 | |
| Full name | Illawarra Steelers |
|---|---|
| Colours | Scarlet (red) and white |
| Entered 1st grade | 1982 |
| Departed 1st grade | 1998 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | NSWRL, ARL, NRL |
| 1998 | 12th of 20 |
| Premierships | Nil |
| Runners-up | Nil |
| Minor premiers | Nil |
| Wooden spoons | 3 - 1985, 1986, 1989 |
| Biggest win | 45 - 0 vs. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby The Australian Rugby League (ARL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in Australia A' 'wooden spoon' is a mock or real award usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition but sometimes also to runners-up Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Canberra, April 25, 19821 |
| Worst defeat | 0 - 51 vs. The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional Rugby league football team based in the city of Canberra Australian Capital Territory. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Newtown, May 2, 19822 |
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The Newtown Jets (formerly the Newtown "Bluebags") are a former first grade Rugby league club who departed the New South Wales Rugby Football League Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The club previously played in Australia's top-level rugby league competition from 1982 when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership until 1999 when they merged with the St. George Dragons to form the St. George Illawarra Dragons. 1982 's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the seventy-fifth season of professional Rugby league football in Australia. The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional Rugby league football team based in the city of Canberra Australian Capital Territory. New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first Rugby league football club competition established in Australia 1999 saw the second season of the National Rugby League premiership the 92nd season of professional Rugby league football in Australia The St George Dragons were a team in the National Rugby League competition in Australia The St George Illawarra Dragons are an Australian professional Rugby league football team The Steelers still field stand alone teams in junior grades.
Their mascot was the ever popular Stanley, the Steel Avenger (commonly referred to as Stanley the Steeler)
Contents |
History
Illawarra made several attempts to enter the NSWRL competition, the first major attempt was in the 1950s. The Illawarra is a region in the Australian state of New South Wales. The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby The Illawarra Rugby League made a much more serious attempt for entry into the 1967 season but were blocked by the Country Rugby League(CRL) who used their constitution to prevent Illawarra's plans of playing in the Sydney competition. The New South Wales Country Rugby League (NSWCRL formed in 1934, is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in areas of New This was a crucial moment in the emergence of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, as it was after Illawarra were blocked and the NSWRL wanted a second new club to enter with Penrith to avoid the need for a bye that "the shire's" submission was successful. The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are an Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla New South Wales in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney The Penrith Panthers is an Australian professional Rugby league football team
In this unsuccessful bid, Illawarra were to be backed by the then wealthy Illawarra Leagues Club in Church Street, Wollongong. The club is the second oldest leagues club in the world. It was originally established to financially support top class rugby league and soccer in the region. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Unfortunately, by the time the Steelers entered the competition in 1982, this had changed. Looking at the endless number of talented internationals that the region produced during this period, one can only imagine what heights Illawarra could have achieved.
On the 13th of December 1980, the NSWRL voted almost unanimously for Illawarra to enter in the 1982 season. Only three dissenting votes were counted, which were the three CRL representatives present. Illawarra's organiser Bob Millward told those at the meeting that Rugby League in the region depended on this bid getting the go ahead. Interest in the region had turned away from local football to the Sydney competition. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The Illawarra Mercury daily newspaper was increasing its coverage of the Sydney premiership and Illawarra's inclusion was viewed as the best way of reviving the local league. The Illawarra Mercury is the only daily Newspaper in Wollongong, the third largest city in the State of New South Wales, Australia
Illawarra entered the competition in 1982, with financial backing from many of the local leagues clubs. Unfortunately, the recession hit hard and the leagues club money dried up and the Steelers were a new club in desperate financial trouble. In 1984, BHP Steel saved the club, signing on as the major sponsor. BlueScope Steel is a flat product Steel producer with operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific and North America BHP stayed with the Steelers until they merged with St George in 1999.
