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St George 1921-2008
EST 1921
Since 1921
Our Proud History History of the Dragons

Find out all about the history of the Dragons since 1921
DRAGONS HISTORY The St George Illawarra Dragons Football Club
Since 1921 Our Proud History

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RUGBY LEAGUE

Football has it's origins in antiquity when village competition allowed players to get the 'ball' through the opponent's goal by running it, kicking it or punching it. This evolved into a number of sports including Association Football ('Soccer') where players were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands.
Regardless of its development, 'football' retains the image of originally being a game where running with the 'ball' in hand was commonplace
.

1823: According to the myth, American student William Webb Ellis runs with the ball in hand during a football match in Rugby Public School, England.

1872: Rugby Union rules were standardised with the first clubs being formed in France and England.

1892: The Rugby Union charges a number of working class clubs in the north of England with 'professionalism'. The dispute was over 'broken time' payments being made to players who lost wages for not being at work while playing football, or through injury sustained while playing football. The hard line line taken by the Rugby Union made it almost impossible for the working-class man to play the game, and this created a wedge between the north and south of England.

1895: The issue of compensation for lost work time led to a break-away movement. On August 27th or 29th, at an historic meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield the 'Northern Rugby Football Union' is formed. 'Coincidentially', England's Rugby Football Union creates the 1823 myth of William Webb Ellis, 72 years after event was supposed to have happened.

Delegates from nine Lancashire and 12 Yorkshire rugby union clubs met in Hudderfield and formally break away from the Rugby Union and form a new, independent body: the Northern Union.

The first round of Rugby League matches was played in Great Britain on September 7th, 1895. 
The only media report was in the Pall Mall Gazzette which stated "Professional Rugby League set in on Saturday - no deaths were reported".

The original clubs and year of foundation (and formation years as a rugby football club): Batley 1880, Bradford 1863, Brighouse Rangers 1878, Broughton Rangers 1877, Dewsbury 1875, Halifax 1873, Huddersfield 1864, Hull 1865, Hunslet 1883, Leeds 1890, Leigh 1877, Liversedge 1877, Manningham 1876, Oldham 1876, Rochdale Hornets 1871, St Helens 1874, Tyldesley 1879, Wakefield Trinity 1873, Warrington 1875, Widnes 1873, Wigan 1879.
Dewsbury withdrew a few days later and were replaced by Runcorn (1876). Stockport was also accepted by telephone at the meeting at the George Hotel. The inaugural competition which the 22 founding clubs played for was called the Northern Union.

1897: The 'lineout' is abolished by the Northern Union. Goals were reduced to two points.

1898: The Northern Union legalises professionalism.

1906-7: A number of rule changes were made. Teams were reduced to 13 players a side instead of 15.

1907-1908: A New Zealand team tours Great Britain playing under Northern Football Union rules.
On the 1st January, 1908, at Aberdare, the first ever full Rugby League international from a touring side takes place, Wales versus New Zealand. Wales win the game 9-8 before a crowd of 17,000.
An Australian team tours soon after playing three Tests 1908-1909.
The New South Wales Rugby League is formed in Australia in 1908.

1922: The name 'Rugby League' is adopted by the Northern Union.


RUGBY LEAGUE IN AUSTRALIA

1907: Rugby Union was being played in Australia and New Zealand for time with similar debates was over payment to players who were injured or missing work due to football commitments. Many wanted to form a separate competition.
Some accounts say that it was Alex 'Bluey' Burdon (aka 'Alec' & 'Alick') who was the catalyst for the breakaway League when he was refused compensation for a broken arm in a Rugby Union match in the NSW RU tour of the Northern Rivers. More likely is that there were a number incidents which caused the split.

Victor Trumper's Sports Store in Sydney was the venue for the breakaway discussions. The formation of new competition was inevitable but it's level of success depended on the inclusion of Dally Messenger, a Rugby Union star with much drawing power. Messenger agreed to play in the new Rugby League, a decision which was ultimately made by his mother.
A 'Rugby League' team was formed which included Burdon, Messenger and a number of other ex-Rugby Union players who were all promptly disqualified from ever playing Union again.

