St George Illawarra make call following ‘name change’ survey

Around 1,500 fans were given five potential names for the club to choose from.

Published by
Jack Blyth

The St George Illawarra Dragons won't be changing their name anytime soon according to club CEO Ryan Webb.

Select fans were sent a survey in December glossing over a wide array of topics, but the key take away from the review was  question regarding the name and logo of the club, and whether it requires changing.

St George Dragons, Southern Dragons, Greater Sydney Dragons, The Dragons or St George Illawarra Dragons were the five options presented to diehard fans as the club grappled with their own identity.

However, their chief executive has confirmed there won't be any sort of rebrand at the club.

“The brand and the Dragons is always going to be around,” Webb told The Daily Telegraph.

Webb is adamant a change was never actually on the cards.

“It was never the intent,” Webb continued.

“It was essentially a brand ‘health check' which we'll use to steer internal marketing and communication activities. That survey had 40 questions.

“The name change isn't there."

It's a sigh of relief for fans of the Red V as old boys like Steve Morris threatened to walk from the club if 'Illawarra' was dropped from the title.

It's just another nail in the coffin that is the Dragons' pre-season, trapping any premiership credentials and stability deep, deep inside the casket.

'The Dragons have released a club statement' is as common as the free square on a bingo card right now, constantly compounding their fan's hopes and dreams with each off-field incident.

Luckily for the playing group, the Charity Shield was in Mudgee, because trailing 26-0 at halftime, there's every chance boos would've rang around WIN Stadium if the pre-season clash was held in Wollongong.

Plain and simple, enforcer Jaydn Su'A is sick of being written off.

“We want to shut everyone up. That‘s my main objective,'' the hard-running backrower said.

“It‘s obviously a proud club and we've got a decent roster too.

“It‘s up to us now to shut everybody up.

MUDGEE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: Jaydn Su'A of the Dragons is tackled during the Charity Shield NRL Trial Match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons at Glen Willow Sporting Complex on February 26, 2022 in Mudgee, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“It (criticism) does throw fuel onto the fire and that makes me really excited to go out this week.

“It‘s not about making a statement, but rather show each other that we've got each other's backs and through this time of adversity we can really come along and play for one another.

“Obviously we didn't play the best.

“Souths touched us up on the day, but we‘ve had a big pre-season and we're asking the fans to stick by us. What better way to go out there on Sunday and show them all and gain their support again.

“I know we‘ve got some loyal fans and some not so loyal.

“But I‘m sure we'll go out this weekend and be a club that the fans can be proud of.''

Easily the club's best forward in the Charity Shield, Sunday's clash with the Gold Coast Titans will double as a reunion for Su'A, after David Fifita's switch to the left edge put the pair on a collision course.

The two damaging back-rowers played 11 NRL games together at Red Hill before Jaydn moved to South Sydney midway through the 2019 season, and he's hoping Fifita shows mercy.

“We‘re good friends from our Broncos days,'' Su'A said.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 03: Jaydn Su'a of the Broncos passes the ball during the round nine NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium on May 3, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“It‘s going to be good going up against him.

“He‘ll be looking to run over the top of me. It's a good battle for me to show that I can be one of the top second rowers in the comp.

“Hopefully he eats a bit the night before and he doesn‘t have too many runs.''

Published by
Jack Blyth