RIGHTLY or wrongly, Wests Entertainment Group (WEG) has made a sensational decision that could spell the final whistle for Group 4.
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The future of the competition – which has a decades-long history with Tamworth and at one time was the very sport that both dominated and characterised the city – has been plagued with controversy since an ugly grand-final debacle.
The WEG board resolved on Wednesday night to pull all sponsorship, amounting to more than $100,000, since the September 11 grand final game was marred by send-offs for unruly behaviour.
Players, supporters and officials have been charged with contrary conduct, with one player already handed a 20-year ban.
Since the damning spectacle unfolded in front of families, WEG has been inundated with complaints and questions over the action it would take to stamp out such behaviour.
In a bold vote with their feet, WEG made the decision to distance themselves from the trouble-plagued code.
And you can see why.
To be seen associated with unruly and ugly behaviour is, bluntly, bad for business.
The board does not want to be seen as supporting the fractious behaviour or choosing sides.
WEG should be applauded in taking firm action on the behaviour, given a similar spectacle occurred just two years ago, but is this decision too harsh?
Many certainly think so, with WEG in the firing line of criticism for the decision which could be the curtain-closer on Group 4.
WEG were the major and naming sponsors of the Group 4 competition, as well as major sponsors and hosts of the pre-season Wests knock-out.
Without financial sport, can the sport survive?
Critics across the city have hinted that WEG wanted out of sponsorship and that this was the perfect opportunity. Questions have also been fired over why it would would punish an entire code based on the actions of a minority. Social media has erupted with reactions over the decision – some thanking WEG for stamping out bad eggs in the once family-friendly sport, others fuming and fearful it could be the beginning of the end. As the fallout continues with a judiciary meeting and police investigations, the future of the sport in the city hangs in the hands of those who dish out the money. It’s a sad reality the game has come to that.