Red V Timeline | St George District RLFC

November 8, 1920

St George joins NSWRL

On a Monday night at Kogarah School of Arts, ‘amid much enthusiasm’, a meeting is held to officially form the St George District Rugby League Football Club. The club’s first general meeting is conducted on 7 February 1921. The club’s first official trial is staged on 6 March 1921, at Sans Souci.

April 23, 1921

St George’s Day v Glebe

St George plays their first premiership match on St George’s Day, losing 4–3 to Glebe at the Sydney Sports Ground. Saints winger George Carstairs scores the only try of the game. Earlier, Glebe beat St George 27–5 in reserve grade. Saints will not enter a third-grade side until 1926

May 16, 1925

Earl Park v Wests

St George defeat Wests 6–5 in the club’s first premiership game at Earl Park, Arncliffe. The game serves as a testimonial for the club’s inaugural captain-coach Herb Gilbert, who receives the club’s cut of the gate money. Earl Park, built on the site of a former market garden, is Saints’ home ground from 1925 to 1939

September 17, 1927

First Finals Appearance

Inspired by captain-coach Frank Burge, St George go from last in 1926 all the way to their first premiership final, losing 20–11 to Souths at the Agricultural Ground (later the Sydney Showground).

August 11, 1928

Earl Park “Riot”

A riot breaks out at Earl Park after a fiery match between St George and Balmain. One player is sent off, two others are taken to hospital and baton-wielding police clash with fans after a crowd invasion. Two Balmain players are charged with ‘having behaved in a riotous manner’, but the matter is subsequently withdrawn. Saints win 21–3. Read the full story

April 25, 1932

First 100 Club Member

Hooker Arthur ‘Snowy’ Justice becomes the first man to play 100 first-grade games for the Dragons.

May 11, 1935

Record Win v Canterbury

St George thrash Canterbury 91–6 at Earl Park, statistically the biggest win in premiership history. Canterbury lead 4–0 after 20 minutes and at half-time the score is 23–6. Winger Les Griffin scores 36 points (two tries, 15 goals), still the Dragons record for most points in a first-grade match (equalled by Jack Lindwall against Manly in 1947).

August 30, 1941

Maiden Title v Easts

Inspired by star centre Gordon Hart, who returned specially for the game from commando training in Victoria, St George win their maiden premiership, defeating Easts 31–14 in the final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

September 12, 1942

Runners-up v Berries

On a day so drenched that hundreds of fans scurry across the SCG from the Hill to dry seats in the Members enclosure, St George lose the grand final 11–9 to Canterbury

September 14, 1946

Runners-up v Balmain

Minor premiers St George score four tries to three but go down 13–12 to Balmain in the grand final. Star fullback Ray Lindwall, who will go on to be one of Australia’s greatest fast bowlers, misses all nine of his shots at goal. The performance of referee George Bishop, one of the Balmain players charged by police after the Earl Park riot in 1928, is much discussed.

September 10, 1949

GF Win v Souths

Wingers Ron Roberts and Noel Pidding each score two tries in the Dragons’ 19–12 grand final win over Souths at the SCG. The club’s second premiership is a triumph for coach Jim Duckworth and captain Johnny Hawke, who by season’s end is widely recognised as the best player in the competition.

February 20, 1950

A Place to call Home

Kogarah Council agrees to lease Kogarah Jubilee Oval to St George for two years, on a yearly rental of £350, plus £50 a year for training rights on two nights a week, plus £200 for ground improvements. The club’s first game at its new home is a 17–15 loss to Souths on 22 April 1950. Kogarah will remain the Dragons’ home ground for much of the next 70 years.

September 8, 1956

The Start of an Era

Despite losing centre Merv Lees after 13 minutes of the grand final with a dislocated shoulder, St George beat Balmain 18–12 to win their third premiership. Despite coaching the team to victory, Norm Tipping will be replaced during the off-season by Ken Kearney.

September 21, 1957

Back to Back v Manly

Lock Brian Clay scores two tries and Norm Provan is man of the match as St George win their second straight title, defeating Manly 31–9. Harry Bath’s eight goals and 16 points remain the records for most goals and points in a grand final.

