One of Balmain’s greatest ever players has taken a shot at the Wests Tigers for wearing their black home jerseys at Leichhardt Oval, rather than the traditional orange ‘Balmain’ strip.
Highlighting the tensions that continue to simmer beneath the surface of the joint-venture club, Garry Jack shared his displeasure on X during the Round 20 clash with the Gold Coast Titans.
“Call me a dinasaur [sic], but surely when you play at Leichhardt Oval, the traditional home of the Tigers, you could at least wear the orange strip,” Jack posted.
“But what would I know.”
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An Australian and NSW fullback, Jack played 244 games for the Balmain Tigers between 1982-1995, second on the all-time list behind only forward Paul Sirronen (249).
Fair to say, reactions to 64-year-old Jack’s comments have been divided.
“Yes 100 per cent mate, then again, the way these guys are playing they don’t deserve to wear it,” commented one frustrated fan in reply to Jack’s lament.
“Hey Garry your [sic] so right it’s incredible that the famous Balmain strip has literally disappeared....one of the best,” added another.
‘People need to let go’
But there were many more fans who suggested it was long since time for the inner west club to move on from such pettiness and leave the past behind.
Below are just some of the replies.
“This is why there is still disharmony, with comments like this, it’s the Wests Tigers not Balmain and not Magpies so you wear your home strip at a home game, regardless of the Balmain history at Leichhardt—it has been the Wests Tigers home ground for 25 years now.”
“Garry, you were a great Balmain Tiger, comments like this keep the club from ever finding peace in who they now are, it’s not Balmain anymore, people need to let go.”
“You’re a dinosaur, it’s been 25 years, move on, we are the Wests Tigers.”
“They could wear Souths colours at Leichhardt for all I care as long as they’re winning.”
Back in Round 8, the Wests Tigers indeed wore their orange jerseys when hosting the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Leichhardt Oval.
Call me a dinasaur, but surely when you play at Leichhardt Oval, the traditional home of the Tigers, you could at least wear the orange strip. But what would I know #nrltigerstitans @WestsTigers
— Garry Jack (@jimmyjack244) July 20, 2025