Outspoken Western Suburbs legend Tommy Raudonikis has attacked the Tigers' decision to relocate half their home games to Sydney's east, insisting it's a slap in the face to club's proud traditions.
Unleashing one of his predictable tirades in Sydney's Daily Telegraph, Raudonikis said the move from ANZ Stadium to the Sydney Football Stadium will just make life tougher for the 'battlers'.
"They (the NRL and Wests Tigers) have got to start looking after the battler," Raudonikis told News Limited.
"They should be playing these home games in the suburbs. Homebush wasn't a rugby league stadium so they shouldn't play there either.
"It will be hard for the fans in the western suburbs to get to the SFS."
Raudonikis called for all Tigers' home games to be played at either Campbelltown Stadium or Leichhardt Oval, despite the obvious financial advantage of playing games at the SFS.
"We've gone from long necks of KB to bloody lattes," he raved.
"Dallas Donnelly (former Wests prop) would turn in his grave - the fans used to drink long necks of KB on the Lidcombe Oval hill and now they will have to sit in 'silvertail' land sipping lattes.”
But incoming Tigers boss Scott Longmuir says the numbers add up.
"Our club has a geographically broad brand name," he told News Limited.
"We have done assessments on this. The distance and travel time from Campbelltown isn't that far or that long. I think the fans will (travel), for sure.
"All successful teams from around the world have the strongest markets and best stadiums."
Current chief executive Steve Noyce says the fans have already shown their support.
"The response has been very positive - the players and coaching staff are also right behind the shift," Noyce told News Limited.