The first Australian 'Rebels' game of the breakway was played under Union rules at Sydney's Agricultural Ground on August 17th, 1907.
Three Sydney matches were organised against the New Zealand 'All Golds' (a derogatory name given to them by the pro-RU New Zealand press because the breakaway players apparently only played for money) who were on their way to England. The 'All Golds' won all three matches with the organisers showing a profit of £189. This money was used to form the New South Wales Rugby League with James J. Giltinan as it's founder.

1908: The first 'Rugby League' competition is formed in Sydney and played under the new Northern Rugby Football Union rules. There is some debate over which club was the first to form with founding clubs Glebe and Newtown both staking claims. Recently discovered documents support the Newtown RLFC claim.
Other foundation clubs were South Sydney, Western Suburbs, North Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Newcastle, Balmain and Cumberland.

The first round of competition kicked off on the 20th April 1908. The eventual First Grade 'premiers' were South Sydney when they defeated Easts 14-12 in the 1908 Final at the Agricultural Showground on the 29th August in front of 4,000 people.

On the 27th September, the first Kangaroos arrived in England, and played their first ever Test against Great Britain, (the GB team was referred to as the 'Northern Union', or 'England' until 1948) in December in London. It finished in a 22-22 draw.

1909: The second Test in January 1909 attracted a crowd of 22,000 in Newcastle, and GB won it 15-5. The third Test was played at Aston Villa, GB won it 6-5 before a crowd of 9000. The Australians suggested that the series should be called 'The Ashes'.

In the same year, Balmain forfeited the 1909 premiership decider. The decision to forfeit followed a number of disputes including the choice of venue, politics and money, culiminating in Balmain's insistence that the Final not be played as a curtain raiser to a 'Wallabies v Kangaroos' match.


1914: World War I. Rugby Union in Sydney is suspended for four years but Rugby League plays on. With only one major football code to watch, the popularity of Rugby League soars.

1922: England drops the name 'Northern Rugby Football Union' and adopts the Australian name, 'Rugby Football League'.

1954: World Cup is instigated with Australia, New Zealand, France and Great Britain. The first Rugby League World Cup took place in France, in October and November. The final, played at the Parc des Princes packed with 30,000 fans, took place on 13th November, where Great Britain defeated France by 16-12.
Also in 1954, a then world record 102,569 League attendance was set when Warrington beat Halifax in a Challenge Cup Final replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford.

Also in 1954, Grand Finals become mandatory in the NSWRL Sydney competition. From 1908 to 1953, there were 13 'Grand Finals' under various semi-final / finals systems.

1962: NSWRL re-introduced the allowance of two replacement players up to and including half time. Replacements were previously allowed up until 1923.

1967: The most significant rule change in the history of the game occurred with the altering of the unlimited tackle rule to a four tackle rule. In 1971 (1972 in GB), this was extended to six tackles.

1971: Field goals (drop goals) were reduced from two points to one point. Conversion and penalty goal remained at two points.

1980: The first 'State of Origin' match is played between New South Wales and Queensland. Previously, interstate matches fielded players based on the location of their current clubs, usually giving NSW a decisive advantage. The State of Origin concept based selection of the junior careers of players. In front of estatic crowd at Brisbane's Lang Park, Queensland won the first State of Origin encounter 20-10. The significance of State of Origin was typified by Queensland captain, Arthur Beetson who although a born and bred Queenslander, played the majority of his adult career for Sydney clubs.


1983: Tries are increased are increased in value from three points to four points.

Mid-1990s: The League's interpretation in regards to scrum play is altered to accomodate the modern game. By the mid-1990s, scrum penalties became a thing of the past with referees allowing the half back to feed the scrum in a manner which saw his team win the ball on almost every occasion. This led to a faster more free flowing game but made redundant the role of the hooker forward in scrum play.

Another major change was the extension of replacements to an interchange rule which allowed a limited number of players to leave the field and return thus creating a US style 'bench' environment. During the Super League conflict of 1996-97, the interchange rule went unlimited.
Since then, limits have been re-imposed with teams being allowed 12 interchanges off a four-man bench.

