BY STAFF WRITERS

Just when you thought you had seen it all with the poor old Wests Tigers – Balmain director Garry Leo raised the stakes on Thursday night.

In the same week it was revealed chairman Barry O’Farrell is in a battle to keep his job amid claims the majority owners of Wests Tigers have failed to hire four new independent directors which was suggested by an external review in 2023 – Leo told The Sydney Morning Herald that the small Balmain faction of Wests Tigers wanted out.

“I really believe the time has come for us to step aside and resurrect the Balmain Tigers,” he said.

“We’ve got more of a following than the Wests side of the merger. To be honest, we have lost faith in them. We’re getting Leichhardt Oval upgraded and we could play there every second week. If we can find the right backers, we want a shot at returning to the NRL.

“I don’t think the NRL would continue to allow the Wests Tigers to operate with the Tigers name without any involvement from Balmain.

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“I really do believe the NRL competition needs a Tigers team. And not the Wests Tigers.”

It sent shockwaves through the Wests Tigers and rugby league community.

Balmain Tigers chairman Danny Stapleton – who is also on the board of Wests Tigers – was quick to shut down Leo.

“I have spoken to my board,” Stapleton told The Daily Telegraph.

“Balmain is fully supportive of the joint venture with the Holman Barnes Group, the Wests Magpies group and more importantly Wests Tigers.”

Stapleton’s stance was backed by Balmain legend Benny Elias who called the possibility of Balmain going it alone as “absolutely farcical”.