Illawarra Steelers

[Red&BlackBear]

The mighty Illawarra Steelers, continuing this thread series about past teams and nostalgia lets discuss all things Steelers here. From your favourite memories to merchandise that you or someone you know own. I think if they hadn't merged with St George when they did, that they were on the cusp of a great run seeing them in a few consecutive finals series. Their juniors were skillful, their fans were passionate and their region league mad.

Previous threads:
Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls/Chargers
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=421265

Hunter Mariners
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=420721

South Queensland Crushers
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=419667

 

[blaza88z]

this is going to be thoroughly entertaining

 

[muzby]

Love my steelers...

Still annoyed my mum put my signed jersey in the salvos bin.

If anyone picked up a signed jersey on the rack, feel free to thank me..

 

[Gibbo]

Steelers cruelled by McCallum in 92. They were also ripped off in the 89 Panasonic cup

Anyone got picks of Stanley or short lived mascot Sledge?

 

[TheDalek079]

 

[Red Bear]

Rod Wishart was a legend.

 

[Amadaca]

Many great memories from my childhood, they were one of those teams it was easy to have a soft spot for.

Neil Piccinelli, Rod Wishart, Paul McGregor, Matt Rodwell, & of course one of our greatest ever, Craig Fitzgibbon, was a Steelers kid.

How geniused is it though that a football team's logo is a player from another sport :lol:

 

[Card Shark]

Sad that they merged with the Dragons.

Wollongong & the Illawarra deserve their own team.

 

[Diesel]

Their run in 1992 was good, they deserved to be in the GF v Broncos

Also Rob Wishart kicking a penalty goal from 52m out was pretty impressive too.

The Gong, like Gosford deserve their own team

 

[Joker's Wild]

My old man was a huge fan and I still pull out his old Steelers stubbie cooler on occasion to drink to his memory.

It was sad to see them merge with the Goons but it was a matter of survival for top level league in the Illawarra region.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Some great names;

Rod Wishart
Allan McIndoe
Paul McGregor
Ryan Girdler
John Simon
Ian Russell
The Spaghetti brothers
Michael Bolt


I lived in the southern highlands and as a kid it was a toss up between supporting the steelers and the raiders when they both came into the comp. Thankfully I chose green, because right now I could be a dragons fan

 

[AlwaysGreen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gZgKayN184

 

[MolongRooster]

I grew up in the Gong, and loved going to watch the Steelers, I grew up with Jason & David Moon who both played for them (as well as the vermin) but I used to love going into the showground to watch them play. Michael Bolt, Ian Russell, Neil Pincinelli, Wishart, Dean Schifiletti (spelling?) all favourites of mine. Great memories

 

[Willow]

I think if they hadn't merged with St George when they did, that they were on the cusp of a great run seeing them in a few consecutive finals series.

Firstly, it is a joint venture, different to a merger.

And there was a run of finals appearances for Illawarra, as part of the joint venture. Given that the partnership strengthened RL in the Illawarra, I can't see the logic in the "if they hadn't" argument.

Unfortunately the Steelers were broke in 1998 and there were no sponsors on the horizon, so they had no choice but to look for a partnership and St George were the sensible choice.

The history of Rugby League in the Illawarra is a proud one dating back to the 1920s. There have already been periods of greatness for the district, particularly against touring English sides. So to suggest the club just emerged overnight with the Steelers in 1982 is a something of a mistake.

An Illawarra side probably should have been admitted into the NSWRL first grade during the Sydney comp expansion in 1967, but I understand that this was blocked by the CRL at the time.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

1992 was a great year for them, they were dead set robbed of a Grand Final, they had two tries disallowed for forward passes which looked fine for anyones view.

The names like McGregor, Wishart, Simon, Brett Rodwell, Riolo, Mick Neil, David Walsh, Waddell, McIndoe, Russell, the spaghetti brothers, Picinelli and Schifelitti.

Also in 1998 they were unlucky in their final season, only just missed the finals by a one point loss to the Bulldogs (i think ?), but names like Luke Patten, Trent Barrett, Shaun Timmins, Craig Fitzgibbon had brighter futures ahead.

 

[Jason Maher]

Is there going to be a thread for St. George?

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Is there going to be a thread for St. George?

One day, I got Western Suburbs, Balmain, Perth, Adelaide to do first. I'll probably do St George before North Sydney who will be last.

 

[gUt]

That time they won their first premiership in 2010.

 

[YEHHHBOYYYD]

That time they won their first premiership in 2010.

That's cute.

 

[Amadaca]

That time they won their first premiership in 2010.

Yeah...I don't think so.