The St George DRLFC has been a part of the rugby league premiership for 100 seasons, beginning on St George’s Day, April 23, 1921.
Led by captain, Herb Gilbert, St George “Dragonslayers” were defeated 4-3 by Glebe with the only try of the game going to centre, George Carstairs.
Little did rugby league know that beginning would evolve into arguable the most recognisable brand in rugby league.
To mark the occasion, St George District Rugby League Football Club in co-operation with St George Leagues Club has constructed a Museum to reflect the rich history of the Dragons.
Located within the St George Dragons traditional home, St George Leagues Club, the Museum will be officially opened on Tuesday, December 14 at 5pm and will be available for events and special occasions.
The “Spirit of the Red V” Museum showcases over 150 pieces of memorabilia from a fully catalogued collection of nearly 1000 pieces, much of which has never been seen before. Download more information here
Woodblock “Wall of Fame”
The Woodblock Wall is located on the northern wall of the “Spirit of the Red V” Museum on the lower ground floor of St George Leagues Club. It celebrates the peoples who have made the Club the great place that it is today. Presently, the following individuals have been included. The aim is to fill the wall over time to ensure that anyone who has made a significant contribution to the Club as a player, member or committee person is duly recognised.
Bev Armstrong
Life Member of St George DRLFC
Peter Armstrong
Peter was a hooker with the St. George Dragons who played eight seasons with the club between 1957-1964.
He came into the first grade side when Ken Kearney suffered his career ending injury in 1961. Armstrong became a dual premiership winning player with the St. George Dragons, winning the premiership with them in the 1961 Grand Final and the 1964 Grand Final while deputizing for the injured Ian Walsh
Barry Beath
Beath was first selected in 1965 for New South Wales and Australia from Country Representative honours while playing for Eugowra. In 1966 he joined St George in the final year of their 11-year premiership run. Beath had his own 12-year run with the Dragons from 1966 to 1977, with the distinction of being with a premiership winning club in his first and last years in the NSWRL. His only grand final win was actually his last ever match when came on as reserve in the 1977 Grand Final win.
Barry Beath played 198 first grade games and scored 61 tries for the St. George Dragons during his long career.
He was awarded Life Membership of the St. George Dragons in 1976
Michael Beattie
Michael Beattie initially played for Bexley Kingsgrove and Brighton Seagulls in the St. George Junior Rugby League, but began his senior career playing Five-eighth for Western Suburbs Red Devils. In 1980, he debuted with the St. George Dragons, where he formed strong Centre partnerships with Steve Rogers, Brian Johnston, Michael O’Connor, Chris Johns & Mark Coyne during the 1980s & early 90s. coached by Roy Masters, he played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in the 6-7 defeat by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the Grand final during the 1985 NSWRL season, he signed for Castleford from St. George Dragons on 1 June 1987, back at St. George Dragons, he was named ‘Captain Of The Year’ in the 1992 Dally M Awards, coached by Brian Smith and was captain in the 8-28 defeat by Brisbane Broncos in the Grand final during the 1992 NSWRL season, after which he retired from playing.
He then worked for the radio station 2UE, and later became an assistant-coach to Wayne Pearce at Balmain Tigers for a short period.
With 211-appearances, he is currently fifth on St. George Dragons’ “Most Career Appearances” list behind; Norm Provan (256), Billy Smith (234), Craig Young (234), and Graeme Langlands (227).
Michael Beattie was awarded Life Membership of the St. George Dragons in 1990.
Tiger Black
Born and raised at Arncliffe, New South Wales, Ernie ‘Tiger’ Black began playing rugby league with his local Arncliffe Scots club in the early 1930s. He played Presidents Cup with St. George Dragons and was graded in 1937. He was a tenacious hooker, standing only 5 ft 1in (155 cm) and weighing only 60 kg. He raked against the biggest players of his day, always holding his own. Due to his small stature, and fearless disposition, he became forever known by the nickname ‘Tiger’.
