Historic Balmain Tigers in danger of folding

With the Balmain Leagues Club (BLC) being officially placed into voluntary administration as of last Friday, there are fears that historic rugby league club Balmain Tigers may be forced to fold.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, BLC’s financial predicament results from its previous plans to redevelop its Leagues Club site in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle.

New owners that Heworth Construction Group had already lent BLC $300,000 and according to Balmain reneged on a commitment to provide a further $300,000 in urgent assistance.

Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club Chairman Dr Leslie Glen said the club had been left “high and dry” after entering into voluntary administration at 2pm on Friday.

The BLC, established in 1957, is the only significant source of income for the rugby league club, although there are hopes junior programs - including SG Ball and Harold Matthews - won’t be affected in the immediate future.

Balmain already had only a tenuous hold of their 25% share in the Wests Tigers licence. The 110 year old club must repay a five-year, $2.5 million loan to the NRL in November 2021, although the figure will come to well over $3 million once interest is added.

If it can’t pay back the money, the NRL has the option of putting Balmain’s share on the market, which the Sydney Morning Herald reports is likely to be acquired by Wests Ashfield. The hopes of paying back the loan were already extremely slim and now Balmain must launch a fundraiser to immediately raise the $500,000 required to continue its operations.

The BLC clubs at Five Dock and Sydney Markets are currently operating but could be forced to shut down and it remains to be seen if the rugby league club will also be made to go into administration. That could signal the end for a proud foundation club that has battled valiantly for survival over the past decade.

Dr Glen advised “we had no option but to go into VA.

“It was an awful moment to tell our staff members that this decision had been made.

“There would be an enormous disappointment throughout the community but the only practical response is to give us much support to the foundation club so that we can get through our immediate difficulties and remain a part of the NRL.”

Image: Balmain Tigers playing at their historic Leichhardt  Oval in happier times.