September 13, 1958

Three in a row v Wests

St George out-muscle Wests 20–9 to become the sixth side, after Easts (1911–13), Balmain (1915–17), Souths (1925–29), Easts (1935–37) and Souths (1953–55) to win three or more consecutive premierships.

August 15, 1959

Rare Air v Manly

Winger Eddie Lumsden scores a hat-trick as Saints thrash Manly 20–0 in the grand final, to complete an unbeaten season (19 wins and one draw in 20 matches).

September 2, 1960

Hail “Killer” v Easts

Ken Kearney leads the Dragons to a 31–6 defeat of Easts for the club’s fifth straight premiership, establishing a record for most grand final wins by a captain that still stands.

August 13, 1961

“Sticks” Most Capped

Norm Provan plays his 206th grade game in a 31–10 win over Souths, beating Len Kelly’s previous club appearance record.

September 16, 1961

Record Sixth v Wests

With Ken Kearney injured, Billy Wilson leads St George to a resounding 22–0 grand final triumph over Wests. The Dragons become the first team in competition history to win six straight premierships.

July 18, 1962

Saints v Great Britain

A crowd of 57,744, a record for a midweek event at the SCG, sees St George take on one of the best Great Britain teams to visit Australia. Eddie Lumsden scores the first try of the game after clever work from Dave Brown and Reg Gasnier, but the tourists win 33–5.

September 15, 1962

Seven in a Row v Wests

Billy Wilson is sent off just after half-time but St George outlast Wests 9–6 in the grand final to claim their seventh successive premiership.

September 15, 1963

“The Gladiators” v Wests

A historic day for the club and the game, as the Dragons win premierships in all three grades and the two first-grade captains, Norm Provan (St George) and Arthur Summons (Wests), are captured by Sun-Herald photographer John O’Gready in the muddy post-grand final embrace that will become known as ‘The Gladiators’. Saints win 8–3.

September 19, 1964

“Chang” v Balmain

Graeme Langlands kicks four goals and sets up the only try of the game for winger Johnny King as Saints defeat Balmain 11–6 in the grand final.

September 18, 1965

Record Crowd v Souths

Norm Provan’s last game, a record crowd measured officially at 78,056 but certainly many more (and with thousands turned away), a try in a sixth straight grand final for Johnny King, and a remarkable 10th straight premiership, as Souths are conquered 12–8.

September 17, 1966

“Chook” v Balmain

Johnny Raper is at his imposing best as Balmain are swept away 23–4 to give the Dragons their 11th consecutive grand final victory.

September 9, 1967

The End of an Era

The glory run is over as minor premiers St George are beaten 12–11 in the preliminary final by Canterbury. It is the last premiership game for club legends Ian Walsh and Brian Clay. No team since 1966 has won more than three grand finals in a row.

September 11, 1971

Runners-up v Souths

Graeme Langlands and Billy Smith are magnificent as St George stun minor premiers Manly 15–12 in the preliminary final. A week later, Saints go down 16–10 to Souths in a dramatic grand final.

September 20, 1975

An unwanted record

By the end of the 1975 Grand Final, St. George had been completely demoralised by Easts in a 38–0 record Grand Final defeat. Arthur Beetson attempted in vain to console the forlorn Langlands at match end.

April 27, 1976

Langlands Retires

Seven months after Saints lose 38–0 to Easts in the Grand Final, Graeme Langlands informs Saints officials he is retiring as a player. ‘Chang’ leaves as a four-time premiership winner and the Dragons’ leading all time pointscorer, with 1554 points (86 tries, 648 goals).

September 17, 1977

The First GF Draw v Eels

In a ground-breaking Grand Final St George and Parramatta were locked at 9 points each at full-time. The result was decided by a replay – the first in rugby league history.

September 24, 1977

Number 14 v Eels

Saints claim their 14th premiership as Harry Bath’s dynamic young side overwhelm the Eels 22–0 in the first grand final replay in premiership history.

