JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS - WESTS TIGERS

The well documented war in 1997 between Super League (News.Ltd) and the Australian Rugby League (ARL) resulted in a compromise that by the year 2000, the National Rugby League (NRL) competition would be contested by only 14 teams.

With the Wests Magpies struggling on field in the NRL competition, it was decided by the club in the middle of 1999 that to survive the cull they would be required to merge their senior team with another club's team. After initial talks with the Canterbury Bulldogs failed an agreement was reached with the Balmain Tigers.

The Wests Tigers were created and first competed in the year 2000 competition. The club also merged its playing colours from the two joint venture partners. Black (Wests and Balmain), White (Wests) and Orange (Balmain). The team is represented by a new Tiger logo however the club wears its heart on its sleeve, as it is here that the Magpie logo is permanently placed.

The Wests Tigers split their home games between the two original clubs home grounds of Campbelltown Sports Stadium (Wests) and Leichhardt Oval (Balmain).

Even though the Wests Tigers represent the club at the highest level, it is important to remember the Wests Magpies continue to provide a "Pathway to Success" for local players.

Both Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers continue to be represented in the NSWRL competition as stand alone entires with both clubs fielding NSW State Cup (Reserve Grade), SG Ball (U18's) and Harold Matthews (U16's) teams. This arrangement nurtures the local talent from both areas and provides Wests Tigers with a greater choice of quality players.

2005 Premiers

After many years of just missing the semi-finals the Wests Tigers stunned the Rugby League world by winning the 2005 Grand Final at a sold out Telstra Stadium (Stadium Australia). The 30-16 win over the North Queensland Cowboys capped off a year in which the Wests Tigers entertained fans with their attractive style of football. The year also saw the ground record for Campbelltown Sports Stadium smashed with a massive crowd of 20,527 turning up to cheer on their local NRL team.

2008 National Youth Competition

In 2008 every team in the National Rugby League competition is required to field an Under 20's development side in a new National Youth Competition. Wests Tigers will field an Under 20's team replacing both Balmain Tigers and Wests Magpies Jersey Flegg team. The players for this team will be sourced from both joint venture clubs and from other regions.

For more information on the Wests Tigers visit their website: www.weststigers.com.au