Willow's Word

The Ghosts of Kogarah Past

Kogarah Jubilee Oval is just another suburban ground surrounded by leafy backstreet pubs, corner stores and red tiled rooves. It is the embodiment of a faded order, a world of rugby league that has witnessed generations of change, standing firm as progress passes it by. But Kogarah Jubilee Oval also bears silent witness to legendary feats of tremendous athleticism and Australian machismo.

Standing at the eastern gates and looking down into that imperfect bowl, I can see Kogarah Jubilee Oval, circled by grass and bench seats without backs. It doesn't look particularly interesting. It's basic, simple and deprived of the razzamatazz that has overtaken the Greatest Game of All. The old scoreboard that posted so many record achievements looks lonely and out of place against the backdrop of modern Sydney and its sprawling and uncompromising skyline.

Despite this, Kogarah Jubilee Oval is alive.

Looking west, and towards the grass which never used to be so verdant, my widening eyes can see a confident Graeme 'Changa' Langlands storming forward as he leads 12 equally tough and determined men onto Kogarah Jubilee Oval. They know every blade of grass, every camber, every divot. This is where they train, where their supporters have gathered, this is their home. Visiting teams don't need names etched into the home team jerseys to know their man - he's that terrifying looking bastard with the focussed glint in his eye. This is Kogarah Jubilee Oval, the home of St George Dragons Rugby League and, regardless of who the visitors are, St George are expected to win.

The game begins. I can smell the atmosphere and feel the bone crushing tackles as generations of players trample their opponents underfoot. I can hear the crowd roaring as 'Killer' Ken Kearney, Norm 'Sticks' Provan, Johnny 'Chook' Raper and Reg 'Puff' Gasnier crush all before them. I can see the baton passing to 'Slippery' Steve Morris and 'Lord Ted' Goodwin, running off 'Rocket' Rod Reddy to cross for yet another try.

I wake to the silence of the dusty western stand and look at all that has happened before and wonder if it will ever happen again. I hold firm to the fact that Kogarah Jubilee Oval is indeed a winner's circle. Between 1950 and 1999, St George enjoyed a 70% success rate at Kogarah winning 256 of their 371 games. They had a winning streak at Kogarah Jubilee Oval which lasted a mind staggering 13 years.

The ghosts of Kogarah's past echo loudly around the district of St George.

Just a few years ago it was home to one of the game's greatest clubs. Now it stands an empty monument waiting for the ghosts to depart.

These spectres however, will not depart until a new generation of champions take to the field, bringing with them new opportunities, new names, and a new breed of premiership-winning sides. For like Saints, they will forever watch over Kogarah Jubilee Oval, and hopefully they will like what they see.

NB: This article was written just prior to the announcement of September 5, 2002, that the Dragons were returning to Kogarah.

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