| | | St George Dragons Rugby League History
Since
1921 - Our Proud History
1997-1998 |
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1997-1998:
SUPER LEAGUE AND ARL SPLIT GAME IN TWO
NRL
FORMED
In
1997, the biggest upheaval in the game's history, a separate
'breakaway' competition was formed. Called 'Super League',
the organisers promised a world wide Rugby League competition.
However, the reality was two smaller competitions and the
loss of many supporters to the game as fans became disillusioned.
As the 'Super League War' intensified,
star players became hot property and the salary cap became
a non-issue. Players were being offered more money than
ever before and at times, the competition for signatures
became controversial to say the least. A number of clubs,
including St George and Illawarra, remained with the Australian
Rugby League (ARL). However, many club playing ranks and
finances were affected with the Dragons and the Steelers
facing an uncertain future.
In
1998, an apparent reconciliation, the Super League competition
was scrapped and a new combined competition, the National
Rugby League (NRL) was formed. The revised format sees a
return to the massive 20 team competition which existed
in 1995 and 1996. Two teams, Melbourne Storm (brand new)
and Adelaide Rams (from Super League) join while South Queensland
Crushers (ARL), Hunter Mariners (SL) and the Western Reds
(SL) have been cut from the new competition.
The ARL continued to exist as the
administrative body for international matches.
The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL)
controlled the First Division competition (in place of Reserve
Grade) and the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) controlled
the Queensland Cup. Both the NSWRL and QRL are to jointly
oversee the annual State of Origin series. The Country Rugby
League (CRL) continued as the body responsible for regional
Group competitions. |
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1997:
|
Season
snapshot
In 1997
the Illawarra Steelers reached sixth position and earned
a semi-final berth, but were knocked out in the first
minor qualifying final.
The St George Dragons finished in 10th position, out of
the top seven and semi-final contention.
|
Dragons
sign Nathan Blacklock
 St
George have signed Nathan 'Tingha' Blacklock after the winger
was discarded by the Sydney City Roosters (Easts).
Blacklock hails from the small town of Tingha, NSW.
STEELERS
DEFEAT DRAGONS
Kogarah, 22 June 1997: Illawarra have scored
three tries to two to down the Dragons 12-10 in front of 7,257
people.
St George 10 (Colin Ward, Mark Bell tries. Steven Price 1/2, Gavin
Clinch 0/2 goals) defeated by Illawarra 12 (Brett Rodwell 2, Glen
Air tries. Darren Bradstreet 0/, Brendon Reeves 0/2 goals).
STEELERS KNOCKED OUT
BY GOLD COAST
Parramatta,
5 September 1997: Illawarra's semi finals campaign came to
an abrupt halt when they were downed 25-14 (five tries to three)
by the Gold Coast in front of 8,197 people.
Gold Coast 25 (Jason Nicol, Jeremy Schloss, Scott Sattler, John
McKelleher, Graham Mackay tries. Graham Mackay 2/3, Darren Anderson
0/2 goals. Wes Patten field goal)
defeated
Illawarra 14 (Scott Cram, Fili Seru, Trent Barrett tries. Darren
Bradstreet 1/1, Dean Moon 0/2 goals)
Australian
Rugby League and Super League bury the hatchet
With
the 1997 seasons over (Australian Rugby League competition won
by underdogs Newcastle, Super League won by favourites Brisbane),
the two warring parties met with the view of forming a new joint
competition in 1998.
The
formation of the NRL
 23
September 1997: With 22 teams playing in two competitions
in 1997, gate takings and sponsorship dollars were spread
very thinly. A number of teams found themselves in financial
difficulty by the end of the season. The Optus-backed
Australian Rugby League undertook moves to approach News
Limited and invite the traditional clubs back into the
main competition. As a consequence of the negotiations
that followed, on September 23, 1997 the ARL announced
that it was forming a new competition in partnership with
News Limited. The National Rugby League (NRL) was formed
from the ARL and Super League competitions.
The
newly named competition would have 20 teams competing
in 1998, 19 ARL/Super League teams plus new 'franchise'
the Melbourne Storm, owned by News Limited. The main
sponsor will be Telstra with the competition being known
as the Telstra Premiership.
Clubs on both sides of the conflict folded at the end
of 1997. On the Super league side, the Hunter Mariners'
brief existence came to an end. The Western Reds were
$10 million in debt and financially ruined. The ARL
closed down the cash-strapped South Queensland Crushers.
The writing was also on the wall for Super League's
Adelaide Rams and the ARL's Gold Coast Chargers (despite
the Gold Coast being one of the few clubs to make a
profit during the Super League War). Both Adelaide and
the Gold Coast were given one more season.
In 1998, the NRL, headed up by Neil Whittaker,
will be the new governing body of the top flight competition.
The ARL will continue to control international matches.
Super League will be disbanded. Newcomers the Melbourne
Storm will have former Super League CEO John Ribot
appointed as boss of the News Limited-backed franchise.
|
|
1997
ARL
First Grade
Ladder (top
7 in semis)
| Manly |
32 |
| Newcastle
p |
29 |
| Parramatta |
29 |
| Norths |
27 |
| Easts |
27 |
| Illawarra |
23 |
| Gold
Coast |
21 |
| Balmain |
20 |
| Wests |
20 |
| St
George |
19 |
| Souths |
9
|
| South
Qld |
8
|
p = Season Premiers
AFTER 22 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw
Points For 331
(10th best attack)
59t 47g 1fg
Points Against 392
(8th best defence)
72t 51g 2fg
|
|
MP Standing
10th
(12 teams)
|
AFTER 22 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw
Points For 423
(7th best attack)
Points Against 376
(7th best defence)
|
|
MP Standing
6th
(12 teams)
|
FINALS
Points For 14
Points Against 25
|
|
Final Standing
7th
|
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TOTALS
23 matches
|
|
Points For 437
81t 56g 1fg
Points Against 401
70t 59g 3fg
|
|
1998:
 DRAGONS
WELCOME BACK MUNDINE
|
Season
snapshot
In 1998 St George qualified for the finals on 27 competition
points and a minor premiership standing of eighth position.
