Late in 1997, the National Rugby League formed as part of a peace deal between the ARL and Super League. Little did Dragons or Steelers fans realise, their independence was coming to a close.
During the 1998 season, the St George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers negotiated a joint venture. The Steelers had plenty of talent but struggled financially and despite having some solid seasons they never climbed the heights of the game from their inception.
The Dragons, on the other hand, were the opposite. They had achieved what was considered impossible. They were a club that made history. Unfortunately, they were not wealthy, and though they had a junior nursery it was shrinking and continues to do so.
The two clubs saw a means to their survival. That survival required them to merge.
Hindsight is a beautiful thing. I am not a Dragons fan but thought it was a sad day for them to fold as an independent outfit. I also believed that we needed a club in the Illawarra region and so too was sad to see them disappear.
Obviously, the merger has worked to some level. The two teams share the same colours. The club splits their games between Sydney and Illawarra. They had success early making the grand final in their first season. Though it took some time, the club managed to get a title – the joint venture’s first in 2010.
However, the days have been cold since and the club has struggled financially of late. Moreover, the organisation still suffers from an identity crisis similar to that of the Wests Tigers.
The club has two homes. One in Sydney and one in the Illawarra. Moreover, it has struggled with how to incorporate its past into the future. By this I mean, we had an Illawarra team enter the NSW Cup playing with the colours of the Steelers but known as the Cutters.
The team in the 2017 season, played under the badge of St George Illawarra. Yet, the badge worn by this outfit and by the NRL team is the same as the old badge worn by the St George Dragons – with only the Illawarra wording added to the bottom.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
What does this have to do with anything you ask? It seems that the Dragon side of the marriage refuses to accept that the wedding took place. Go to the Dragons homepage, and they claim to have won 16 titles. “So what?” scream the Dragons fans, “It’s true.”
Hmm, really? Think about it. I don’t hear the Wests Tigers fans saying they have won five or 12 (Wests Magpies four titles/ Balmain 11 titles) since they won their first title as a joint venture in 2005.
Don’t get me wrong. The St George Club was a mighty one. Formed in 1921, they were formidable opposition. The eleven straight titles will go down in history as one the greatest sporting feats ever. They were so successful the game changed the rules.
The club produced excellent players and had a huge passionate fan-base. Their 15 titles are second only to the great South Sydney club.
The Illawarra club was young. For years they had produced the talent for Sydney clubs before coming into the competition in 1982. They were not successful by any real means. They came close in the 92 and 93 seasons. Despite this, their fans although much smaller in number were equally passionate.
These two clubs would ideally be standing on their own two feet today. However, history shows us this is not the case. When they merged, they formed a new partnership, but have struggled with this ever since. Now, I get it. I’m not a St George Illawarra fan – I wasn’t a Dragon or Steeler for that fact either – so, you probably do not want to hear my suggestions.
Regardless, this is what I think could secure the club’s long-term viability.
Firstly, location: Choose a home. Personally, I would like to see all training and football operations occur out of the Illawarra region. This move doesn’t mean you have to play all of your games out of Win Stadium.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
I recognise that the Dragons brand is massive and so still competing against the Dogs, Eels, Tigers and Souths in Sydney would draw much bigger attendances than they would in Illawarra, but I do think apart from these marquee games, stay in and make the Illawarra region your permanent home.
Secondly, club affiliation. Unless, the NRL comes out and declares a change to history, St George Illawarra was a merger and not a take-over. The club’s first season was in 1999, not 1921 or 1982. However, this does not mean we need to lose these two teams identities.
Bring back the Illawarra Steelers (playing out of Win Stadium) and the St George Dragons (playing out of Kogarah) and have them operate as feeder teams in the NSW Cup for the main outfit. Both sides would keep their original emblems, uniforms and history.
When the merged entity came into being, the new club should have developed a new crest. Before you wail in protest, I would have done this while maintaining a stronger link to both teams – not just the St George team – that currently is shown.
Finally, at board level, it would be good to see genuine independence. Board members not representing the old Dragons club or the Steelers club, but the merged club and embracing this new young club.
The merged team has failed to capitalise on its popularity. By the end of 2017, the club held 18,732 members. This number is weak considering that this club should be a giant of the sport. It needs to grow its member base; otherwise, the financial issues that have plagued the club will continue into the future.
If the club engages with its fans more, then its future will be secure. Until then, the merged club will be forever chasing the past.
Club: St George Illawarra
First Season: 1999
Titles: 1 (2010)
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
What is the point worrying about the past. We have a new season starting soon and a new half to guide us arround, Some good young players also who McGregor will probably ignore, so lets start talking football not politics or finances.
Chris Wright
Guest
Some facts missing. The Dragons have only one training base and that is in Wollongong. They sometimes have a captains run at Kogorah only when they are playing that their that weekend. Also both the Tigers and Merged Dragons used to have separate NSW Cup (Reserve Grade) teams but both found it too hard to have players prepared for first grade after playing in separate schemes and coaches. - That said I do feel the Dragons have yet to create a soul. Having so many home ground does not help but they do need to eventually create something it stands for.