Black was a member of the Dragons’ 1938 premiership winning Reserve Grade side – the first St. George Dragons team to win a premiership. He played several first grade games in 1940 before painful kidney and back injuries curtailed his career at the age of 22, although he won another premiership when he played in the victorious St. George Reserve Grade team in 1940.[1] Upon retirement, ‘Tiger’ Black moved into club administration, and held many offices at St George over a number of years. In latter years he was a Director of the St. George Dragons
Peter Black
Long serving former Chairman of St George DRLFC, Director of St George DRLFC, St George Illawarra and son of Ernest “Tiger” Black
Sam Bremner
St George Illawarra NRLW inaugral Captain
Nathan Brown
Played as a hooker for the St. George Dragons and St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League, also coaching the latter.
Peter Carroll
Played from 1951 to 1959, vice-captain in 1957
George Carstairs
Played for St George DRLFC in the 1920s and represented Australia. Scored the Club’s first try on 23 April 1921 v Glebe
Ray Connolly
Longest serving gear steward for St George and St George Illawarra Dragons
Peter Doust
St George Illawarra CEO from 1999 to 2018, St George DRLFC and St George Illawarra Director
Laurie Doust
Head of selectors at St George from 1956-61 and St George Leagues Club General Manager
Steve Edge
Graded with the St George Dragons in 1972 and that year played in the club’s premiership winning third grade side. He became a regular first grader from 1974 and played in the 1975 Grand Final side that lost to the Eastern Suburbs Roosters. Edge captained the 1977 Dragons’ side, playing in the historic 1977 drawn Grand Final and subsequent replay victory the following week. Edge battled for his first grade spot in 1978 and 1979 but found his best form to play in Saints’ 1979 Grand Final winning side captained by Craig Young.
Glenys Ellis
Carries on the tradition of her father Percy Davis. She is also a life member of Scots and has served as club secretary for 24 years and stoic club official for 48 years.
Clarrie Fahy
Doug Flemming
Played in 1949 and 1956 Grand Finals
Reg Fusedale
Played in the 1910s and 1920s. He was also a successful sports administrator.
John Gasnier
Herb Gilbert
The captain-coach of the St. George Dragons club in Sydney in their inaugural season, he is considered one of Australia’s finest footballers of the 20th century. His sons, Herb Gilbert, Jr and Jack Gilbert were also notable rugby league footballers who played in the 1941 Grand Final victory
Ted Goodwin
A hugely popular player and a St George ‘favorite son’, Goodwin played in three first grade Grand Finals with St George: the 1975 loss to Eastern Suburbs, the 1977 9–9 draw with Parramatta and the subsequent replay, won by St George, 22–0.[2] In the drawn 1977 match he scored one of the best tries ever seen in a Grand Final when he regathered the ball after a great chip and chase and grounded it just before the dead-ball line, knocking himself unconscious in the process when his face smacked the hard Sydney Cricket Ground surface. He took no further part in the match but backed up the following week to kick six goals and a field-goal in the replay. Ted was nicknamed ‘Lord Ted’ by the late St George legend Len Kelly in the early 1970s and the Goodwin is still remembered as ‘Lord Ted’ today. Goodwin played his final season with the St George Dragons in 1978.
John Howard
Served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007. Long serving St George supporter and Life Member of St George DRLFC and No.1 ticket holder of the St George Illawarra Dragons.
Len Kelly
Played in the 1930s and 1940s with St. George. He was later a senior administrator with the club in their successive eleven year winning run from 1956 to 1966.
Tom Killiby
Foundation player, trainer, 1920s to 1960s
Arthur Lawes
First chairman, St George Leagues Club
Ray Lindwall
Test cricketer and St George first-grade fullback
Warren Lockwood
Appointed to the board of St George Leagues Club in 1983. He would become chairman in 1990, going on to become the longest serving chairman of 22 years. Standing down in 2012, he later retired from the board in 2018, after 35 years of service to the Leagues Club.
Warren also joined the board of the St George District Rugby League Club in 1988 when the Leagues Club assumed management for the district club. He became chairman in 1991 and was the club’s delegate to the NSWRL, an organisation of which he later became chairman (1997) where he played a key role in unifying the game post the Super League War.
