The Dragons fan behind the Paul McGregor banner protest vows to continue his crusade
Bureaucratic red tape won’t stop this passionate St George Illawarra fan from protesting against Paul McGregor after the banners he made in protest of the coach where banned.
Dragons
Don't miss out on the headlines from Dragons. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Knights fans speak: ‘They stopped playing for the jersey’
- Late Mail: Cordner comeback, Dragons halves switch
The passionate St George Illawarra fan behind the Paul McGregror banners has vowed to continue his protest against the coach despite the red tape that threatens to thwart his public outcry.
George Youssif created the “Fail Mary” and “Step Down McGregor” signs to voice his disapproval over McGregor’s tenure at the club.
But Youssif’s signs were denied entry to last weekend’s clash against the Sydney Roosters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial >
“I voiced my opinions and I think I have the right to do so. They weren’t rude, they weren’t threatening. I’m just passionate about the team I love. The banners are with me, they will remain with me and will I keep protesting, yeah you can definitely count on that,” Youssif said.
He first unveiled the unregistered banners at Kogarah three weeks ago in round 20 against Parramatta.
But when Youssif attempted the same protest he was told the banners couldn’t be brought into the ground.
LISTEN! On the Matty Johns podcast, Matty lets fly on the crisis engulfing his former club the Newcastle Knights, and the team look at the best NRL rivalries and recall some of their favourite interview moments.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, on Spotify or Google Podcasts.
“I was stopped by a security guard who asked if I had registered the banner. I said no, I have been taking banners to Kogarah Oval since I was a kid and I’ve never registered one before,” Youssif said.
“He said it had been rejected by someone inside the ground and I could come in but needed to leave the banner outside. I said if my banner is not coming in then I’m not coming in so I went home. He was very apologetic.
“It was 18-0 at halftime, it would have been the perfect night to hold up my banner.”
Dragons forward James Graham said this week that fans had a ‘right to an opinion’ but didn’t agree that the hill at Kogarah was the right place to protest.
When asked on NRL360 what he would say to the banner protesters, Graham replied he would listen to what Youssif had to say.
Youssif told The Daily Telegraph he would explain to Graham his gripe is squarely with McGregor’s inability to deliver results.
“I’d love to chat to James Graham. I love the team and support the team no matter what happens. I’m a supporter of the team full of pride and history,” Youssif said.
“My question to him is, why is a team full of Origin players and internationals on the bottom of the table? What more needs to happen at the club, for the club to realise McGregor, he’s not the answer. Why aren’t these quality players we have responding to the coach?”
In a statement, the Dragons said Georges River Council made the decision to ban the banner without consulting the club. Following the ban fallout, the Council’s initial response was the sign was deemed to be “derogatory”.
The Dragons also reminded fans all banners needed to be registered.
George is planning to do exactly that.
“The club isn’t travelling well, we’re going backwards, we’re 15th on the ladder … how else can I get my message across,” he said.
Youssif was part of the group of fans responsible for the infamous ‘Oust Doust’ banner that was destroyed after the Dragons won the premiership in 2010.
“We made that one in 2008. But I made a promise that if we win the premiership I’d burn that banner. I didn’t need it anymore because we finally received what we had been longing for and craving for,” he said.
The Red V fanatic said he’ll do the same with the McGregor signs if he is ousted as coach.
“If he gets sacked then there is no else in the team named Mary... so I don’t need it anymore,” Youssif said.
Originally published as The Dragons fan behind the Paul McGregor banner protest vows to continue his crusade
Hunt ‘salary shamed’ as club crisis exposed
Ben Hunt’s relationship with the Dragons has been further strained with new details of his infamous meeting with Shane Flanagan emerging.
Storm ring heist: 25 years on from the NRL’s biggest GF call
Twenty five years on from one of the most dramatic grand finals in rugby league history, the stars break down the controversial 1999 decider, and the infamous Craig Smith penalty try.