Wil P
Guest
Leave my Dragons alone you muppet. I won't support a team that doesn't play in Kogarah. St George born & bred
Hez
Roar Rookie
ditto
Pat Webb
Guest
I think what Mark is saying is that for St. George Illawarra tk succeed I to the future they need to start as they should have in 1999. The are no longer St. george dragons. As Mark said the merger between the Illawarra steers and St. George dragons wasn't a takeover., It was an opportunity for a new entity.
Ken
Guest
That was never the deal, St George not only didn't have much money, but did have more talent as regular finalists (and grand finalists) in the 90's, which the Steelers were not. The actual issue was that the ARL-SL peace deal called for 23 clubs to become 14 by 2000. Illawarra were odds-on to be culled, St George were safer but not secure. From those relative bargaining positions came the merger deal which has effectively seen St George train in Wollongong and play there occasionally. Unfortunately, yep, they're all still broke....
RandyM
Guest
QLD cup is popular for a second tier league.
Big Daddy
Guest
Trouble is with in trust teams some are feeder club's who can stand on their own 2 feet and the ones who are actually second grade sides who are directly linked to NRL sides. The feeder club's like Mounties, twenty, norths and wyong have wealthy leagues club backing. Some one like Newtown have no financial clout. While the present scenario exists there is room for more team's. This should be a starting point for areas like Adelaide and Perth if the NRL were serious about advancing the game in other states but bottom line is who's gonna pay.
BA Sports
Guest
Agree with Ken. While I like your idea in theory, it needed to happen at the end of Super League. In Australia we don't have the population, or appetite, to support second tier competitions. Sheffield Shield and 50 over domestic cricket is not well supported, NSW Cup, State League Soccer, and the National Rugby Championship all carry little interest. Even the NBL struggles for interest because people have access via TV and the Internet to the NBA. The only second tier leagues that have any sort of following are the VFL, WAFL and SAFL and even those are diminishing in support.
Muff
Roar Rookie
Merger was....St George provided the cash...Steelers provided the talent. Club is broke. Dragons have let the merger down.
not so super
Guest
well from next year when bruce buys them out they wont even have a vote on the board
not so super
Guest
baseless claims- how are the dragons not taking responsibility of the illawarra? why should they get 8 games when they have never had great crowds ?
peeeko
Guest
without the money of st george there would be no club. there have been plenty more st george juniors than 3 (gasnier, nightingale, naiqama, matt dufty, millrd, mundine, lance thompson, BJ leilua, josh mansour, chase and kyle stanlley, keith galloway and dean whare. i think you will find the majority of st george fans are appreciative of what illawarra have brought to the venture.
peeeko
Guest
the author believe everyhting should be moved to the gong. half half in terms of games is fair illawarra juniors have been great especially early, but the way NRl is these days juniors are a separate entity and plenty of them play at other clubs
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The St George Illawarra Dragons have won one premiership. St George as a single entity ceased to exist when the merger went through.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Sorry but the club is St George Illawarra. Why shouldn't the Illawarra get half the home games? Half the games at Kogarah and half at Wollongong sounds very fair. Very poor result for the old Steelers fans, one little word on the badge and a thin red line on the jersey, great. No Steelers jersey as a sometime alternative. At least with the Wests Tigers they play the odd game in the old Wests jumpers and the old Tigers jumpers. As far as paying their way, what about the number of Illawarra players who have played first grad for the Dragons and higher?
Sammy
Guest
The NRL Club is "St George Illawarra RLFC Pty Ltd", a private company with the following shareholders: * Illawarra District (Steelers) Leagues Club - (Licenced Club and and Football Club) * Bruce Gordon (WIN Corporation) * St George Leagues Club (Licenced Club) The Steelers Leagues Club are nothing more than a shareholder, just like Bruce Gordon. What does their equity bring them? . A few matches at WIN Stadium and the word "Illawarra" in the NRL Club name.
spruce moose
Guest
nah, this was a takeover. The Dragons could have stayed afloat by themselves, but decided to cash in on an expanded zone for juniors. It's not a merger in the same way as the Wests Tigers was. Still called St.George, still called the Dragons (even the logo remained the same). I'm a massive Dragons fan and I would walk away from the NRL forever if they relocated permanently (and unnecessarily) to Wollongong. I count the 2010 premiership as ending the long wait since '79 and so does the media. I also count the Dragons as having lost 4 grand finals in the 90's. Not 3 + a merger one. I also frankly don't give a toss about what the Steelers history was or their current identity. they are and will continue to subordinate to the mighty dragons.
zenn
Guest
Annandale would be a natural merger with University creating a veritable behemoth. Very few clubs rely exclusively on local juniors. Most players are from the west and south west suburbs of Sydney plus Illawarra, the Hunter and NSW and QLD country.
Duncan Smith
Guest
I've got to agree with you. The article seems to suggest an almost an Orwellian attempt to re-write history and erase all those St George premierships.