1996: 'Super League' is formed as a breakaway organisation in Australia. With the advent of Super League, the top tier of the game in Britain moves from a traditional winter to summer sport.

1997: Super League runs separate competition to the Australian Rugby League (ARL). The game ends up in the courts with the NSWRL and ARL on one side and Super League on the other.

1998: Rugby League reforms under new name of National Rugby League (NRL). The ARL controls international fixtures.

1999: St.George & Illawarra becomes Rugby League's first successful joint venture.

A new attendance world record of 107,999 is set at Stadium Australia for the 1999 NRL Grand Final on the 26th September 1999. The match won controversially by Melbourne Storm over the St George Illawarra Dragons 20-18.

This record crowd surpassing the Rugby League 'double header' (featuring Parramatta Eels v Dragons, won 20-10 by Parramatta) 104,583 set at the same ground on the 6th March 1999 during the launch of the all new Stadium Australia.

Also in 1999, foundation club, South Sydney are cut from the competition. The NRL stating that South Sydney did not meet the new competition criteria - a claim that was hotly disputed by South Sydney officials. 

2000: Other clubs merge and by 2001 the 14 competing Clubs include: St George-Illawarra Dragons, Newcastle Knights, Sydney (formerly Eastern Suburbs) Roosters, Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, NZ (formerly Auckland) Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers (formerly Western Suburbs and Balmain), Northern Eagles (formerly North Sydney and Manly), Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers and the Bulldogs (formerly Canterbury Bulldogs).

The Northern Eagles would later dissolve with the license reverting back the Manly Sea Eagles. Foundation club North Sydney were ultimately cut from the NRL competition at the end of 2001.

2002: South Sydney Rabbitohs are re-admitted in the NRL first grade competition following a court ruling the previous year. Souths first match of the year, a pre-season Charity Shield trial against St George, attracts a crowd of 37,000 at the Sydney Football Stadium. A record for a Rugby League pre-season encounter. The match ended in a 20-all draw.

In one of the biggest scandals in the game's history, competition leaders Canterbury Bulldogs have been found to have breached the salary cap by approximately $1MIL over two seasons. The NRL fines the Bulldogs and strips them of all 37 competition points effectively relegating them to last placed wooden spooners for 2002.

2005: The NRL announces the inclusion of a 16th team, the Gold Coast, for the 2007 competition. Omitted from the NRL in 1998, the Gold Coast 'Titans' will join the Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Dragons, Eels, Broncos, Storm, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Panthers, Warriors, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Raiders and the Knights in 2007.

FIRST GRADE NSWRL / ARL / SL / NRL CLUBS SINCE 1908
The NSWRL first grade Rugby League competition was a Sydney-based for decades before it became a national and then an international competition with the introduction of Auckland. The make up of the current NRL competing clubs is unrecognisable when compared to the foundation clubs of 1908. Here is a complete list of district clubs which have come, gone, had name changes or merged since the Sydney competition began.

Team Nickname(s) Years
Premierships
Notes
Adelaide 'Rams' 1997-1998
0
*
Annandale 'Dales' 1910-1920
0
 
Auckland / New Zealand 'Warriors' 1995-
0
*
Balmain 'Black and Golds' / 'Watersiders' / 'Tigers' 1908-
11
   
11
 
  =>2000 Wests Tigers
'Wests' / 'Tigers'
1
TOTAL 16
Western Suburbs 'Wests' / 'Magpies' 1908-
4
=>1909
Western Suburbs
Cumberland
'Fruitpickers'
1908-
0
   
4
 
Brisbane 'Broncos' 1988-
6
*
Canberra 'Raiders' 1982-
3
*
Canterbury-Bankstown / Canterbury 'Berries' / 'Bulldogs' 1935-
8
*
Cronulla-Sutherland / Cronulla 'Sharks' 1967-
0
*
Eastern Suburbs / Sydney 'Easts' / 'Tri-Colours' / 'Roosters' 1908-
12
 
Glebe 'Dirty Reds' 1908-1929
0
 
Gold Coast 'Seagulls' / 'Gladiators' / 'Giants' / 'Chargers' / 'Titans' 1988-1998 ~ 2007-
0
 
