Dean Ritchie weighs in on the prospect of the Dragons ditching Illawarra

It is unfathomable to think the club would turn their back on the south coast by cutting the rugby league-rich region from its name, but maybe Illawarra should get in first and walk away.

Will the Dragons ditch Illawarra from its branding? NRL Imagery

So just who was the bright spark that decided to question and potentially alienate one of the strongest rugby league regions in the rugby league world?

St George Illawarra sent a survey to fans and, amid a myriad of irrelevant questions, asking about the club’s name moving forward and whether Illawarra should be deleted.

Has there been a dumber question asked in 114-years of rugby league?

Who in their right mind would ask a question which could divide one of the biggest fan bases in the NRL?

Other name candidates in the survey included Southern Dragons and Greater Sydney Dragons.

It is absurd beyond belief. You can’t make this s*** up.

Will the Dragons ditch Illawarra? NRL Imagery

Illawarra’s side of the joint venture is equal to the St George side, albeit each brings different qualities. It is a 50-50 marriage.

I assume those asking this question – probably PR whippersnappers with no rugby league DNA — weren’t around during Super League when the renaming of merged clubs became ugly and political?

St George Illawarra hasn’t enjoyed much success recently but at least drama about the merger has gently died away.

Until now.

The club is based in Wollongong and their playing nursery comes from the south coast.

It is unfathomable to think the club would turn their back on Illawarra by cutting the rugby league-rich region from the club’s name.

Even if the survey was compiled by an independent third party, surely the Dragons management or board approved it.

Maybe Illawarra should get in first and walk away – maybe seek to become the NRL’s stand-alone 18th franchise.

Bringing back the Steelers would at least get Illawarra away from St George.

And that can’t be a bad thing based on what we have seen over the past 24 hours.

Originally published as Dean Ritchie weighs in on the prospect of the Dragons ditching Illawarra