is often made out to be in.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

You are welcome here mate

 

[fitz]

You are welcome here mate

Agreed.

 

[WillyInBris]

You are welcome here mate

+1

 

[Card Shark]

I definately didn't mean to offend anyone by coming here. I was just trying to inform people of the struggles we are having out our way.

I completely understand that the Sharks are also in a tough battle for survival.

Your battle is different to our battle - we have more to lose (like, everything).

Nevertheless I feel for your situation & can't really understand why the joint venture doesn't embrace south-west more than inner-west. It don't make sense.

 

[Card Shark]

I definately didn't mean to offend anyone by coming here. I was just trying to inform people of the struggles we are having out our way.

I completely understand that the Sharks are also in a tough battle for survival.

Your battle is different to our battle - we have more to lose (like, everything).

Nevertheless I feel for your situation & can't really understand why the joint venture doesn't embrace south-west more than inner-west. It don't make sense.

 

[Blair]

I'd like to see a partneship with Sharks and Maggies. Grew up playing for Miranda Magpies so already have a soft spot.

And as someone else mentioned geographically it makes sense.

 

[galahs]

http://westsmagpies.blogspot.com/2012/01/joint-venture-statement-by-board.html#comment-form
[h=3]SOS - Save Our Sides - Press Release[/h]





SOS from Supporters of the Wests Magpies and Campbelltown- Liverpool District Rugby League to the NRL and Independent Commission:



SAVE RUGBY LEAGUE OUT HERE… WE NEED ACTION NOW!


Rugby League at all levels in the Liverpool, Campbelltown and greater Macarthur region is in an absolute shambles. We, the undersigned, have organized a protest rally and march for Sunday February 5th.


The march will start at Campbelltown City Council chambers, 10am sharp and proceed down Queen St. Campbelltown to Wests Leagues Club, Campbelltown. Here a petition will be presented to the Wests Junior League and Wests Leagues Club Campbelltown, outlining the many issues that have and are still ruining Rugby League in Campbelltown.


An on-line petition is also currently active at http://www.petitiononlineaustralia.com/petition/save-our-sides-rugby-league-protest-rally/277for people to voice and register their support for sweeping change throughout all levels of Rugby League in the Liverpool, Campbelltown and Macarthur area.




Speakers of note have been invited to the march, with the goals of the march to highlight the following alarming concerns:




· The decline of an unacceptably poorly managed junior league, inclusive of the total loss of semi- professional senior Rugby League in the region, and the fact that three senior clubs (Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Campbelltown Eagles and Macarthur Bulls) who dared seek semi- professional competition in CRL Group 6 were forced to play and train out of the area by the NSWRL on behalf of the Junior League.




· The Imminent Death of the Wests Magpies, foundation club of the NSWRL.




· The absent parent- the Concord Tigers, who use the Campbelltown- Liverpool area only for its juniors.




· The greater Rugby League fraternity of the region will also highlight the lack of amenities and infrastructure for junior Rugby League in the Campbelltown LGA, particularly in comparison to other districts and the very well catered other sports in the Campbelltown LGA.




· Solutions to all of these issues.


Posts, messages, views, expressions or opinions on this article DO NOT represent the official view of Western Suburbs Magpies District Football Club


Wests Magpies RIP 1908- 2012:


The great Western Suburbs Magpies DRLFC has been told that the 2012 season will be their last in existence. The Tigers aligned board of the Ashfield Leagues Club has informed the football club of this. There will be no Wests Magpies team in the NSW Cup as of 2013. There will be no Liverpool- Macarthur representative in this important Sydney wide competition for our region’s talented youth.


All junior development and control of the Magpies Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams has reverted to the far away distant, Concord based Wests Tigers.
Macarthur and Liverpool based kids, working full-time jobs, are now basically denied the opportunity to play Toyota Cup by the tyranny of distance, with the Tigers team being based at the distant and poorly public transport accessed Concord complex.


Ø We demand that the NSWRL re-affirm the status of the Western Suburbs Magpies as the District Club of Liverpool- Campbelltown.
Ø We DEMAND that the Liverpool, Campbelltown and Macarthur region retains its own NSW Cup, SG Ball and Harold Matthews representative sides as the Western Suburbs Magpies.
Ø We demand that Wests Leagues Ashfield re-affirm the status of the Western Suburbs Magpies DRLFC as their heritage.
Ø We demand that the Wests Tigers and Wests Leagues Campbelltown stop meddling in the affairs of the Western Suburbs Magpies DRLFC