Hunter 'Mariners' 1997
0
*
Manly-Waringah / Manly 'Sea Eagles' 1947-
5
         
     
=>2000
Northern Eagles =>2001 Manly
'Sea Eagles'
6
Norths not part of the 2002 competition
North Sydney 'Norths' / 'Shoremen' / 'Bears' 1908-2001
2
         
Melbourne 'Storm' 1998-
2
 
Newcastle 'Knights' 1908-1909 ~ 1988-
2
Foundation club re-joined competition in 1988
Newtown 'Bluebags' / 'Jets' 1908-1983
3
 
North Queensland 'Cowboys' 1995-
0
*
Parramatta 'Eels' 1947-
4
 
Penrith 'Panthers' 1967-
2
*
Perth 'Western Reds' 1995-1997
0
*
South Queensland 'Crushers' 1995-1997
0
 
South Sydney 'Souths' / 'Rabbits' / 'Rabbitohs' 1908-1999 ~ 2002-
20
Foundation club re-joined competition in 2002
St George 'Saints' / 'Dragon Slayers' / 'Dragons' 1921-
15
 
15
 
     
=>1999
St George-Illawarra
'Saints' / 'Dragons'
0
TOTAL 15
Illawarra 'Steelers' 1982-
0
 
0
 
University of Sydney 'Students' / 'Varsity' 1920-1937
0
 

* In 1997 there were 2 competitions * denotes teams which competed in Super League.

