By Brad Forrest
St. George Leader
11-13 May, 1998
St. George believes it can meet most of the criteria for a 2000 National Rugby League licence but may move from Kogarah to the Olympic Stadium at Homebush or the Sydney Cricket Ground, to enhance their position.
Saints’ chief executive Brian Johnston rejected rumours the club had been urged to relocate to Adelaide, adding they had not held talks with the similarly coloured Illawarra club - who they play this Saturday night - or neighbours, Cronulla.
“We want to stand alone in 2000 and we are confident of meeting the various criteria,” he said.
However Saints will join other clubs next week seeking amendments and clarification to the draft NRL document, which sets out criteria for clubs seeking entry into the new, reduced league comp.
“We can’t give out figures because the criteria might change but we’ve examined the finance side of things and believe we’ll get through all right,” Johnston said.
“Our only problem might be Kogarah Oval and meeting the required facilities, like permanent lighting and 3000 covered seats, which is more than double what we have now. We’d like to remain at Kogarah and we’ll talk to council. If we can’t we will move to a stadium with the best facilities for our sponsors and fans, probably between Homebush and the Moore Park area.”
An Olympic official said at least one Sydney club had already “seriously canvassed” using the Olympic Stadium as a rugby league ground. Saints have also enjoyed some success in staging past matches at the SCG, where sponsors and crowds are closer to the action than the neighbouring Sydney Football Stadium.
St.George has received varying degrees of assistance from Kogarah Council over the years, with the present single grandstand limited in height and width after a long battle in the 80s between the club and residents. Night matches have also been restricted at Kogarah.
Meanwhile, Saints will try and beat a three-year hoodoo against Illawarra
at Kogarah on Saturday night and extend their unbeaten six-game sequence.
Saints beat the Steelers 19-12 in round 5 in Wollongong, but have not
beaten them at Kogarah since 1995.