SAD NEWS: “How disappointing is that?”: A weird string of rejections followed by Tigers greats being “invited by Parra.”
Tigers greats Steve Roach and Benny Elias have unexpectedly disclosed that they have never received an invitation as special guests to an NRL game from club powerbrokers.
Instead, the two will be present for the Tigers’ yearly Easter Monday game against the Eels, to which they have been invited to CommBank Stadium by Parramatta officials.
The astonishing assertion is made as Leichhardt Oval, the Tigers’ spiritual home, faces uncertain future due to its facilities’ noncompliance with NRL regulations.
Together, Roach and Elias have played in 420 games for the Balmain Tigers, which after the 1999 NRL season amalgamated with the Western Suburbs Magpies.
Despite years of service during which both players were selected to represent their state and nation at the representative level, they have still not been invited back as guests to the club.
Can I tell you the truth in all honesty, we are going on behalf of Parramatta? Roach stated, “I don’t care what people think about this,” on NRL360 on Wednesday night.
We shed blood on Leichhardt Oval for an extended period, and I’m attempting to address the Magpies as well. The Magpies and the Balmain Tigers each had a 100-year history.
“They’ve attempted to ignore 200 years of history by claiming that this is a new club. Nothing has invited us to anything.
“I apologize for lying; we were invited when they were looking to generate funds for the paths. Now, Parramatta has invited us this week.
Roach further disclosed that, despite not receiving a response from merging club officials, he had earlier received an invitation to see the Tigers play the Knights from Newcastle officials.
When the Tigers invited some of the club’s legends to Leichhardt Oval, NRL360 co-host Paul Kent continued to say he’d never seen them show up.
Legends like Noel Kelly, Wayne Pearce, Tommy Raudonikis, and Paul Sironen, he said, had all been passed over by merging club executives.
How depressing is that?This is a team that struggles to remain a single entity even after 25 years and doesn’t want to acknowledge the players from before the merger, according to Kent.
In many respects, they are still divided into Balmain and the Western Suburbs. What about the fact that you are Parramatta’s guests and are seeing the Wests play them this week?
“I think it’s amazing that you guys are going, and it took Parramatta to invite you; this is the first time you’re going as special guests, and another club invited you.”
The issue, according to Roach, is that while we want to feel a part of it, we don’t.
Shane Richardson, the CEO of the Tigers, appealed to the NSW Government in the meanwhile, requesting that money be set aside to preserve Leichhardt Oval.
In the process, he provoked a stadium war with the Panthers by demanding that they give up 10% of their intended $309 million renovation to the defending champions.
However, on Tuesday, NSW Premier Chris Minns shot off any chance of funding, saying, “I don’t have spare money to pump into Leichhardt Oval.”
If Leichhardt Oval is not renovated, the Tigers may have to leave the historic stadium because of inadequate restroom amenities and change rooms, among other problems.
But even though Elias and Roach weren’t allowed to attend games, they both wanted the iconic field to stay in the NRL.
“We had our first very convincing win there last week, and Leichhardt Oval played a big part in that,” Elias stated after the game.
“For rugby league fans, watching the Tigers play from a hill is practically an experience that should be on their bucket list.”
Let’s do it up, honestly, before we start talking about getting rid of it. Is there another sporting venue with a superior oval? There isn’t, in my opinion,” remarked Roach.
We all know that it’s not ideal right now, so we’re not going to claim it is. But kindly don’t eliminate such a ground.
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