The decision to potentially scrub 'Illawarra' from the Dragons team name has sparked fury from fans and prompted a response from the club's CEO.
The name change idea stemmed from a survey of Dragons members asking them to pick from a list of potential future names for the club - including three that did not include any mention the Illawarra region, and one with a standalone St George option.
The reaction from fans of the joint Sydney venture has been one of collective rejection.
โIt just seems a case of jealousy and sour grapes,โ Illawarra Stealers legend Michael Bolt toldย Wide World of Sport.ย
โThe players almost all live down here (in the Illawarra), they train down here, the new $50 million centre of excellence is down here and it seems the people back up at St George aren't happy.
โBut I can tell you one thing, they take the name โIllawarra' out of the title and there will be no more joint venture.
โThe fans in Wollongong won't stand for it."
A similar sentiment was felt by Dragons historian and author, Geoff Armstrong.
โIn 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," Armstrong said viaย SEN.
โIt 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 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.โ
Fans also took to social media to express their displeasure with the suggested name change:
@NRL_Dragons if you guys drop the Illawarra name out...
the club can burn ๐ฅ all your juniors from the Illawarra region, use their facilities and can't even give the Steelers a replica jersey at there stadium absolute joke. #nrl if any name should go should be St George— Gregoryloaf26 (@gregedwards26) December 22, 2022
Disgraceful move @NRL_Dragons To even contemplate dropping 'Illawarra' from the franchise's name is reprehensible. Doing so would be disrespectful, dissolving the Steelers identity, history and contribution to the joint venture club https://t.co/ImBQyrSMrB #RugbyLeague #RedV #NRL
— Daniel Watson Hayesโข (@dwatsonhayes) December 21, 2022
The Dragons know a name change would be public relations disaster in Wollongong. Drongos are running the club.
— Waz C Lucy (@WazCLucy) December 22, 2022
The backlash from the proposed name change has forced Dragons CEO, Ryan Webb to comment on the controversial suggestion.
โAs a club we often talk about the strength of our brand and the number of connections we have,โ Webb stated perย The Illawarra Mercury.ย
โ(Dropping Illawarra from the name)It's not something that is talked about.
โIt's trying to get a snapshot of what people think we are and what we stand for now.
โWe've been around for 23 years now and it's still not clear right across our fan base. So we're just looking to see what people think and getting their feedback.
โThis is just a brand health check I guess that most businesses do and everyone's focusing on one question which doesn't work.โ