FIRST GRADE PREMIERSHIP RECORDS
NSWRL / ARL / SL / NRL

YEAR
PREMIERS RUNNERS UP
SCORE
No. OF TEAMS IN SEMIS
(Total including play-off teams if applicable)
MINOR PREMIERS
1ST ON LADDER
2ND ON LADDER
WOODEN SPOON
(last)
1908
Souths Easts
14-12
4
Souths & Easts
-
Cumberland
1909
Souths Balmain
forfeit
4
Souths
Balmain
Wests
1910
Newtown† Souths
4-all
2
Newtown
Souths
Wests
1911
Easts Glebe
11-8
2 (3)
Glebe
Easts & Souths
Balmain
1912
Easts†
-
-
0
Easts
Glebe
Wests
1913
Easts†
-
-
0
Easts
Newtown
Wests
1914
Souths†
-
-
0
Souths
Newtown
Annandale
1915
Balmain†
-
-
0
Balmain
Glebe
Norths
1916
Balmain Souths
5-3
2
Balmain & Souths
-
Wests
1917
Balmain†
-
-
0
Balmain
Souths
Norths
1918
Souths†
-
-
0
Souths
Wests
Annandale
1919
Balmain†
-
-
0
Balmain
Easts
Norths
1920
Balmain†
-
-
0
Balmain
Souths
Annandale
1921
Norths†
-
-
0
Norths
Easts
University
1922
Norths Glebe
35-3
2
Norths & Glebe
-
St George
1923
Easts Souths
15-12
2
Easts & Souths
-
University
1924
Balmain† Souths
3-0
2
Balmain & Souths
-
Newtown
1925
Souths†
-
-
0
Souths
Wests
Newtown
1926
Souths University
11-5
4
Souths
Glebe & Easts
St George
1927
Souths St George
20-11
4
Souths
St George
University
1928
Souths Easts
26-5
4
St George & Easts
-
Newtown
1929
Souths Newtown
30-10
4
Souths
St George
University
1930
Wests St George
27-2
4
Wests
Easts
University
1931
Souths Easts
12-7
4
Easts
Souths & Wests
University
1932
Souths Wests
19-12
4
Souths
Wests
Norths
1933
Newtown St George
18-5
4
Newtown
Easts & Souths
Wests
1934
Wests Easts
15-12
4
Easts & Wests
-
University
1935
Easts Souths
19-3
4
Easts
Souths
University
1936
Easts Balmain
32-12
4
Easts
Balmain & Canterbury
University
1937
Easts
-
-
0
Easts
Souths & St George
University
1938
Canterbury Easts
19-6
4
Canterbury
Souths
St George
1939
Balmain Souths
33-4
4
Balmain
St George
& Canterbury
Newtown
1940
Easts Canterbury
24-14
4
Easts
Newtown
Wests
1941
St George Easts
31-14
4
Easts, Balmain & Canterbury
-
Norths
1942
Canterbury St George
11-9
4
Canterbury
Balmain
Wests
1943
Newtown Norths
34-7
4
Newtown
Balmain
Canterbury
1944
Balmain Newtown
12-8
4
Newtown
Balmain
Canterbury
1945
Easts Balmain
22-18
4 (5)
Easts
Newtown
Souths
1946
Balmain St George
13-12
4
St George
Newtown
Souths
1947
Balmain Canterbury
13-9
4 (5)
Canterbury
Balmain
Parramatta
1948
Wests Balmain
8-5
4
Wests
Newtown & Balmain
Norths
1949
St George Souths
19-12
4
Souths
Wests
Easts
1950
Souths Wests
21-15
4
Souths
Balmain
Norths
1951
Souths Manly
42-14
4
Souths
Manly
Norths
1952
Wests Souths
22-12
4 (5)
Wests
St George
Parramatta
1953
Souths St George
31-12
4
Souths
St George
Wests
1954
Souths Newtown
23-15
4
Newtown
Souths
Parramatta
1955
Souths Newtown
12-11
4
Newtown
St George
Wests
1956
St George Balmain
18-12
4 (5)
St George
Balmain
Parramatta
1957
St George Manly
31-9
4
St George
Manly
Parramatta
1958
St George Wests
20-9
4 (5)
St George
Wests
Parramatta
1959
St George Manly
20-0
4
St George
Wests
Parramatta
1960
St George Easts
31-6
4 (5)
St George
Wests, Easts, Balmain & Canterbury
Parramatta
1961
St George Wests
22-0
4
Wests &
St George
-
Parramatta
1962
St George Wests
9-6
4
St George
Newtown
Souths
1963
St George Wests
8-3
4
St George
Wests
Easts
1964
St George Balmain
11-6
4
St George
Parramatta
Canterbury
1965
St George Souths
12-8
4
St George
Norths
Easts
1966
St George Balmain
23-4
4 (5)
St George
Balmain
Easts
1967
Souths Canterbury
12-10
4
St George
Souths
Cronulla
1968
Souths Manly
13-9
4
Souths
Manly
Newtown
1969
Balmain Souths
11-2
4
Souths
Balmain
Cronulla
1970
Souths Manly
23-12
4
Souths
Manly
Parramatta
1971
Souths St George
16-10
4
Manly
Souths
Wests
1972
Manly Easts
19-14
4
Manly
Easts
Parramatta
1973
Manly Cronulla
10-7
5
Manly
Cronulla
Penrith
1974
Easts Canterbury
19-4
5
Easts
Manly
Balmain
1975
Easts St George
38-0
5 (7)
Easts
Manly
Souths
1976
Manly Parramatta
13-10
5
Manly
Parramatta
Newtown
1977
St George Parramatta
9-all
5
Parramatta
St George
Newtown
Replay
   
22-0
 
 
 
 
1978
Manly Cronulla
11-all
5
Wests
Cronulla & Manly
Newtown
Replay
   
16-0
 
 
 
