Illawarra to NSW Cuo 2012

[Skinner]

Three-Way Partnership For Illawarra In NSW Cup


http://www.dragons.com.au/default.a...hree-way-partnership-for-illawarra-in-nsw-cup



The Illawarra Rugby League, Illawarra Steelers and Dragons announced on Wednesday a unique partnership with the formation and entry of an Illawarra team into the NSW Rugby League Cup competition for 2012.

The team will be known as “Illawarra” and (while a team logo has yet to be confirmed), it can be confirmed that the colours will be the District’s traditional “Scarlet and White”.

The Illawarra team will be looking to play their home matches at WIN Stadium and will be able to utilise contracted players from both the Dragons NRL squad and NYC Under 20’s team while also offering Illawarra Carlton League players the opportunity.

The Dragons have been looking to establish a long-term partnership to provide the highest quality of playing opportunities for their extended squad and believe it is now the time and place to support a regional Illawarra initiative.

“The Dragons have been keen to support the NSW Cup and its position in the infrastructure of rugby league in NSW South Wales,” said Dragons CEO Peter Doust.

"The Illawarra region is a strong hold of rugby league and we believe this initiative is timely and appropriate."

Sean O'Connor, Chair of the Football Management Sub-Committee added:
"It is fitting that we are able to announce this partnership in the Illawarra Rugby League's Centenary year. To have the full endorsement of the joint venture partners in this initiative is further evidence of our shared vision.

"We will work closely with the Dragons to ensure an integrated pathway for talented footballers in the Illawarra."

The Illawarra team will be coached by former Australian New South Wales and Dragons centre Paul McGregor, who recently guided Wests Illawarra in the Carlton League to their third consecutive Premiership. McGregor will be assisted by former Dragons hooker Shane Millard.

"I am looking forward to the next challenge in my coaching career and to be able to do that with an Illawarra district team in the NSW Cup is fantastic,” said Head Coach Paul McGregor.

“I am excited about the opportunity and the role this squad will play in the development of players in the Illawarra”.

Furthermore, Dragons Junior Representative and High Performance Manager Neil Lovett will be in charge of the team’s administration while Steelers Deputy Chairman Sean O’Connor will chair the team’s Football Management Sub-Committee which will also include the Chairman of the Carlton League Ian Neill, Steelers Director Graeme Gulloch and representatives of the Dragons.

The Illawarra team will serve as the official Dragons “feeder club”, to enable the St George and Illawarra Harold Matthews and S.G. Ball teams to participate in their respective NSW Rugby League competitions in 2012 and beyond.

The key to the long-term success of the Illawarra team and brand are key sponsorship relationships and other key partnership opportunities, which will be developed as the partnership grows.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Beat me to it Skinner. So it's Illawarra Leagues Club who is trumping up the money, which I am surprised by. I would presume the current debate over a logo is whether they use the Flame Tree of the Illawarra Representative sides or the current Steelers logo from HM and SG Ball.

 

[Henson Park Hornets]

This is great news! What does surprise me is the news that they're not going for the Steelers name as that's what is used for the junior reps and the NSW Cup team and isn't this just an extension of those teams??

They wouldn't dare use the Dragons name, would they.........?

About time there was a full time team out of the Gong again. Well done.

 

[Bro Bear]

Good to see, welcome the Steelers.

 

[Mr Angry]

Excellent news.

Good for the Saints good for NSW league.

 

[Highlander]

well with Balmain oops i mean wests tigers trying to destroy the Magpies looks like that will fille wests void next year!!!

 

[franklin2323]

Welcome back Steelers!! Having a strong region back only strengthens RL.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

So far it's not the Steelers. Illawarra Leagues Club is the group financing the NSW Cup side (not Steelers Leagues), and a moniker has not been agreed upon.

 

[coast_dragons]

Its good for all parties concerned the Illawarra has dominated the CRL for a while now and alot of ex nrl players are running around in the comp which would allow with the fringe first graders at the Dragons to field a much stronger team than the Shellharbours and the like.

Alot of people are whinging about McGregor as coach but he has an excellent record with Western Suburbs Red Devils and he knows the area well and what players he could bring in.

