Former greats joined players, officials and passionate supporters in celebrating the centenary of the Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club on Wednesday, January 23.

On January 23, 1908, Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club was formed at a meeting at BalmainTown Hall. The Tigers went on to become one of the greatest rugby league clubs, winning 11 first grade premierships – the last in 1969.

At NRL level, Balmain played its last premiership match on August 14, 1999, after 92 seasons in the competition. The Tigers then joined fellow foundation club, Western

Suburbs Magpies, to form the Wests Tigers. A Wests Tigers premiership followed in 2005.

In what Balmain Tigers CEO Tim Camiller described as “the best party in 100 years’’, hundreds of fans, young and old, celebrated the achievements of the Tigers and shared memories about one of the game’s foundation clubs.

The official ceremony saw an unveiling of the NRL Centenary Plaque, the launch of the Tigers’ Centenary Medals and the cutting of a huge 100^th Birthday Cake.  2SM’s Talkin Sport team interviewed past and present Tigers players during its live broadcast from the club.

Former Balmain greats Keith Barnes, Harry Bath, Bob Boland, Garry Leo, Dave Bolton, Trevor Ryan, GaryBridge, Neil Whittaker, Kerry Hemsley, Wayne Pearce, Paul Sironen and Steve Roach were just some of the former stars who mingled amongst the crowd.

Current Wests Tigers players Robbie Farah, Dene Halatau, Chris Heighington, Bronson Harrison, Ben Te'o, and Luke Harlen were also on hand for the occasion.

The highlight of the night was the cutting of the birthday cake by Balmain legends Keith Barnes and Wayne Pearce followed by a loud and proud rendition of the Tigers theme song accompanied by plenty of cheers.