St George Illawarra has responded to criticism from 2010 premiership hero Jamie Soward.
Soward expressed that he has “never felt wanted” at the Dragons, despite his pivotal role in securing the joint venture’s sole NRL premiership 15 years ago, and more recently returning to coach the NRLW team.
The former playmaker first voiced his concerns on the The Bye Round podcast and later elaborated when he was approached by Wide World of Sports on Wednesday.
“Personally, I’ve never felt at ease, like I was truly part of the Dragons club, and I stand by that,” he told WWOS.
“As a player, when you observe other clubs and see how former players are celebrated… you play Newcastle on Old Boys Day, and that’s the toughest game of the year. They’ve had events, enjoyed some drinks, and are treated like they’re genuinely part of the club.”
Wayne Bennett (centre) celebrates with Jamie Soward and Dean Young following the Dragons’ 2010 NRL premiership victory. Getty
“After leaving the club in 2013—having played State of Origin during my time there and winning two minor premierships—I never felt truly welcomed back.
“When I returned as a coach, I still felt somewhat out of place regarding my position within such a storied club.
“I’m not at liberty to disclose names, but several former teammates reached out to me after those remarks, stating they share similar sentiments.
“It’s disheartening because it is a proud club with a rich history, yet… we rarely hear about the achievements of the 2010 team, do we?”
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Fellow 2010 premiership player Matt Cooper also shared his own experiences of a falling out with the club he is revered in.
Cooper opted not to attend the 10-year premiership celebration, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. However, he has since clarified that he has reconciled with the Dragons.
In the coming weeks, players from the 2010 premiership squad will gather to celebrate the 15-year anniversary, but Soward expressed frustration that he had not received a formal invitation from the club.
Jamie Soward with the Dragons. Sydney Morning Herald
On Wednesday, the Dragons issued a statement to Wide World of Sports addressing the situation.
“The Dragons wish to unequivocally affirm that Jamie Soward is a significant figure within the Dragons fraternity and is always welcome at the club,” they stated.
“Although Jamie’s email was initially overlooked in the 2010 reunion invitation because of a clerical error, that mistake was quickly rectified.
“Our CEO, Tim Watsford, personally reached out to Jamie on Monday following his recent remarks on The Bye Round podcast to introduce himself and assure Jamie of his warm welcome back to the Dragons.”
“Jamie is a 2010 premiership victor with the Dragons and has occupied various important roles within the club since retiring, and we eagerly anticipate his attendance at the upcoming 2010 reunion.”
Soward indicated that he will likely attend the 15-year reunion, although he has prior commentary commitments with 2GB that same evening.
Nevertheless, he feels that the success of the 2010 team is not celebrated as it would be at other NRL clubs.
“You frequently hear about the Sharks and their incredible achievement in 2016; the Cowboys celebrated their 30-year anniversary with dinners and tributes. You hardly ever hear about the Dragons,” he told WWOS.
“Just because I feel this way doesn’t mean everyone has to, but I know I’m not alone in my thoughts.
“I don’t require luxury suites or anything of that nature. The 2010 premiership was 15 years ago, and we’ve only celebrated it once. We had to wait for COVID to subside… now, there are discussions among players regarding the reunion details, but it is not coming from the club; it’s from the players themselves.
“The Roosters treat their players exceptionally well—their 2013 team had a three-day celebration in 2023. That’s the difference.
“Sadly, we don’t receive the same level of recognition.”
DRAGONS 2010 PREMIERSHIP TEAM
1. Darius Boyd 2. Brett Morris 3. Mark Gasnier 4. Matt Cooper 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Jamie Soward 7. Ben Hornby (c) 8. Neville Costigan 9. Dean Young 10. Michael Weyman 11. Beau Scott 12. Ben Creagh 13. Jeremy Smith 14. Nathan Fien 15. Trent Merrin 16. Matt Prior 17. Jarrod Saffy
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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