Their first 8 seasons produced 3 wooden spoons, but things started to improve for the club. A' 'wooden spoon' is a mock or real award usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition but sometimes also to runners-up 1989, saw the club play in the Panasonic Cup final against the Brisbane Broncos at Parramatta Stadium. The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional Rugby league club based in the city of Brisbane Queensland. Parramatta Stadium is a sports stadium situated in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. The Broncos raced to a 16-0 lead and it seemed the Steelers much more fancied opponnents would run away with the game. But Illawarra hit back. Young Illawarra juniors such as Brett Rodwell and Rod Wishart made their mark in this game, players that would form the foundation of the club's improved performances in the early 1990s. Brett Rodwell (born 23 May 1970) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL Illawarra lost the match 22-20, however Brisbane scored a try off what appeared to be forward pass. The large Illawarra contingent at Parramatta Stadium booed the Broncos after their win, with Brisbane captain Wally Lewis gaining their ire by gesturing back. Walter James "Wally" Lewis AM (born 1 December 1959 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian former Illawarra's performance inspired Australian folk singer John Williamson to write a song about the match. John Robert Williamson AM (born 1 November 1945 in Quambatook, Victoria) is an Australian Country music
1990 saw big improvements with the club finishing not too far away from the top 5. The Steelers licenced club opened its doors thanks to the efforts of the local community and businesses.
A new coach by the name of Graham Murray turned Illawarra into an almost unbeatable force at the Wollongong Showground in 1991, losing only to the Penrith Panthers who went on to win the premiership. Graham Murray (born 6 January 1955 is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach A big win against Brisbane and a crushing 44-4 win over Canterbury-Bankstown were signs of things to come. The Bulldogs Rugby League Football Club (formerly Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and "The Berries") are an Australian professional Rugby league Unfortunately, Illawarra missed out on a place in the finals by just two points. A crucial refereeing decision by Bill Harrigan towards the end of the season in a game at Penrith Stadium put an end to their finals aspirations. Harrigan, much to his credit, apologised in the media after the game.
The Steelers had sweet revenge in the 1992 pre-season Tooheys Challenge, defeating Brisbane 4-2 in a tryless final at Dubbo. Dubbo is a city in the Central West Region of New South Wales, Australia. This sparked their successful 1992 Winfield Cup campaign, going one game from the Grand Final. Winfield Cup was an Australian Rugby league trophy awarded to the winner of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership 's (NSWRL Grand Final from 1982 Illawarra's first semi final was against future merger partner St George, beating "big-brother" 18-16. Next a loss to the Broncos 22-12 and their last chance against St George, losing 4-0. However, Illawarra were denied tries on several controversial occasions leaving the Steelers with a bitter end to their successful season.
1993 and 1994 were disappointing in contrast to '92, but the club still managed to finish just outside the top 5 each year.
Super League hit in 1995 and the Steelers were in for a rough ride. This article details the year of rugby league run by Super League (Australia. The good work in becoming a credible force in the competition went out the window and the sacking of Graham Murray was the only incident where anyone in the competition lost their job because of Super League. Murray was organising meetings between Illawarra players and Super League officials, as Super League had intentions of either getting the Steelers or possibly a new Illawarra club. Local club Wests Illawarra were reported in the Illawarra Mercury as being a potential Illawarra Super League club. Local league fans reacted angrily and nothing came of it. Illawarra and its supporters remained loyal to the ARL, though boardmember and then speaker of the house of representatives, Dr Stephen Martin, resigned from the club citing the need to join Super League for the club to survive. Martin would be proved right within less than three years.
In 1997's stand-alone Australian Rugby League competition, the Steelers finished sixth, again qualifying for the Finals series, only to bow out in the first week. This article details the Australian Rugby League half of 1997's split competition The Australian Rugby League (ARL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in Australia 1998 saw the Steelers come agonisingly close to the finals, only missing out because of other results going against them. 1998 saw the inaugural season of the reunited National Rugby League premiership the 91st season of professional Rugby league football in Australia During season 1998, Illawarra approached St George and intiated joint venture talks. Western Suburbs (whom Illawarra were rumoured to be merging with in the 1980s) and Cronulla both expressed interest in talking with Illawarra but Steelers CEO Bob Millward claimed that the club's preferred partner was St George.