A defeat in the sudden death Minor Preliminary Semi saw
the Dragons bow out in ninth position.
Illawarra ended their season in 12th position and outside
of finals contention.
|
The
Dragons have welcomed back Anthony Mundine (pic left)
from Brisbane, reportedly signing the star five eighth for $600,000
per year.
By season's end, Mundine was voted player's player.
SAINTS GO DOWN TO CANTERBURY IN KOGARAH SUDDEN
DEATH SEMI
Kogarah,
29 August 1998: Hosting a home final at Kogarah wasn't enough
for Saints in 1998. The Dragons were controversially defeated
by Canterbury
20-12 in the minor
preliminary semi final in front
of 16,833 people.
It
was a tremendous match for the packed crowd but it also had it's
fair share of controversy after several questionable decisions
had gone against the Dragons, including referee Steven Clark allowing
a forward pass to go unchecked resulting in a try to the Bulldogs
in the 21st minute. Clark
claimed he had a bucket of spit poured over him as he left the
field.
Saints
dominated the match early on with tries to Darren Treacy
(pic below) and Nathan Blacklock to race away to
a 12-0 lead but Canterbury fought back and eventually ran out
winners.
MINOR PRELIMINARY SEMI FINAL, ST GEORGE v CANTERBURY
- STATS:
St
George 12 (Treacy, Blacklock tries. Murphy 2/2 goals) defeated
by
Canterbury 20 (Halligan, Silva, Marteene tries.
Halligan 4/5 goals)
5th minute: St. George 6-0 (Treacy try, Murphy goal).
11th minute: St. George 12-0 (Blacklock try, Murphy
goal).
21st minute: St. George 12-6 (Halligan try, goal).
26th minute: St. George 12-8 (Halligan goal).
30th minute: Canterbury 14-12 (Silva try, Halligan
goal).
 Half
time: Canterbury lead 14-12.
75th minute: Canterbury 20-12 (Marteene try, Halligan
goal).
Full time: Canterbury won 20-12.
St. George Dragons, team 29
August 1998:
1. Lee Murphy 2. Adrian Brunker 3. Mark Coyne
20. Jim Lenihan 5. Nathan Blacklock 6. Anthony Mundine 7. Matthew
Rodwell 3. Jeff Hardy 12. Lance Thompson 11. Darren Treacy
10. Luke Felsch 9. Nathan Brown 8. Corey Pearson
Interchange:
14. Colin Ward 15. Robbie Simpson 16. Ben Kusto 17. Joel Caine
Coach: David Waite
Changes: Lenihan for 4. Jamie Ainscough. 18.
Andrew Tangata-Toa and 19. Craig Stapleton were omitted
from the bench.
ST
GEORGE AND ILLAWARRA CONFIRM DRAGONS JOINT VENTURE IN 1999
 |
Nathan
Blacklock club's top try scorer
Winger Nathan Blacklock
has topped the club's try scoring list in 1998 with
20 tries. |
23
September 1998: The separate club boards of St George and
Illawarra met and officially formed into a joint venture. Both
clubs will take the field as one in the 1999 season. This is recognised
as being Rugby League's first ever successful joint venture.
The supporters were given the following understandings:
The squad of 25 players would have 13 from St George
and 12 from Illawarra.
The captaincy in the short term shall be joint controlled
with one player from each club being designated co-captain.
The co-coaches shall be David Waite and Andrew
Farrar.
The St George jersey with the red vee shall be retained
as will the name the Dragons. Sock and shorts will resemble the
Steelers old design.
All juniors will be shared.
Illawarra shall receive much needed funding from
St George.
The team will play half their home games in the
St George district and the other half in the Wollongong district.
Both St George and Illawarra shall retain their
district first division sides.
The team shall be known as 'The St George - Illawarra
Dragons.'
  WAV
(194 Kb) click
on speaker to hear Mark Coyne talk about the St George-Illawarra
joint venture. |
1998
NRL
First Grade
Ladder (top
9 in semis
-playoff for 9th)
(Sth Qld gone)
| Brisbane
p |
37 |
| Newcastle |
37 |
| Melbourne |
35 |
| Parramatta |
35 |
| Norths |
34 |
| Easts |
32 |
| Canberra |
30 |
| St
George |
27 |
| Canterbury |
26 |
| Manly |
26 |
| Cronulla |
25 |
| Illawarra |
23 |
| Balmain |
19 |
| Penrith |
18 |
| Auckland |
18 |
| North
Qld |
18 |
| Adelaide |
14 |
| Souths |
10 |
| Gold
Coast |
8
|
| Wests |
8
|
p = Season Premiers
AFTER 24 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw
Points For 486
(10th best attack)
Points Against 490
(12th best defence)
|
|
MP Standing
8th
(20 teams)
|
FINALS
Points For 12
Points Against 20
|
|
Final Standing
9th
|
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TOTALS
25 matches
|
|
Points For 498
87t 74g 2fg
Points Against 510
84t 86g 2fg
|
AFTER 24 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw
Points For 476
(11th best attack)
83t 71g 2fg
Points Against 539
(14th best defence)
97t 74g 3fg
|
|
MP Standing
12th
(20 teams)
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Seasons
In Review
