St George Dragons

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

After an attempt to be one of the game's founding clubs in 1908 failed, the St George RLFC eventually made its appearance 13 seasons later in 1921.

A meeting was held at Rockdale in early 1908 to establish a St George Rugby League team for the inaugural season of the game in Sydney. However, significant pressure from the district rugby union club meant no players signed on and plans were abandoned.

The St George district entered a team in the Sydney Third Grade competition in 1910, wearing red and white hooped jerseys. The following season saw the establishment of the St George Junior League under the Western Suburbs district. St George also had their first Presidents Cup team in 1911.

The district's junior strength improved as the decade progressed, however all calls to allow St George to enter First Grade were rejected, primarily as the League were reluctant to introduce a ninth club, and with it a weekly bye. In late 1920 though the indications were that the club would be admitted for the following season. In mid-October, the League eliminated Annandale and granted entry to St George.

In its first game St George played against the Frank Burge led Glebe side, losing 4-3. The St George side included Lyall Wall, George Carstairs, Reg Fusedale, Clarrie Tye and was captained by Test great Herb Gilbert (who had played for Souths, Easts, Wests and Hull).

The club initially lacked a permanent home ground until securing Earl Park in 1925. In 1921 St George played University at an unenclosed Hurstville Oval in front of 10,000 fans - only the 640 who filled the grandstand were able to be charged.

Early on the club was called the "Saints" or the "Dragon Slayers" before, rather ironically, becoming St. George's adversary - the "dragon" itself.

Saints struggled in its first seasons until the arrival in 1927 of the man who was the greatest forward the rugby league world had seen - Frank Burge.

After finishing last in 1926, under Burge's control St. George made it to the premiership decider in 1927. An astounding turnaround that was only foiled in the Final by one of South Sydney's golden teams 20-11.

Burge's disciplined approach would have a profound effect on the club and the "red and whites" spent the majority of the seasons that followed at or about the top end of the table. St. George made its first Grand Final appearance in the 1930 decider, losing to Wests 27-2.

The club was captain-coached by former Kangaroo Harry 'Mick' Kadwell in the 1933 season when they made the Final against Newtown. The match was level at halftime, before the Blubags finished the stronger to take the premiership.

St. George Dragons were also runner-up in the 1937 season to Easts, with the minor premiers being automatically awarded the premiership.

1941 saw fans flock to the game as St George fought from fourth place. In the semi-final against Balmain 27,000 fans saw St George beat the Tigers for the first time in three seasons, by 32-8, and win a place in the premiership deciding Final against Easts. As the three clubs who finished the regular season in front of St George were all jointly in first place, the Tri-Colours had no "right-of-challenge" to fall back on if beaten in the Final.

A crowd of almost 40,000 packed the SCG to see St George blitz the great Easts side by 31-8 to take their maiden title. Best for St George were centre Gordon Hart and captain Neville Smith in a sparkling display of free-running rugby league. Easts captain Ray Stehr acknowledged the performance by stating "It was an honour to have been beaten by such a side - next year will have to equip ourselves with lassoos!"

St George Dragons were controversially beaten in the 1942 Grand Final by Canterbury after they kicked a late penalty goal to win 11-9 in a close fought finish.

St George finally settled on its famous red-V jersey design in the mid-40's after using various jerseys until that time (including the red-V for the first time in 1929).

The Dragons finished the 1946 regular season as minor premiers and hopes were high for another premiership. However, Balmain proved their nemesis in the finals series beating St George twice (22-14 and 13-12) to take the title. The Tigers side featured a young Harry Bath in the second row.

The 1949 season pitted the St George Dragons in another Grand Final, this time it was against a South Sydney side on its way to becoming one of the best teams of the century - although even their great deeds were soon to be outdone by the Dragons.

In front of over 55,000 spectators at the SCG, the Dragons defeated the Rabbitohs 19-12. The Saints side included Johnny Hawke, Doug McRitchie, Matt McCoy, Noel Pidding, Ron Roberts and "Dutchy" Holland.

South Sydney were at their best by 1953 and avenged their earlier Grand Final loss by defeating St George 31-12. But the experience for the St. George players in that team, including Norm Provan and Ken Kearney, would prove invaluable.

After Balmain disposed of the all-conquering Rabbitohs in the Final of 1956 to end an era, a record 62,000 spectators crammed the SCG to see the Tigers take on St George for the title. No one could have predicted that the Dragons win that day (by 18-12) would be the first of eleven straight premierships for St George.

Much of the credit of St. George's success can be attributed to Ken Kearney, who had returned from England introducing many new coaching techniques and plays to the Sydney game.

After taking the 1957 Minor Premiership by seven points, the St George Dragons thrashed Manly by 31-9 in the Grand Final. The Dragons side now boasted Norm Provan, Ken Kearney, Brian 'Poppa' Clay, Harry Bath, Tommy Ryan and Eddie Lumsden.

Wests inflicted upon the Dragons only their third loss of the 1958 season in the major semi-final (34-10), before St George turned the tables again in the Grand Final with a 20-9 win.

St George Dragons History Part 2 >