Warren was appointed as deputy chairman of the Australian Rugby League during this tumultuous time in rugby league history and was later elected the inaugural chairman of the NRL when it formed in 1998; a position he held for two years.”
Brad Mackay
A St George junior from the Brighton Seagulls club, Mackay was graded by the Dragons in 1987 and then played 117 games with club over eight seasons till 1994 scoring 22 tries. Playing all positions in the backline bar halfback, he was most remembered for his lock position in his peak.
Mackay debuted for the New South Wales Blues as a reserve in game II of the 1989 State of Origin series. He went on to play 17 Origin games between 1989 and 1995, scoring three tries at that level.
He is the only player in the Club’s history to have played for St George, Illawarra and St George Illawarra
Alec Mackie
Long serving Club commiteeman
Clem Madden
As president of the club for ten consecutive seasons. During that time he threw him-self wholeheartedly into the administrative side of the code. In the early years of his presidency he was the club’s delegate to the St. George Junior League where he cemented a harmonious relationship between the club and the Juniors. He took a most active interest in the club’s committees and his work on the Management Committee took him to many parts of the State, and even to Queensland, in quest of likely talent for the St. George teams. That the club in 1949 was able to win the first and reserve grade premierships as well as the club championship was sufficient evidence of the good work this committee did in procuring the right players to come to the district. ”
Roy Masters
Roy joined St. George Dragons in 1982, reaching the Grand Final in 1985 but losing to Canterbury-Bankstown 7-6. Masters is regarded as one of the finest coaches to have never won a premiership because he was seemingly able to help financially struggling clubs to perform above their ability. He was awarded the Dally M coach of the year in 1985.”
Doug McClelland
Joint No.1 ticket holder of the St George Illawarra Dragons, former Director, Australian former politician who served as a Senator for New South Wales from 1962 to 1987, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was Minister for the Media (1972–1975) and Special Minister of State (1975) in the Whitlam Government, and ended his political career as President of the Senate (1983–1987). He resigned from the Senate to become High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (1987–1991).
Paul McGregor
Paul was the foundation captain of the St. George Illawarra joint venture from 1999, leading the team into the 1999 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm.[3] He spent time on the sidelines with injury that year and following a shoulder reconstruction he did not play during the entire 2000 NRL season. McGregor returned to the club in 2001 on an incentive based contract and retired at the end of the season, having played 34 games with the joint venture club.”
Bill McRitchie
Front rower, victim of Bumper Farrell ear bite, long term selector and committeeman
Herb Narvo
In 1946 he joined the St. George Dragons and as captain-coach, steered the club to a Grand final appearance in which they were defeated by the Balmain Tigers.
Peter Newell
St George Illawarra Board Member from 1999 to 2019 and a key figure in the negotiation of the coming together of St George and the Illawarra Steelers.
Glyn Price
The life of Glyn “”Mickey Mouse”” Price was linked forever with fabled events of rugby league’s past. The diminutive Price never pulled on a boot for the club of his heart, the famous St George Dragons, but he was acclaimed as a great Saint.
He was the last survivor of a team of club officials which masterminded St George’s world-record performance – winning 11 successive premierships from 1956-66. In his book, Never Before, Never Again, Larry Writer described Price, club treasurer from 1951-65, as St George’s elder statesman, remembered by the old Saints as a beacon of humanity in what was a notoriously hard-nosed administrative team
Danny Robinson
Former Director of St George DRLFC, St George Illawarra Dragons and long serving St George Leagues Club General Manager”
Warren Saunders
An intrinsic part of the Club, Warren was a long term Director and Club Official. His connection with the Club goes back to his days as a ball boy for many years.
Norm Tipping
Player, selector, premiership winning coach in 1956
David Waite
Joined St George in 1996 and went on to guide them to the 1996 Grand Final against great odds and again coached St. George to the 1999 Grand Final.
Baden Wales
Junior League secretary, club treasurer 1939-47, secretary 1947-55″