Illawarra Steelers

The Illawarra Steelers were an Australian rugby league club from Wollongong in New South Wales . In 1998 the unsuccessful club merged with the St. George Dragons to form the St. George Illawarra Dragons .

history

Founded in 1980, the Illawarra Steelers got into Australia's top division, the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership , in 1982 . However, at almost no point in time the Steelers could muster a really competitive team. In 17 seasons they survived the regular season only twice , with 1992 being by far the most successful season with third place in the final table and the subsequent move into the semi-finals. In 1985, 1986 and 1989 the team "won" the wooden spoon as the worst team in the league. In 1998 the financially troubled club finally merged with the St. George Dragons .