​

The Western Suburbs District Junior League



There are way too many stories here to list- not teams lost, but of whole clubs lost, whole age groups, whole senior competitions, volunteers refused registration for speaking their mind, volunteers too intimidated to voice opinions, volunteers made examples of and given punitive 2-7 year suspensions for sending texts/ emails voicing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the competitions. One volunteer, Daniel Draper of the East Campbelltown Eagles, was banned for a conversation at a local pub.

http://macarthur-chronicle-camden.w...from-western-suburbs-district-junior-rugby-l/

http://macarthur-chronicle-campbell.../david-lucas-banned-for-18-months-over-texts/




The most telling is their common factor status in many bitter disputes against the NSWRL (refusing to affiliate), the WSDRLFC (refusing to affiliate amongst others), the CRL, CRL Group 6 and a number of its own clubs down the years.




Ø We demand that the Board of the NSWRL or the new Independent Commission complete a rigid and thorough examination as to why in 1991 this junior league had 20 clubs and in 2012 will be down to 12-13 clubs and why this junior league has lost 400 players senior players in the last two seasons. How can this be possible when the area has trebled in population? The Wests junior league should also be called to account on how it lost the operation of an entire 5 grade senior competition between 1991 and 1997.
Ø We demand that a thorough and rigid investigation of the ‘health’ of the unaffiliated Western Suburbs District Junior League (to the District Club and NSWRL) is conducted, and upon receipt of negative findings, is placed under the administrative control of the NSWRL and immediately re-affiliated to the WSDRLFC and NSWRL.


The separation of the Combined Wests Juniors/Group 6 Competition in 2011 has seen 3 senior clubs and over 400 local Wests senior Rugby League players (aged 16yo and older) make the move to play and train in the Group 6 area. These three clubs requested to be based to play/train in the Campbelltown area but were driven out of the area by the junior league to continue playing semi-professional Rugby League in the bordering CRL Group 6 competition. Campbelltown has been deprived of a high standard semi- professional Senior Rugby League competition since the original split from Group 6 back in 1983. The running of the senior Competition should be handed back to its rightful owner the Group 6 Senior Country Rugby League.
We DEMAND that CRL Group 6 be allowed to professionally run a Sunday Senior Competition for all clubs in the Campbelltown and Liverpool district.
We DEMAND that Rugby League clubs be allowed to play and train at a Home Ground of their own choosing.
http://www.macarthuradvertiser.com....roup-6-votes-to-accept-defectors/2000023.aspx
http://www.macarthuradvertiser.com....its-a-bloody-disgrace-says-henry/2181668.aspx
http://digitaledition.macarthurchro...spx?iid=48810&startpage=page0000006#folio=005

​

The Wests Tigers- the absent parent


Driven from Campbelltown to Concord lately? It’s a fair hike. There ain’t much in common between the two areas. One could be mistaken for thinking that the old inner-city guard put the old Balmain and the old Western Suburbs together to form a super Ashfield- Concord team.


What does Campbelltown get out of this ill-conceived arrangement? Four games against the out of town, low marquee event teams.


Wests Tigers do not have a presence in the schools of Liverpool, Campbelltown or Macarthur. Requests for player appearances fall on deaf ears from the Concord Tigers club. It’s a bit far from Concord.


Macarthur and Liverpool based juniors are now denied opportunity to play NSW Cup for a Campbelltown- Liverpool based club with the imminent death of the Magpies. Successful Macarthur juniors kept by the Tigers have to travel to the inner city and play for the Balmain Tigers NSW Cup team, making a mockery of the concept of a ‘local junior’. Four Campbelltown- Liverpool juniors took the field for the Wests Tigers in the Toyota Cup semi final against North Queensland. How is this providing opportunity for the youth of Liverpool- Macarthur?


-We DEMAND that the Wests Tigers establish a Campbelltown office.
-We DEMAND that the Wests Tigers at least relocate the training operations of their NYC Toyota Cup team and ‘Cubs Program’ to the Macarthur region.

​

Campbelltown Council and JRLC Amenities/ Infrastructure

Take a drive around Campbelltown and compare the different fields of the codes. Case closed.

Ask any junior league volunteer how hard it is to deal with employees at Campbelltown Council.




Problem solved with a new junior league administration and the return of semi- professional Rugby League.




Rugby League in the Liverpool, Campbelltown and Macarthur regions has been slowly dying since the loss of the Magpies to the NRL in 1999. We won’t be losing them as the District Club of the area. Enough is enough. It is time for the Wests Tigers to stop interfering in the Magpies and Rugby League throughout the Liverpool and Campbelltown regions. Go run the NRL team as you were charged to do.



