| | |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
...A committee for the St George Rugby League Football Club was elected. Unfortunately due to pressure from Rugby Union influences only three players signed to play. In 1910 a St George 3rd Grade Rugby League Football Club finally got off the ground when a team played in the Sydney 3rd Grade Competition.
This first historic game took place against Newtown at Sans Souci and as if an omen of things to come St George were victorious 36-0. St George and the Dragon are synonymous with the game of Rugby League. St George had its beginnings in Rockdale Town Hall in 1908 when an attempt to launch the Dragons for the first time was unsuccessful. A committee for the St George Rugby League Football Club was elected. Unfortunately due to pressure from Rugby Union influences only three players signed to play. In 1910 a St George 3rd Grade Rugby League Football Club finally got off the ground when a team played in the Sydney 3rd Grade Competition. This first historic game took place against Newtown at Sans Souci and as if an omen of things to come St George were victorious 36-0.
It is widely recognised that the St George Juggernaut was launched on November 8th 1920 when, at the Kogarah School of Arts, the St George District Rugby League Club came into being. On April 23, 1921 St George Rugby League Football Club made its debut against Glebe at the Sydney Sports Ground. In 1935 The Dragon Slayers as they were known defeated Canterbury 91-6, which is still the biggest win in the Club's History.
The long wait was over when in 1941 St George defeated Eastern Suburbs 31-14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground to take their first, First Grade Premiership. All three grades reached the Grand Finals in 1942 but only the Third Grade was victorious. St George Football Club came of age in the 1950's. A move from Hurstville Oval to Kogarah Oval saw St George take on Souths before a crowd of 12,500 fans in their inaugural match at this famous ground. In 1953 the first St George Leagues Club was built on the corner of Princes Highway & Rocky Point Road.
In 1956 St George began their reign as Premiers. This reign would last until 1966 and would cover an unprecedented 11 victories. Names like Provan, Langlands, Gasnier, Raper and Smith would become household names. The 1959 team remained unbeaten throughout the season. On the afternoon of August 24, 1963 Saints won the Grand Final in all three grades. 1963 saw the opening of the now famous Taj Mahal. This modern Leagues Club became the hub of social life in the district. The end of Saints reign in this era came in 1966 when St George won their 11th Premiership defeating Balmain 23-4.
A year of injuries in 1974 saw St George miss the semi finals for the first time in 23 years. In 1975, Graeme "Changa" Langlands had problems with a groin injury and although he battled on, St George were defeated by Easts 38-0. A record loss in a Grand Final. In 1977, St George met Parramatta in a thrilling Grand Final, which went into 20 minutes of extra time. Nerves were felt amongst players, officials and supporters. It was the first time Rugby League had a drawn Grand Final. The game was locked at 9-9 and a rematch was scheduled for the next week. In the rematch St George proved too strong defeating Parramatta 22-0.
In 1979, Saints got back into the swing of things and won the Grand Final against Canterbury 17-13. In 1985, Saints were represented in all three Grades. After winning both the lower grades, Saints were defeated in First Grade by Canterbury 7-6. In 1986, with the SCG as their new home ground, Saints missed the semi finals in all three grades for the first time in 50 years.
In 1989, Saints returned home to Kogarah Jubilee Oval.
|
|
|
The Illawarra Steelers
Rugby League birth in the Illawarra began back in 1910 where at a meeting
at the old Termines Hotel plans were put in place to organise and run the first
competitions.
Seventy years later the Illawarra's Application to be included
into the New South Wales Rugby League First Division was granted
at a meeting of the league on this 13th December 1980 - the introduction
of the Illawarra Steelers RLFC. The Illawarra Steelers and St George RLFC
formed the first of the NRL's joint ventures for the 1999 season.
"The St George Illawarra Dragons".
|
|
|
|
|
|
................................................................................................................................ |
|
|
oben |
|
|
|
|
|
Kogarah Jubilee Oval
The 90's saw St George on a roller-coaster ride. They made the Grand Final in 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999, but were unable to take a Premiership.
1999 came the formation of the competition's first Joint Venture team when St George joined with Illawarra to form the St George Illawarra Dragons. 2001 saw St George Football enter its 80th year in the Sydney First Grade Competition. Two years later came the return to Kogarah Jubilee Oval.
In 1950 St George left Hurstville and played their first premiership match at Kogarah Jubilee Oval. It was to become the most successful home ground in the club’s history. St George did not lose a game at Kogarah for 13 seasons between 1954 – 1966. It was during this time that they achieved their world record breaking 11 successive premierships.
The Dragons were based at Kogarah Jubilee Oval until the end of the 1985 season, when work began on the western grandstand. St George returned to Kogarah Jubilee Oval in 1989 with a new stand to be constructed for the 1990 season. They were one of the most successful Sydney based teams from 1989 to 1999 making the Grand Final three times and a fourth time in 1999 as St George Illawarra.
It was announced that the joint venture team would share their home games in 2000 between WIN Stadium in Wollongong and the Sydney Football Stadium. Loyal supporters rallied for a return to Kogarah Jubilee Oval as the Dragons Sydney home ground. Finally 2003 will see the first games at Kogarah Jubilee Oval.
WIN Stadium is the Wollongong home ground for St George Illawarra. The Illawarra Steelers played all of their home games at WIN Stadium since entering the competition. The Dragons will continue to play half of their home games at WIN Stadium in 2003.
|
|
|
................................................................................................................................ |
|
|
oben |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
