Illawarra still have a big say, considering the Wollongong junior base is huge. Maybe not in the front line, but behind the scenes for sure.
The Steelers Leagues side of the JV has lost a lot of its bargaining power.
Back in 1998, the Steelers board came out and said that due to crippling debt it would not be fielding a side in 1999. Since St George is a club with significant assets and cash but light on juniors (the increasing Asian population, who prefer soccer, between Hurstville - Kogarah and Riverwood has seen teams reduce junior sides i.e. Renown United at Mortdale when I played fielded 3 sides in U6's, now they only have one). When the merger happened, St George Leagues loaned Steelers Leagues upwards of $8m to pay off debts and players. As part of the JV agreement, the power was shared 50/50 and a St George jersey was to be used home and away (the old blood and bandages strip was used in a game vs Great Britain, as well as other seasons past prior to the Red V), with the Illawarra side represented by the remainder of the strip.
Last year, Steelers Leagues had still not paid off the loan from St George Leagues, resulting in Steelers selling 24% of their stake in the JV to the Gordon family, better known as the owners of WIN TV. Factor in the removal of Steelers references from the home strip (the shorts and socks are more representitive of St George), the Steelers board coming out with some truely stupid ideas (they wanted Ian Millward as coach ahead of Wayne Bennett because "he played for us"), and fans from the Illawarra tending not to travel to WIN Stadium, let alone home and away games in Sydney and interstate
Just because an area has a large number of juniors does not mean they will play for that club. As an example, the Stewart brothers are from Berkeley and play for Manly.
