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<big>THE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS?</big>
Posted on September 30, 2010 by Tribe13
Written by Sean Fagan for Tribe13.com.au
The 2010 Grand Final has led to some debate about the Dragons – are they just “St George” or “St George Illawarra”?
Seems as far as the majority is concerned, they are one and the same club (founded in 1921), and thus it is ok to call them “St George” and talk of St George’s Grand Final history from before the merger in late 1998.
Rugby league journalist and former Steeler tragic, Steve Mascord, has made his thoughts plain, writing on BackpageLead that:
“I think it is time to form an Anti-DeSteelerisation League.
As the grand final gets closer, there are Steeler Deniers everywhere. People who say “St George” or “first premiership since 1979″ or – my personal current hate – “ALL SYDNEY GRAND FINAL” Grrrrr.”
Mascord probably simply shook his head upon seeing in The Australian a story by Brent Read [ here ] referring back to the 1975 Grand Final:
“Some days you never forget. For Sydney Roosters centre John Rheinberger, it was a mild spring day in 1975\. Rheinberger only started one game in his first grade rugby league career. You guessed it — the ’75 decider against St George Illawarra.”
Many though will be surprised to learn that way back in the 1920s and 30s, the St George rugby league team were commonly referred to as “the Illawarra men” and the “Illawarraites”.
The St George district of Sydney, stretching way back in the late 19th century, was originally known as the Illawarra suburbs.
The ”Illawarra Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association” (founded 1911) is one of the few organisations that continue to remind us of that era. The “St George Cricket Association” began life in 1898 as the “Illawarra Suburbs Cricket Association”.
For example, The Sydney Morning Herald of July 9, 1934 in a rugby league match report:
St George had won comfortably over South Sydney in the first round, and it was anticipated, with the absentees from the latter, that South Sydney would have another hard task, but defeat was hardly expected again, yet the Illawarra team won by 18 points to 7.
Of course, what is also forgotten from that era is that the St George club’s nickname was not “the Dragons”.
As it does today, the dragon appeared on the club’s badge, but only in the mythical role of being slain by St George. The St George rugby league team were known back then as “the dragon-slayers”.
Today, the fans cheer for the dragon and wear the dragon emblazoned merchandise.
Ironically, the assailed has become the victor!
http://tribe13.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/the-illawarra-dragons/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Posted on September 30, 2010 by Tribe13
Written by Sean Fagan for Tribe13.com.au
The 2010 Grand Final has led to some debate about the Dragons – are they just “St George” or “St George Illawarra”?
Seems as far as the majority is concerned, they are one and the same club (founded in 1921), and thus it is ok to call them “St George” and talk of St George’s Grand Final history from before the merger in late 1998.
Rugby league journalist and former Steeler tragic, Steve Mascord, has made his thoughts plain, writing on BackpageLead that:
“I think it is time to form an Anti-DeSteelerisation League.
As the grand final gets closer, there are Steeler Deniers everywhere. People who say “St George” or “first premiership since 1979″ or – my personal current hate – “ALL SYDNEY GRAND FINAL” Grrrrr.”
Mascord probably simply shook his head upon seeing in The Australian a story by Brent Read [ here ] referring back to the 1975 Grand Final:
“Some days you never forget. For Sydney Roosters centre John Rheinberger, it was a mild spring day in 1975\. Rheinberger only started one game in his first grade rugby league career. You guessed it — the ’75 decider against St George Illawarra.”
Many though will be surprised to learn that way back in the 1920s and 30s, the St George rugby league team were commonly referred to as “the Illawarra men” and the “Illawarraites”.
The St George district of Sydney, stretching way back in the late 19th century, was originally known as the Illawarra suburbs.
The ”Illawarra Suburbs Lawn Tennis Association” (founded 1911) is one of the few organisations that continue to remind us of that era. The “St George Cricket Association” began life in 1898 as the “Illawarra Suburbs Cricket Association”.
For example, The Sydney Morning Herald of July 9, 1934 in a rugby league match report:
St George had won comfortably over South Sydney in the first round, and it was anticipated, with the absentees from the latter, that South Sydney would have another hard task, but defeat was hardly expected again, yet the Illawarra team won by 18 points to 7.
Of course, what is also forgotten from that era is that the St George club’s nickname was not “the Dragons”.
As it does today, the dragon appeared on the club’s badge, but only in the mythical role of being slain by St George. The St George rugby league team were known back then as “the dragon-slayers”.
Today, the fans cheer for the dragon and wear the dragon emblazoned merchandise.
Ironically, the assailed has become the victor!
http://tribe13.wordpress.com/2010/09/30/the-illawarra-dragons/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
