St George Illawarra Dragons open door to drastic name change

The Dragons have reportedly dropped a bomb on members with a drastic proposal that would erase one club from existence.

Aaron Woods in the Steelers jersey. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

The Dragons are reportedly considering a drastic name change as the club continues to reel from a disastrous 2022.

The joint-venture club has reportedly proposed the option of wiping the term “Illawarra” from its name and reverting back to the St George Dragons.

The Daily Telegraph reports the proposal could wipe out the former “Illawarra Steelers” all together after the two clubs merged in 1998.

The report reveals club members have been sent a survey with one of the questions listing several options for potential name changes. The names include:

— St George Dragons

— Southern Dragons

— Greater Sydney Dragons

— The Dragons

— St George Illawarra Dragons

Despite the clear slight to the Wollongong fanbase, the club is committed to the Illawarra region, per the report, with government funding contributing to plans to build a $50 million centre of excellence at the University of Wollongong.

Ben Hunt and the Red V. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images.

Stanley the Steeler, mascot of the Illawarra Steelers at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.

The survey also asked to what extent fans agreed with the phrase: “The era of the St George and Illawarra Steelers has passed and we must now look to the future as one”.

The divisive topic drew immediate outrage in fan forums and Reddit groups.

Dragons historian and author of Spirit of the Red V: A Century of Dragons Rugby League Geoff Armstrong was not happy when speaking on SEN Breakfast on Thursday morning.

“When I saw the story this morning, I’m just totally bemused by it,” he said.

“In my view the great St George Illawarra brand, the big city club and the nearby region has an opportunity to be a powerhouse if only the club had embraced all the things that make it so special.

“Instead they seem to want to run away from the things that make them special.

“With all the problems they’ve been having over the last few months, changing the name would actually change nothing. I honestly don’t understand.

“They have all this history and all this tradition yet they seem to want to run away from that. “It almost spooks me out as a fan. I just wish that St George Illawarra would stop thinking of themselves as two separate factions.

“To say that the era of the era of St George and the Steelers has passed, those clubs live on in the joint-venture. They’re an important part of the joint-venture and it really frustrates me when the current administration wants to run away from that.”

It comes after recent report of the club being in turmoil right from the executive level down to the dressing room.

Star playmaker Ben Hunt in October was awarded the club’s player of the year gong at the Dragons’ awards night, but remarkably only three players — Hunt, Zac Lomax and Michael Molo — attended the event.

The event was rescheduled to a later date and fell at a time when players had been on annual leave since their season ended on September 3.

Despite this, Hunt slammed his teammates when asked about it while he was with the Kangaroos during their World Cup campaign in the UK.

“I did hear after it that there was a couple of guys that were in Sydney and I think that is pretty disrespectful,” Hunt said.

The retro jumper. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

'Rusty Steelers' captain and president Michael Bolt (L) and Illawarra Steelers inaugural captain John Dorahy wearing their original jerseys at WIN Stadium in Wollongong ahead of the 2010 NRL Grand Final.

“You’re part of the club, you’ve worked hard all year playing for them, you should come and celebrate the year.”

The snub has been interpreted by many as further evidence of player unrest towards Griffin, who heads into the 2023 season without a contract for 2024.

Despite Hunt’s career-best season that made him a contender for the Dally M Medal and halfback of the year, the Dragons finished 10th an outside the top eight in another disappointing season.

Hunt has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2025 season.

The club has been hit with claims of player unrest in recent months with young gun Tyrell Sloan reportedly asking to be released from his contract to join the Dolphins before backflipping to remain at the Dragons.

Boom talent Jayden Sullivan also reportedly wanted to be released in order to join the Bulldogs before he also withdrew his request.

They head into 2023 rated a $3.75 chance with TAB of making the top eight.