 

[Goddo]

Great news. The NSW Cup needs strengthening. Wests shifting to supporting Balmain-Ryde primarily is a good move too.

Correct me if wrong, but the structure for St George Illawarra will now be

for Juniors:
St George juniors (are they still running as a joint venture with Canterbury?), Illawarra juniors, 2x SG Ball, 2x Harold Matthews, 1x Toyota Cup side

and for seniors:
Illawarra Carlton League, Illawarra NSW Cup, St George Illawarra Dragons

well with Balmain oops i mean wests tigers trying to destroy the Magpies looks like that will fille wests void next year!!!

Well, the costs and benefits of running two NSW Cup sides isn't really justified. Tigers only really need one feeder at that level currently.

Maybe rename Balmain-Ryde as "Balmain-Wests Magpies". I'd also like to see the Wests Tigers named "West Sydney Tigers". "Wests Tigers" is a mouth full. And get rid of the god aweful jerseys.

Similarily the new Illawarra NSW Cup side should be something like "St George Illawarra Steelers".

Both JV clubs need to intergrate their operations a bit more - they won't be stand alone again.

I think longer term the game will consolidate more, and the NSW Cup will be able to accomodate 2 clubs per NRL club, but its a way off yet.

 

[drago brelli]

Great to see Illawarra back as a seperate entity. Heaps of really good talent available for that team.

 

[muzby]

it needs to be the steelers..

for consistency for the junior sides...

for local pride..

for tradition..

hell, call it the st george illawarra steelers if that appeases the dragons side of the merger..

but lets just make it happen!

 

[mightybears]

Forgive the bomb throwing, but does not this mean that Saints have won, so to speak?

A red vee wearing team everyone calls St George in the NRL and a scarlett and white team called Illawarra in the NSW Cup?

 

[drago brelli]

Forgive the bomb throwing, but does not this mean that Saints have won, so to speak?

A red vee wearing team everyone calls St George in the NRL and a scarlett and white team called Illawarra in the NSW Cup?

In Sydney there is this view amongst some followers of the game. In Wollongong the supporters see the team as a path way for the successful local products to play at the highest level. The locals connect with the team because of the matches played at WIN and the Steelers juniors who play first grade. St.George will have no input into the Illawarra NSW Cup team for 2012. The team will be backed by the Illawarra Leagues club not the Steelers club.

 

[mono_mal]

After watching the Illawarra NSW Cup announcement it appears that 'St George Illawarra Dragons' will in fact have a direct involvement in the venture and it is effectively a three way partnership between the Illawarra Leagues Club, Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons.
The Dragons will provide sponsorship whilst also providing excess players from their NRL squad. Extra players will be sourced from the local competition with opportunities given to talented younger players, perhaps past Steelers representatives, to provide an alternate pathway to the NRL. The club will also be supported by the Illawarra Leagues Club and I imagine the Steelers, despite financial limitations, will support the venture in some capacity.
Illawarra will now have teams in some capacity for all grades from Harold Matthews to the NRL, which is testament to the strength of rugby league in the region. Any suggestions by Dragons fans to abandon the 'Illawarra' part of their name are foolish. The region provides great crowd support and the majority of juniors and the joint venture has effectively put the team in such a good position.

 

[CC_Roosters]

Seems positive. Good that they have gone out and sorted it early, hopefully the rest follow with their reserve grade plans for next season.

 

[Red Bear]

Illawarra Leagues Club = the one down church street? Didnt think it was a particularly big club?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Haven't you been in there before? The place is huge and always busy.

 

[RedVee]

So far it's not the Steelers. Illawarra Leagues Club is the group financing the NSW Cup side (not Steelers Leagues), and a moniker has not been agreed upon.

Sorry, didnt see where it is being funded by the Illawarra RL, I thought it was a 3 way operation with the sponsor having input into the nickname & logo????

 

[Red Bear]

Haven't you been in there before? The place is huge and always busy.

Fair enough, only passed by a few times, dads old work was down the road.

The Steelers Club was probably the biggest mistake of the Illawarra Steelers, should've gone through an established club (of which there were a few big ones already) rather than create a new one which has never done any business because people were already affiliated with their own clubs.