Furious Wests Tigers fans can organize a WALKOUT during the Eels game as they protest the top of the basement dwellers – here’s why supporters were able to turn their backs on their team in the 11th minute
- Some Tigers fans might walk away from Eel’s clash
- Fed up supporters want club culture to change
- Tim Sheens’ men have yet to win an NRL match in 2023
Fed-up Wests Tigers fans could hold a protest rally at Stadium Australia during the Parramatta clash on Monday as they seek changes in the club’s management.
More than 250 supporters have joined the Wests Tigers Action Group’s Facebook page and intend to make their voices heard.
A massive strike at the venue has reportedly been discussed – and the Action Group may also literally turn their backs on their struggling team in the 11th minute.
The proposed stunt would symbolize the number of consecutive years the joint venture outfit has missed out on the NRL top eight.
“We’ve been bad in terms of results for over a decade and nothing seems to be changing,” said group manager Clint Schmeider.
Tigers fans (pictured at Leichhardt Oval last month) have had enough of their team’s shortcomings and could stage a high-profile protest on Monday to send a message that change is needed
Under-fire Tigers halfback Luke Brooks made his NRL debut in 2013 – and has yet to play football finals in his career
“The fans have had enough… they’re tired of seeing us lose and I really can’t blame them.”
Schmeider said Wide world of sports the likely protest isn’t against the playing group – it’s the people who run the club – like pressured CEO Justin Pascoe.
“They make bad decisions and we fans suffer,” he said.
“We’re not idiots, we’re just frustrated fans… there won’t be any riots or anything like that, we’ll just want to change the culture of the club.’
The development comes as the Tigers took a beating on social media after eagle-eyed fans claimed to have noticed a major flaw with their ANZAC Day jersey.
The NRL fighters – who have lost their first five games of the 2023 season – premiered their special jersey ahead of this month’s ANZAC round, which features an image of two soldiers running away from a helicopter.
However, the photo in question appears to be of US soldiers taken during a desert storm, with a Twitter user discovering that the helicopter pictured is an MH-60 – used by the US military.
“Why are the soldiers on it American?” one fan asked.
Wests have taken a beating from their fans on social media for making a shocking mistake with their 2023 ANZAC jerseys (pictured)
The NRL club appeared to have put an image of US soldiers on their 2023 ANZAC Day jersey instead of going with Aussie diggers (pictured)
Long-suffering Tigers fans took to Twitter to blast the club over the apparent confusion
Another said, ‘Why do we even bother. If it turns out we’re putting soldiers on an ANZAC jersey who aren’t even Australian (or even NZ) then I’m actually fine with that.’
‘This can not be?’ said a third fan. “Don’t let this fester, we’re a laughingstock from the front boardroom to the locker room, give us long-suffering fans the opportunity to defend this one.”
The embattled club later released a statement denying any link to the US military with their ANZAC jerseys.
‘Wests Tigers have worked with Holsworthy Army Barracks who have seen and approved all assurances regarding the release of this jersey.
“The soldiers on the jersey simply depict the modern day soldier serving in a desert environment.
“The image in question, a stock photo, was purchased under license by our official clothing partner.
‘The final design has been approved by NRL Licensing.
The military camo pattern above the chevron on the jersey is an authentic replica of Australian Army camo that has been digitized and rendered in grayscale.
‘Both the Australian and New Zealand flags are represented on the shoulders of the jersey, again in honor of our ANZACs.
“The release of this jersey comes three weeks after our Anzac Round clash against the Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Round 8.”