September 22, 1979

GF Victory v C’bury

St George dominate the first half of the grand final against Canterbury at the SCG, charging to a 17–2 lead before winning 17–13.

September 3, 1983

Saints Late Charge

St George win seven games straight, including a thumping 32–2 last-round victory against eventual premiers Parramatta, a 44–16 playoff defeat of Easts and a gallant 17–14 minor preliminary semi-final win over Balmain in extra time, to reach the second week of the finals.

September 29, 1985

Runners-up v C’bury

After claiming the minor premiership in all three grades, St George win the third grade and reserve grade grand finals but lose 7–6 to Canterbury in the first-grade premiership decider.

May 25, 1988

Midweek Title v Tigers

In captain Craig Young’s final season as a player, St George win their first midweek knockout competition, beating Balmain 16–8 in the Panasonic Cup final at Parramatta Stadium.

September 27, 1992

Runners-up v Broncos

St George reach their first grand final in seven years but after matching Brisbane in the first half go down 28–8.

September 12, 1993

Runners-up again

With centre Mark Coyne in superb form, St George are the first team into the grand final after thrashing Canterbury 27–12 in the major semi-final. Two weeks later, however, they fall 14–6 to the Broncos, with lock Brad Mackay winning the Clive Churchill Medal.

September 23, 1998

Saints and Steelers

St George and Illawarra Steelers announce that they will form a joint venture and compete from 1999 as the St George Illawarra Dragons.

September 26, 1999

So close v Melbourne

St George Illawarra go agonisingly close to winning a premiership in the first season of the joint venture, losing 20–18 to Melbourne in front of a record 107,999 fans at the Olympic Stadium after conceding a late penalty try.

April 25, 2002

ANZAC Day Tradition

St George Illawarra versus Sydney Roosters commences as an annual Anzac Day event, with the Roosters prevailing 24–20. The game has been played at the Sydney Football Stadium every year during this time except 2008, when it took place at the Olympic Stadium. St George and Easts met six times on Anzac Day prior to 2002.

September 4, 2009

Minor Premiers

St George Illawarra beat Parramatta 37–0 at Kogarah to claim their first minor premiership since 1985. Five-eighth Jamie Soward breaks Harry Bath’s club record for most points in a season (225 in 1958; Soward finishes the year with 234). However, the Eels stun the Dragons 25–12 in the first week of the finals, and a loss to Brisbane six days later ends Saints’ season

October 2, 2010

16th Premiership v Roosters

An emphatic 32–8 grand final win over Easts gives the Dragons their 16th premiership. Winger Jason Nightingale scores two tries, fullback Darius Boyd claims the Clive Churchill medal as man of the match, and Dean Young and Brett Morris match their fathers, Craig Young and Steve Morris, who won premierships with St George in the late ’70s.

February 27, 2011

World Club Challenge

Winger Brett Morris scores two tries as St George Illawarra defeat Wigan 21–15 in the World Club Challenge in England.

April 25, 2012

Hornby most capped

Saints captain Ben Hornby appears in his 257th premiership match, breaking Norm Provan’s longstanding club record for most first-grade appearances. The Dragons crown the achievement when Ben Creagh crashes over for a last-minute try to clinch a 28–24 win in the annual Anzac Day clash against the Roosters.

April 25, 2015

Creagh plays 250th

Ben Creagh plays his 250th first-grade game in a dramatic Anzac Day encounter, won 14–12 by the Dragons after a fierce electrical storm forces the players from the field during the first half.

September 9, 2018

NRL Women’s Team

St George Illawarra make their debut in the NRL women’s premiership, going down 30–4 to the Broncos at Suncorp. The men’s team then thrash Brisbane 48–18 in an elimination final, with second-rower Tariq Sims scoring three tries.

October 2, 2019

Sergis claims Dally M

Centre Jess Sergis claims the Dally M women’s player of the year award. Sergis also makes her Test debut during 2019, wins the women’s Golden Boot that is awarded annually to the player judged best in the world, and stars in the Dragons team that reaches the NRLW grand final.