The Illawarra Steelers produced some brilliant playing talent, most notably International representatives Rod Wishart and Paul McGregor. Rod Wishart is an Australian former Rugby league footballer who played for Illawarra Steelers, St Paul "Mary" McGregor (born 31 December 1967 in Dapto New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league player Former Steelers players Trent Barrett, Shaun Timmins and Craig Fitzgibbon have gone on to represent their country since the Steelers' final stand-alone season in 1998. Trent Barrett (born November 18, 1977 in Temora New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league footballer Shaun Timmins (born 6 August 1976 in Kiama New South Wales) is a former Australian and State representative Rugby league player Craig Fitzgibbon (born 16 June 1977 in Wollongong, New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player who plays for the
Merger
The Illawarra Steelers decided to merge with the St. George Dragons for the 1999 NRL season to form the St George Illawarra Dragons. The St George Dragons were a team in the National Rugby League competition in Australia 1999 saw the second season of the National Rugby League premiership the 92nd season of professional Rugby league football in Australia The St George Illawarra Dragons are an Australian professional Rugby league football team The Illawarra and St George contingents are equal stakeholders in the new club, and as such half of the new team’s home games are played at the Steelers' former home ground, WIN Stadium. WIN Stadium is a multi-purpose Stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The Illawarra Steelers have at times provided the bulk of St George Illawarra's squad, including internationals Matt Cooper, Luke Bailey, Jason Ryles, Shaun Timmins, Trent Barrett and Ben Creagh. Luke Bailey (born January 5, 1980 in Port Kembla, Australia) is an Australian Rugby league player for the Gold Jason Ryles (born 17 January, 1979 in Wollongong New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player for the St George Shaun Timmins (born 6 August 1976 in Kiama New South Wales) is a former Australian and State representative Rugby league player Trent Barrett (born November 18, 1977 in Temora New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league footballer Ben Creagh (born 6 February, 1985 in Blacktown New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league player for the St
Some supporters, however, feel that the Illawarra is not appropriately acknowledged in St George Illawarra, as the logo and main jersey were taken directly from those of St George (albeit with the addition of "Illawarra" to the bottom of the emblem). More recently, however, St George Illawarra has taken steps to appropriately acknowledge both St George and Illawarra as equally as possible. One example of this is that, in 2006, St George Illawarra introduced an alternate jersey which was predominantly red (with white stripes), this being recognisably similar to the former Steelers' jersey. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This replaced the "blood and bandages" jersey of red-and-white horizontal stripes, which was also a former St George jersey.
While Illawarra is still represented in the NRL and New South Wales Rugby League by the St George Illawarra Dragons (in First Grade, NSWRL Premier League and Jersey Flegg Cup competitions), the Illawarra Steelers still participate as a single entity in junior competitions, most notably S.G. Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup. The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL is the governing body for the Sport of Rugby league in New South Wales and is a member of the Australian Rugby The New South Wales Cup or VB New South Wales Cup (for sponsorship reasons is a Rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales The Clubs In 2007 thirteen clubs fielded teams in the Jersey Flegg Cup. The Clubs In 2008 seventeen clubs will field teams in the SG Ball Cup. The Clubs In 2008 seventeen clubs will field teams in the NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup.
In early 2006, WIN Television Network bought a 25% share in the St. WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales Australia George Illawarra club for $6. 5 million (half of Illawarra's share), erasing any debt Illawarra had to St. George. This formalised the strong support the network has shown for the Steelers in years gone by and ensured that Wollongong will continue to host world class rugby league matches.
Jersey and Colours
The original Steelers jersey was all scarlet with two white stripes on each sleeve. The alternate design was the same colours in reverse. The club kept this design until 1997, adding a third stripe on each sleeve and three hoops around the middle of the jersey. The Steelers simplistic design compared well with the many "space-aged" designs of several other clubs that came and went each season. In 2005, the Dragons wore an Illawarra heritage jersey, which was the same as the original Steelers jumper, on Steelers heritage day, proving popular amongst former Illawarra fans.
Many of the current NRL clubs are reverting to more simplistic jerseys, such as Illawarra's fellow 1982 entrants Canberra.
The colours scarlet and white were automatically chosen as they were long worn by Illawarra representative teams in several sports. Local miners uniforms in the early 20th century were scarlet and some associate this with the reason for it becoming the region's sporting colours. It is also the colour of the Illawarra Flametree, another symbol of the region.
Club Name
The name "Steelers" was chosen in reference to the local Port Kembla Steelworks, which was the Illawarra region's largest employer. Port Kembla is a Seaport, industrial complex (one of the largest in Australia and suburb of Wollongong, in the Illawarra region of New South Wales Other names considered were "Lions" and "Steelies".
