LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a fiery display reminiscent of a hard-fought match on the rugby league field, Wests Tigers greats Benny Elias and Steve Roach have unleashed a verbal barrage on their former club.
The two legends claim they have been sidelined by the Wests Tigers, forced to rely on invites from rival clubs just to attend games as official guests.
As the debate heats up over the future of the iconic Leichhardt Oval - a battleground where Roach and Elias shed blood for Balmain during the glory days of the 80s and 90s - the duo have spoken out about the strained relationship between some old Tigers legends and the modern joint venture.
On the set of NRL360, Roach didn't hold back, revealing that he has never received a single official invite to a club function, apart from a juniors fundraiser many years ago.
He alleges that other club legends like Wayne Pearce and Garry Jack have faced similar snubs.
"We shed blood on Leichhardt Oval for years, mate.
And I'm not just talking about the Balmain side of things, but the Magpies too.
There's a century of history between those two clubs," Roach lamented.
"They're trying to brush aside 200 years of heritage and act like we're just some old relics.
It's disgraceful."
"In all honesty, the only time we get invited is when they need to raise money for their pathways program.
And now, would you believe it, we've been invited by Parramatta.
The Eels, mate," Roach added incredulously.
The frustration and disappointment in Elias and Roach's voices echo the sentiments of many Tigers fans who feel that the club has forgotten its roots in its quest for a new identity.
Time will tell whether this rift can be healed or if the divide between past and present will continue to widen like the gap between two burly forwards in a scrum.