The celebrated white with a Red V jumper that features on this book's cover is proudly worn today by the St George Illawarra Dragons. The Dragons' fanbase is the biggest and most passionate in rugby league. 'There is something special at St George, a fellowship, a friendship,' League Immortal Reg Gasnier once said.
St George made their premiership debut on St George's Day, 23 April 1921. Seventy-eight years later, the club entered a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers to become St George Illawarra. During the Dragons' first 100 years, a reputation for excellence was established, not just when they won 11 straight premierships (1956-66) but also in the successful seasons that followed. The fans' passion for the Red V is passed from generation to generation.
Volume 1 of Spirit of the Red V was highly praised. The release of this book marks the endpoint of the Dragons' centenary celebrations. It covers the careers of Saints legends Graeme Langlands and Billy Smith, twin premierships in 1977 and 1979, 20 years of near misses in the 1980s and '90s when the Dragons made five grand finals, the Super League war, a triumph in 2010 under coach Wayne Bennett, and the frustrations of the past decade. Some critics argue that St George became defunct with the joint venture; in fact, the spirit proudly lives on. The Red V remains one of the most recognisable and loved brands in Australian sport.
