The Rumours Thread

[Parko1310]

Where do I begin?For a start, myself and most other St George supporters wouldn't bother travelling down to Wollongong to watch matches, so you'd lose most of the paying Kogarah supporter base. If playing out of Wollongong was so great, then Illawarra would never have failed in the beginning-and remember it did fail. However your idea has merit if we played all the games out of Kogarah- just like we used to always do when we were the most successful club around.
As far as team songs goes, ours is about the most recognised song there is. Try and find anyone who doesn't know that song. Then try and get someone to sing say the Melbourne or Penrith songs-unknown to most people.
This is what happens when you let tradition go-most of the NRL clubs don't even have a recognisable jersey anymore. They've let Johnny-come-latelys run the place and now have no soul.
So i find your comments pretty wrong and totally against the spirit of a proud club. The sooner we separate from Wollongong the better. Weve certainly copped the raw end of the deal since we merged. And comments like this reinforce the need to return to being The Saints!!

Let me start off by saying I'm a lot younger and so was not alive before the joint venture occurred. My team is and always will be St.George Illawarra. However, the reason I support the Dragons is because I have a parent who supported St.George, so if anything I would have been more on the St.George side. In no way am I biased because I'm an Illawarra Steeler. I'm a St.George Illawarra Dragon.

So, with that said, I'll argue firstly what Kogarah supporters? Our round 3 game against Cronulla this year at WIN in horrible conditions still saw more attendees than our Norm Provan memorial match (played in immaculate conditions) at kogarah. WIN gets better crowds than Kogarah does, simple. If supporters don't want to go to Wollongong to watch the Dragons play, that's there choice, but I don't think the club will suffer too much from their absence.

Secondly, Kogarah, given where it is situated, will never get a significant upgrade. We need a stadium worth being proud of. Not one where you can smell the toilets from your seat. The fact is Kogarah is outdated but without hope of a significant upgrade. WIN is outdated, but situated where a significant upgrade can take place.

Regarding the team song. It's also outdated, divisive, and in my opinion plain embarrassing. Who cares if most other people don't know it? At least it's ours. The Roosters song when they run out and win for example, is phenomenal, and every roosters fan sings it loud and proud. You mention clubs that have their own songs having no soul. The Roosters, Storm and Panthers have arguably the most soul out of any other clubs in the whole comp.

To finish off, let's be reasonable and remember the St.George side was falling apart. They needed Illawarra as much as they needed St.George. Without the merger, considering both teams stayed in the ARL, neither would have survived.

 

[baggygreen man]

Royce Hunt

Another prop that averages well under 100m per game. Strong on tackle busts and defense tho. Luke Thompson is a small for a prop , 102k. decent stats tho and does run 100m per game.

 

[Sloth]

Need more impact than this bloke offers going on his stats. Only 7 hit ups, av 80m per game.

Lightyears ahead of Michael Molo, Jayden Hunt, Aaron Woods. He only plays on average 35 minutes a game currently, only 24 years old plenty of improvement in him. Offers size which we are severely lacking and wouldn't cost much. We have to face the facts, we are not going to sign a quality prop with what we currently have to offer.

 

[baggygreen man]

If we have a decent forward pack for Sullivan and Amone to play behind, they will do the job

Wish I shared your optimism about Sullivan. Outside of some Ball footage. not seen a lot of him at half and the one game he slotted in when Hunt was absent he did not exactly set the world on fire. As a ball in hand play maker is he any better than Ben Hunt. A kid in Flegg, Braxton Wallace looks a natural organizer we would be wise to hang onto by handing him a Development Contract.

 

[baggygreen man]

Michael Molo

You mean his brother?
Guler is a big unit. Only plays 35 mins a match then that changes things. He will need to be playing more mins for us tho.

 

[Inisai Toga]

Let me start off by saying I'm a lot younger and so was not alive before the joint venture occurred. My team is and always will be St.George Illawarra. However, the reason I support the Dragons is because I have a parent who supported St.George, so if anything I would have been more on the St.George side. In no way am I biased because I'm an Illawarra Steeler. I'm a St.George Illawarra Dragon.

So, with that said, I'll argue firstly what Kogarah supporters? Our round 3 game against Cronulla this year at WIN in horrible conditions still saw more attendees than our Norm Provan memorial match (played in immaculate conditions) at kogarah. WIN gets better crowds than Kogarah does, simple. If supporters don't want to go to Wollongong to watch the Dragons play, that's there choice, but I don't think the club will suffer too much from their absence.

Secondly, Kogarah, given where it is situated, will never get a significant upgrade. We need a stadium worth being proud of. Not one where you can smell the toilets from your seat. The fact is Kogarah is outdated but without hope of a significant upgrade. WIN is outdated, but situated where a significant upgrade can take place.

Regarding the team song. It's also outdated, divisive, and in my opinion plain embarrassing. Who cares if most other people don't know it? At least it's ours. The Roosters song when they run out and win for example, is phenomenal, and every roosters fan sings it loud and proud. You mention clubs that have their own songs having no soul. The Roosters, Storm and Panthers have arguably the most soul out of any other clubs in the whole comp.

To finish off, let's be reasonable and remember the St.George side was falling apart. They needed Illawarra as much as they needed St.George. Without the merger, considering both teams stayed in the ARL, neither would have survived.

Fair enough, but the argument doesn’t have to be so binary; I’m personally all for the joint venture.
…If’ it’s the song is “Oh when the Saints”..? … (Storm and Penrith have a song?) I love it and don’t find it embarrassing at all; i hope they always keep it!
I also disagree with the Kogarah Oval point of view. Lately, the scheduling of games there have been on Sat against out of town sides; rain events or those stupid Friday night at 6:00. Let’s see a Sunday against a traditional rival.. pack it in!