 
1979
St George Canterbury
17-13
5
St George
Parramatta
Norths
1980
Canterbury Easts
18-4
5
Easts & Canterbury
-
Penrith
1981
Parramatta Newtown
20-11
5
Easts
Newtown
Balmain
1982
Parramatta Manly
21-8
5
Parramatta
Manly
Canberra
1983
Parramatta Manly
18-6
5 (6)
Manly
Parramatta
Wests
1984
Canterbury Parramatta
6-4
5 (6)
Canterbury
St George & Parramatta
Wests
1985
Canterbury St George
7-6
5 (6)
St George
Balmain
Illawarra
1986
Parramatta Canterbury
4-2
5 (6)
Parramatta
Souths
Illawarra
1987
Manly Canberra
18-8
5
Manly
Easts
Wests
1988
Canterbury Balmain
24-12
5 (6)
Cronulla
Canterbury
Wests
1989
Canberra Balmain
19-14
5 (6)
Souths
Penrith
Illawarra
1990
Canberra Penrith
18-14
5 (6)
Canberra & Brisbane
-
Souths
1991
Penrith Canberra
19-12
5 (6)
Penrith
Manly & Norths
Gold Coast
1992
Brisbane St George
28-8
5
Brisbane
St George
Gold Coast
1993
Brisbane St George
14-6
5
Canterbury
St George
Gold Coast
1994
Canberra Canterbury
36-12
5
Canterbury
Norths
Balmain
1995
Canterbury Manly
17-4
8
Manly
Canberra
North Queensland
1996
Manly St George
20-8
8
Manly
Brisbane
South Queensland
1997
Newcastle Manly
22-16
7
Manly
Newcastle
South Queensland
1997
(SL)
Brisbane Cronulla
26-8
5
Brisbane
Cronulla
North Queensland
1998
Brisbane Canterbury
38-12
10
Brisbane
Newcastle
Wests
1999
Melbourne St George-Illa
20-18
8
Cronulla
Parramatta
Wests
2000
Brisbane Easts
14-6
8
Brisbane
Easts
North Queensland
2001
Newcastle Parramatta
30-24
8
Parramatta
Canterbury
Penrith
2002
Easts NZ Warriors
30-8
8
NZ Warriors
Newcastle
Canterbury
2003
Penrith Easts
18-6
8
Penrith
Easts
Souths
2004
Canterbury Easts
16-13
8
Easts
Canterbury
Souths
2005
Wests Tigers North Queensland
30-16
8
Parramatta
St George-Illa
Newcastle
2006
Brisbane Melbourne
15-8
8
Melbourne Canterbury Souths
2007
Melbourne Manly
34-8
8
Melbourne Manly Penrith
2008
Manly Melbourne
40-0
8
Melbourne Manly Canterbury
2009
   
-
8
     

Footnotes
Premiership awarded to minor premiers. In 1910, Newtown and Souths played 4-all draw in the Final with the premiership being awarded to minor premiers, Newtown.

PLAY-OFFS
Number of teams in finals refers to the number of teams left after the minor premiership to contest the semi-finals, finals, and/or grand finals. The number in brackets includes teams contesting in play-offs to break a deadlock on the semi-final ladder.
eg. 4 (5) means it was a top four semi-finals system but a play-off took place with 5 teams in contention after the regular minor premiership season.

Prior to 1993, positions in the semi-finals were not necessarily decided by points for-and-against. Play-offs were sometimes used as tie-breakers.
In 1911, there was a play-off for second spot.
In 1942 (Canterbury v Balmain) and in 1943 (Newtown v Balmain), there was a play-off for the minor premiership prior to the commencement of those season's semi-finals. On both occasions, the winners held a greater for-and-against and then went on to win the Grand Final.
In 1945, 1947, 1952, 1956, 1958 and 1966, there was a play-off for fourth spot.
In 1960, a complex series of play-offs developed with four teams in equal second place.
In 1961, the prize money for minor premiers was divided equally between Wests and St George (source: Rugby League News).
In 1975, there was a play-off for fifth spot with three teams in contention. There were also play-offs for fifth spot in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
By 1993, for-and-against statistics became the mandatory replacement for play-offs.

In the above records, it is acknowledged that prior to 1993, teams were equal on the ladder regardless of their for-and-against. However, the team with the better for-and-against is noted first.
From 1993 onwards, for-and-against comes into play so therefore we have done away with equal ladder standings, this being in line with the modern League system.

GRAND FINALS AND SEMI-FINALS SYSTEMS
It wasn't until 1954 that the Grand Final became mandatory with a top four semi-final system.
In 1973, this was altered to a top five system.
In 1995, the expanding competition saw the introduction of the top eight (reduce to top seven in 1997 during the Super League conflict). For one season, in 1998, this was increased to a top 10 to accomodate the unified competition with 20 teams. In 1999, the top eight was re-introduced following the reduction of the number of teams.
Prior to Grand Finals becoming mandatory (from 1908 to 1953), there were 13 'Grand Finals' under various semi-final / finals systems.

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