Home Ground
The Illawarra Steelers played all of their home games at the Wollongong Showground (currently named WIN Stadium). WIN Stadium is a multi-purpose Stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The ground for many years was also named Steelers Stadium, which many still affectionately call the ground.
Steelers Future
Recent speculation suggests that the Steelers may rise again and stand alone in the NRL. Supporters of this theory claim that the club will dissolve the joint venture at the end of the current joint venture contract (2010) and build towards an eventual return, with the backing of a "white knight" or a major consortium.
Others claim that this push may be a ploy to pressure St George into making further concessions to the Illawarra, as St George can not afford to lose the Illawarra juniors and financial support of members and sponsors from the region. Many other clubs would almost certainly be interested in securing the flow of Illawarra juniors.
Notable Steelers Players
John Dorahy- Rod Wishart
- Paul McGregor
- Brett Rodwell
- Shaun Timmins
- Trent Barrett
- Bob Lindner
- Andrew Farrar
- David Riolo
- Michael Bolt
Craig Smith
Andy Gregory- Ian Russell
- John Cross
- Alan McIndoe
- Craig Fitzgibbon
- John Simon
- Brad Mackay
- Neil Piccinelli
- Chris Walsh
- Dale Fritz
- Steve Hampson
- Rod Reddy
- Jeff Hardy
- Graeme Bradley
- Ryan Girdler
Coaches
- Allan Fitzgibbon 1982-1983 and 1995
- Brian Smith 1984-1987
- Terry Fearnley 1988
- Ron Hilditch 1989-1990
- Graham Murray 1991-1995
- Allan McMahon 1996
- Andrew Farrar 1997-1998
See also
- St George Illawarra Dragons
- Category:Illawarra Steelers rugby league players
David Middleton's book "13 Years of Steel" (1994)
External links
Notes
- This game was played using an obsolete scoring system. John Dorahy (born 28 August 1954 is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach Rod Wishart is an Australian former Rugby league footballer who played for Illawarra Steelers, St Paul "Mary" McGregor (born 31 December 1967 in Dapto New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league player Brett Rodwell (born 23 May 1970) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL Shaun Timmins (born 6 August 1976 in Kiama New South Wales) is a former Australian and State representative Rugby league player Trent Barrett (born November 18, 1977 in Temora New South Wales) is an Australian professional Rugby league footballer Bob Lindner (born 10 November, 1962) is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach Andrew Farrar is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach Andrew Gregory (born in Wigan England) is a British former Rugby league footballer Ian Russell (born August 10 1965 is a rugby league player His Rookie Year was 1988 Craig Fitzgibbon (born 16 June 1977 in Wollongong, New South Wales) is an Australian Rugby league player who plays for the John Simon (born 29 May 1972) is an Australian former Rugby league player Brad Mackay (born 1969 in Sydney New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league player Chris Walsh (born 1962) is an Australian former professional Rugby league player Steve Hampson is a former Rugby league player He played for Wigan in the Rugby League Premiership and Illawarra Steelers in the NSWRL premiership Rod "Rocket" Reddy (born 1 March, 1954 in Rockhampton Queensland) is an Australian former Australian Rugby league Graeme Bradley (born 20 March 1964 is an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer Ryan Girdler (born 19 September 1972, Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former Rugby league player Allan Fitzgibbon is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach Brian Smith (born 14 March, 1954) is an Australian coach and former player of Rugby league football. Terry Fearnley was a Rugby league player and later coach in the Australian competition the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL Ron Hilditch is an Australian former professional Rugby league player and coach Graham Murray (born 6 January 1955 is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach Allan McMahon (9 August 1954 - 23 May 2003 was an Australian former professional Rugby league footballer and coach Andrew Farrar is an Australian former Rugby league player and coach The St George Illawarra Dragons are an Australian professional Rugby league football team The history of rugby league began with a schism of 1895 in Rugby football. Under current scoring guidelines, the score in this game would have been 54–0
- This game was played using an obsolete scoring system. The history of rugby league began with a schism of 1895 in Rugby football. Under current scoring guidelines, the score in this game would have been 0–61
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