Spirit of the Red V reflected in King’s Amco Cup victory
On April 23, 1921, the St George rugby league club made their premiership debut. They were, said the papers of the day, the ‘pride of the Illawarra district’. Over the next 100 years, the mighty Dragons built a record of excellence unmatched in league history. The Red V jersey is one of Australian sport’s most iconic symbols of excellence. It is known across the world. No team has more passionate fans. Five League Immortals – Frank Burge, Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper and Graeme Langlands – played for the club. St George were perennial finalists from the 1920s to the ’80s. They won 11 straight grand finals from 1956 to 1966
AUTHOR Geoff Armstrong has just released volume one of the definitive history of the mighty St George rugby league Dragons. The title of the book, “The Spirit of the Red V”, cites a phrase coined during the club’s unequalled 11 consecutive premierships, from 1956 to 1966.
Geoff explained the title saying that when he was pulling it together there were lots of suggestions being thrown around the room. He couldn’t recall who actually came up with it but he said from the moment it was put forward “that was the title of the book”.
When St George kicked off in the NSWRL competition in 1921, they were wearing guernseys with red and white hoops, but when the Second World War broke out all clubs had to cut back to a single colour with a V.
Club officials were adamant they would return to the hoops after the war but the players admired their new kits, and everyone felt the players looked taller and bigger with the new V design.
That was the spirit that became the benchmark of the club built around the southern suburb of Kogarah, and they adopted the Red V permanently.
Geoff says the “Spirit” was what former Gilgandra, St George and Australian winger Johnny King says underpinned Western Division’s unforgettable victory against all odds and against the best rugby league teams in the world in 1974.
“John told me he had three simple goals when he was asked to coach the Western team in the inaugural four-quarters mid week competition,” Geoff explained.
“He took the lessons that he had learned from great coaches like Ken Kearney, Norm Provan and Ian Walsh and tried to bring the same thing to his Western Division
team. It was no more simple than he wanted a single line of defence, he wanted the forwards to be tough and powerful, and he insisted on discipline.”
It worked and the Western boys from Cobar to Coonabarabran, Wallerawang to Baradine, Canowindra to Dunedoo, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo upset Canterbury, Auckland, Manly and Penrith – 6-2 in the final – to claim a place in rugby league immortality.
In a career that has spanned nearly four decades and has produced a multitude of sporting tomes, Geoff Armstrong says “The Night the Music Died” has been the greatest joy of his publishing career.
“The reason that book touched me so much was I got to know blokes like Paul Dowling, Greg Fearnley, Bob Pilon, Terry Fahey and Nelson Smith. Just magnificent men and it was just such a privilege for me and Ian Heads to meet them and to work with them and produce a book that everyone says they really enjoyed.”
Geoff Armstrong has now spent thousands of hours researching, interviewing former players, officials and their families, and recounting unbelievable
stories of the deeds of blokes who, from the earliest days, were men who worked and played rugby league for fun and a little bit of money.
“These were men who had ordinary jobs during the week and would train at night. The money wasn’t flash, but attractive enough, and the allure of running out in front of huge crowds on packed suburban grounds and the occasional Match of the Day visit to the SCG drew young players from all over NSW and Queensland.”
There are 568 pages in volume one of “The Spirit of the Red V”, set out in chapters that can be read independently or over a “Dragon’s binge” weekend.
It makes the perfect gift for sports lovers as it tells the tale of a club full of ordinary blokes who have created an extraordinary legacy.
The Red V and the west
IN 1955, just two weeks after losing to Souths in the 1955 grand final, almost the entire St George team travelled to play a Dubbo selection.
Next week we will bring you that story, but this week I’d like to draw your attention to the magnificent heritage of which players from west of the Great Divide have been a most integral part.
Players
IAN Walsh (Bogan Gate/eugowra), Barry Beath (Gooloogong), Peter Fitzgerald (Canowindra), Johnny King (Gilgandra), Tony Trudgett (Oberon), Dennis O’callaghan (Nyngan), John Chapman (Blayney), Ross Cale and Justin Smith (Narromine), Brian Johnstone (Dunedoo), Keith Hemsworth (Coonamble), Ricky Watford (Walgett), Brian Quinton, Josh Miller and Joel Thompson (Forbes), Billy Burns (Parkes), Wilfred Williams and Jai Field (Cowra), Brian Norrie (Eugowra), George Rose (Bathurst), Cody Ramsay (Molong) and a strong Dubbo contingent including Billy Noke, Steve Linnane and Kaide Ellis.
Coaches
COACHES who have brought their talents include Billy Wilson (Baradine), Dick Huddart (Dubbo Macquarie), Ted Goodwin (Parkes/forbes), Gary Longhurst (Mudgee), Paul Upfield (Parkes/orange/bathurst), Jason Hoogerwerf and Wally Fullerton Smith (Forbes) and Steve Funnell (Dunedoo).
Stannies
NEVILLE Smith was a Bathurst boy, a product of St Stanislaus College, who played football in Brisbane in 1938 and then transferred to St George for the 1939 season and was made captain-coach at the young age of 23!
Smith took Saints from the wooden spoon to the finals in his first season, and the premiership in his third, when he was the best player in the premiership.
Only the War stopped him from playing for Australia. But then concussion got him and he had to retire.
Neville Smith died in 1997, when he was living at Allawah in the St George district. He and his wife had no children and Geoff Armstrong says he has not been able to locate any relatives.
Wellington administrator led Saints from 1943-54
CLEM Madden was born in Wellington and rose to the position of St George Club President for nine years from 1944 to 1953. His astute management and strong leadership set the foundation for the club’s magnificent run.
z “The Spirit Of The Red V” is published by Stoke Hill Press in association with the St George DRLFC. For more information about the book, garmstrong@bigpond.com or via www.stokehillpress.com