After 20 years, change is far overdue in the ranks of the local Junior League. Retire them gracefully, give democratic power in the Junior League back to the volunteers and clubs, and install new blood at the helm.


At 10am on Sunday February 5th, Magpies supporters once again have to rally to save their club. Supporters of Rugby League in Campbelltown will rally also for long overdue change at Junior League level.


This is an invitation for you to join us.


Save or Sides Action Group,



Graeme Szynal
Western Suburbs Magpies Member 366
Mobile: 0407 929 124
Email: g.szynal@gmail.com


Trevor Williams
East Campbelltown Eagles Life Member

 

[fitz]

Galahs,

Rather than engage in a one-sided diatribe that unilaterally presents your perspective on the situation in this forum, may I suggest that you "market" your opinion in such a way (and engage in a dialogue) that would be considered beneficial to your average Sharks fan.

I am a long term supporter of grass roots footy (and the Maggies for that mater) but when you come across with a cut-and-paste polemic you're not doing your cause much favour. Case in point... you've got to ask the question "What's in it for me (them)?" for the stuff you've been posting.

Many here have eluded to the idea (as have I) that the Magpies might consider breaking their ties with the Tigers in order to to see a better outcome for your well-honoured and dignified Club.

It's a more than fair point to argue whether you're going to get better representation and support from the Sharks as opposed to the Tigers.

I have many contacts within the Illawarra inner-sanctum and I know for a fact that many of them are no longer prepared to play happy complicit partners in the future with the Dragons.

I would imagine the same might apply to the Magpies.

To put it bluntly, if you want your partner to treat you better, you're best served by having another potential partner show them that they're going to treat you better.

Make them do the work.

 

[Card Shark]

Couldn't ever understand why the Tigers & Magpies formed a joint venture, geographically it didn't make sense. I think the Tigers chose the Magpies over the Eels because they can boss them around, which is now apparent.

That distance seems to be the cause of the problems - it is driving the 2 entities apart (no pun intended).

 

[slide rule]

Looking back, Illawarra and Wests probably should have got it on. Although I'd imagine they'd be skint by now. Neither of them ever seemed to be financial. It'd be like two bankrupts getting hitched.

 

[Parko]

I'd like to see a partneship with Sharks and Maggies. Grew up playing for Miranda Magpies so already have a soft spot.

And as someone else mentioned geographically it makes sense.

I can't believe how many believe how many people on this forum are in favor of a sharks merger! I know I haven't been as active of a user recently as I have been in the past, but has there been a complete attitude shift or something?

We're not the southern sharks, we're not wests sharks, we're the cronulla sutherland sharks!

 

[Mark^Bastard]

It is almost a guaranteed fact that the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks will not be around in 100 years. It just can't work that way. Over time all of Australia will have NRL teams if the local population permits it. At this point Sydney will probably only have 4 or 5 teams, and when this happens there will only be one Southern team (in my opinion). South, North, City, Inner west and West.

I'm all for the Sharks staying the Sharks for as long as possible. However if they do act early before they are forced to merge, move or die later on they may be able to do it on their own terms.

If the Sharks could secure mergers with Illawarra and Wests right now we would be THE southern team in the future. I mean open a map and look at the geographic area we'd cover. Now think of the juniors in that area. We'd have a true national-class junior base to rival the Broncos.

I'm only pointing out the benefits. The negatives are obvious.

I believe in the future the NRL will be national/pacific in nature and the local Sydney competition will strengthen. I really hope when that happens all of the traditional NSWRL teams can be represented and that these suburban games attract healthy crowds of 5 to 10 thousand to their games.

The NRL teams would all play in big stadiums with crowds of 40k+. There will no longer be stadiums like Toyota, Brookvale etc for NRL.

 

[Mark^Bastard]

Besides, Wests would at least be well placed to threaten a de-merger with a merging with the Sharks so that they have bargaining chips.

From what I understand though this campaign isn't by the board/managers of Wests, it's more grass roots than that, so they don't really even have a say in it. I would suggest taking over control of Wests and removing the Tigers puppets would be the goal of this campaign. Has that been looked at?

 

[Mr Ryan]

I find it laughable that on one hand we have all these suggestions that we should merge with Wests, then on the other we have people bagging Balmain for basically making their merger a takeover.

Isn't this whole thing with Balamin about removing the Magpie from NSW Cup and not playing enough games at Campbelltown?

So what are people suggesting we do - become the Cronulla Magpies? Play most home games at Campbelltown?

Of course not.

All people are suggesting is that we adopt Campbelltown for their juniors, basically what Balmain are already doing.

If you wanna merge with Wests then you have offer them a better deal then what they already have - a 50/50 split.

I can't see that happening.