Just my opinion, but I love the song; love both grounds ; love the Illawarra partnership!

 

[justadragon]

That would be a good get!

Where would you play AJ in our team ???

 

[justadragon]

I am hoping it is from a club that made the 8?

Hopefully someone with size, Emre Guler (Canberra) only 24 would be a good get. Royce Hunt would also be a good signing that won't break the bank.

Hunt resigned with the Sharks as far as I know. Could be wrong though.

 

[Harry Bath]

Yes, the self-interest is still there. The guide should be that all should be in the best interest of the club, not some payback deal.

This is why Dragons will come 12-16th next year

 

[Sloth]

Hunt resigned with the Sharks as far as I know. Could be wrong though.

He did yes, however randomdragon has said we are in the running to sign a prop under contract. I can't see any of the top clubs letting their best props go so thought Hunt or Guler were 2 of the better options. It will likely turn out to be Tolman or A Fifita however.

 

[randomdragon]

He did yes, however randomdragon has said we are in the running to sign a prop under contract. I can't see any of the top clubs letting their best props go so thought Hunt or Guler were 2 of the better options. It will likely turn out to be Tolman or A Fifita however.

It isn’t

 

[SGMax]

I am sure the original song was "We are the St. George Boys" which I still hear played sometimes.
A compromise to the more popularly known "Oh when the Saints" which can include Illawarra more readily. (Sorry tried to upload an MP3 file but not being accepted).

As for who needed who, Illawarra were about to fold.
St. George were under pressure to merge, but in nowhere near as much strife.

I am OK for the merger as long as they work together and contribute to a better, stronger team, but that is not happening.
Only division and self interest.
The Illawarra side should acknowledge that they are the minor player here and appreciate the opportunity to be part of the NRL.

 

[Sloth]

It isn’t

All of above or just Tolman and A Fifita

 

[Inisai Toga]

Where would you play AJ in our team ???

Mmm, interesting question; possibly Fullback, but always find a spot for class, justadragon!

 

[justadragon]

He did yes, however randomdragon has said we are in the running to sign a prop under contract. I can't see any of the top clubs letting their best props go so thought Hunt or Guler were 2 of the better options. It will likely turn out to be Tolman or A Fifita however.

Yep you are so right, the proposition of having Woods and Tolman would immediately strike fear to all the other packs in the NRL and show them that the Dragons mean business in 2023. Cant wait !!!

 

[Parko1310]

Fair enough, The argument doesn’t have to be so binary.; I’m personally all for the joint venture.
If’ it’s the song is “Oh when the Saints”..? … Storm and Penrith have a song? I love it and don’t find it embarrassing at all. I hope they always keep it!
I also disagree with the Kogarah Oval point of view. Lately the scheduling of games there have been on Sat against out of town sides; rain events or those stupid Friday night at 6:00. Let’s see a Sunday against a traditional rival.. pack it in!

Just my opinion, bit I love the song; love both grounds ; love the Illawarra partnership!

Fair enough, and you definitely raise some good points. The issue I have with the two stadiums is mainly that I feel like 20 years from now, we simply cannot be playing out of those run down stadiums. It would be insane if we were. But, none of them will get an upgrade unless we choose one. Kogarah, even if we chose it, is not going to get an upgrade because it is surrounded by housing. Plus, no other teams will use it in other sports. Wollongong look likely to get an A-league side who will play out of a new wollongong stadium, plus if we can become successful on the field and play 12 games a year there, then an upgrade is a genuine chance. I just see more potential in the gong. Fans turn up there. Our games at kogarah against the warriors, manly, cowboys and brisbane drew crowds of around 7k, 7k, 9k and 8k respectively. In comparison to our round 8 game against the tigers at WIN, where almost 30,000 showed up. A team going well out of wollongong will get bigger crowds in my opinion, and imagine a new stadium there with a team going well. There will be at least 20,000 there every time.

 

[justadragon]

Mmm, interesting question; possibly Fullback, but always find a spot for class, justadragon!

Yep could possibly see that mate, we would have a quandary with Ramsay and Sloane, I would prefer he would bring some decent forwards.

 

[St Tangles]

Hunt resigned with the Sharks as far as I know. Could be wrong though.

Correct only recently

 

[lemnoc]

Fair enough, and you definitely raise some good points. The issue I have with the two stadiums is mainly that I feel like 20 years from now, we simply cannot be playing out of those run down stadiums. It would be insane if we were. But, none of them will get an upgrade unless we choose one. Kogarah, even if we chose it, is not going to get an upgrade because it is surrounded by housing. Plus, no other teams will use it in other sports. Wollongong look likely to get an A-league side who will play out of a new wollongong stadium, plus if we can become successful on the field and play 12 games a year there, then an upgrade is a genuine chance. I just see more potential in the gong. Fans turn up there. Our games at kogarah against the warriors, manly, cowboys and brisbane drew crowds of around 7k, 7k, 9k and 8k respectively. In comparison to our round 8 game against the tigers at WIN, where almost 30,000 showed up. A team going well out of wollongong will get bigger crowds in my opinion, and imagine a new stadium there with a team going well. There will be at least 20,000 there every time.

In fairness to the Kogarah games this year, 3 out of the 4 were played on miserable days, with plenty of rain in the lead up to the game against teams that don't bring any fans with them. And 30,000 at Win for the Tigers game? I don't remember that one...

 

[Parko1310]

In fairness to the Kogarah games this year, 3 out of the 4 were played on miserable days, with plenty of rain in the lead up to the game against teams that don't bring any fans with them. And 30,000 at Win for the Tigers game? I don't remember that one...

Attendance is shown here