Stand alone? What do we have apart from our tradition and history currently?
We would have a board of unmovable, unmotivated and unqualified dinosaurs, a run down leagues club that doesn’t contribute to the team, a small Sydney catchment area with a demographics of non-league fans, a brand that is becoming less and less valuable. How many young kids are choosing to support the Dragons (apart from our own).
Remember Souths, the NRL were happy enough to remove a team with such history if they believed they didn’t have strategic or economic value
I respect your views but I think you are underestimating the value of the "brand" - even today.
I think the catchment area is not as you describe and under the right structure and management, St. George could be a phoenix rising.
However, there are some prerequisites:
1. No way it would work with the current Board and management philosophy.
Private ownership would be the way to go with the new owners not being hamstrung by back room deals like the WIN buy in and the current coaching appointment that has turned into a fiasco.
2. Easts are a great example of a Sydney club that is a huge success with a limited junior nursery.
The secret seems to be excellent management and a premiership winning mentality. Something that we have not had since the JV started.
Knock uncle Nick all you like but he has carved out a long term success story in the geographic centre of Sydney.
3. You only have to look at the years when St. George were winning games and making the finals on a regular basis - crowd numbers and merchandise sales - one of the best of all the clubs in the NRL.
Why would that dynamic suddenly be lost if the team was well run and successful?
4. Coach - Robinson has proven himself to be one of the best coaches in the NRL.
Bellamy and even old man Bennett have sparkling records (+60% win ratios) because they know what they are doing.
They also attract the best players like a magnet.
The JV have just wasted 7 years pushing McGregor's barrow to the club's great detriment.
Bottom line - the stats don't lie and we will never change our fortunes waiting for McGregor to magically become a premiership winning coach.
Stand alone with the right ownership and management and there is absolutely no reason why St. George cannot become one of the best clubs in the NRL again.
We have to stop kidding ourselves regarding the JV and the contribution of the Illawarra bolt on.
By any measure it hasn't worked and if the St. George "brand" is a little tarnished right now, it's because of this flawed pathway.
Tradition seems to be an anathema to some people but to me it one of the main reasons I support the club.
You can't discount or ignore our history.
What I think doesn't really mean a lot because what we are talking about will probably never happen but if the question is can St. George go it alone and succeed? My answer is absolutely.YES.