Super fan Reg Jago backs Dragons women to fire in NRL women’s premiership
HE’S watched seven decades of the game, seen the likes of Norm Provan and Johnny “Chook’’ Raper duck and weave and been in the stands when the St George Dragons ruled the sport from 1956 to 1966.
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HE’S watched seven decades of the game, seen the likes of Norm Provan and Johnny Raper duck and weave and been in the stands when the St George Dragons ruled the sport like no team before or since.
He’s even made footy boots for the great Clive Churchill.
Now rugby league super fan Reg Jago now has a new passion — the women’s game.
The 84-year-old was one of the first people to snap up a foundation membership of the St George Illawarra Dragons women’s team.
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“I love my women’s sport,’’ said Jago, who has five granddaughters.
“I see they don’t get as much coverage as the men’s game but when I see them I love it.
“I thing women’s sport is just as good to watch as the men’s. And that State or Origin match a while back was quite a game.’’
A long-time supporter of the men’s game, Jago watched his first match as a schoolboy.
“I was 12 in 1946 and the game was between Newtown and Souths, two of the top teams at that time.
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“I lived in Newtown at the time so I was a Newtown supporter. I didn’t go down to Wollongong until 1974 and then I followed the Illawarra Steelers and then the Dragons when they merged.’’
His ties with the sport were strengthened when he became a shoe maker at a company based in Petersham.
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“We made the football boots for the Kangaroos from 1952 to 1956,’’ Jago said.
“I personally made Clive Churchill's football boots. They were special leather boots, four inches above the ankle and all hand made. He was a size six.’’
Now, more than half a century after Churchill’s heroics, Jago is keen to watch a new breed of rugby league players strut their stuff when the inaugural NRL women’s premiership kicks off.
“These women are champion people,’’ Jago said.
“Sport bring out a lot of good things in people.’’