A time for grandstanding as WIN Jubilee blows its kazoo

It was the kind of occasion for which St George Illawarra fans in Wollongong wait in hope. The Dragons' return to the revamped WIN Jubilee Oval at Kogarah was marked in spectacular fashion in yesterday's Sydney derby against the Sharks.The new stand increased capacity to 20,000 and the game was officially declared a sell-out an hour before kick-off, with a sea of red and white filling the hill on the opposite side of the ground.In a bizarre moment just before the match got underway, the crowd even set a Guinness world record by becoming the largest group to blow kazoos continuously for five minutes. Not having been played on for 12 months while the ground was redeveloped, the playing surface was pristine and a beautiful Sunday afternoon made it the perfect occasion for fans to flock back to St George's tradional home.It was a colourful postcard scene for the Dragons and the NRL at a time when rugby league is still recovering from the last round of alcohol-related off-field incidents.And it was the kind of day that Illawarra rugby league fans are desperate to witness at beachside WIN Stadium before it's too late.The rusting, dilapidated western grandstand at WIN Stadium reflects Wollongong's uncertain future in the NRL.A State Government report released earlier this year revealed that if there is no upgrade within five years, the grandstand could be condemned as unsafe, meaning the end of home games in Wollongong.The new Kogarah grandstand's facilities are a major boost for the Dragons' ability to attract corporate sponsors and Red V membership, with all leagues clubs battling crippling poker machine taxation and the effects of the global financial crisis.And while speculation continues about money being allocated for WIN Stadium in this year's State Government budget, after the team was forced to play six home games at the cavernous ANZ Stadium last season, the return of the suburban Kogarah atmosphere was welcome.Yesterday's game also marked dual international Wendell Sailor's 200th NRL game, 16 seasons after he debuted for the Brisbane Broncos as a teenager.In addition, it was former Dragons superstar five-eighth Trent Barrett's first game back at Kogarah - three years after he left to play with English Super League club Wigan - this time wearing the blue, white and black of their arch-rivals Cronulla.Barrett was predictably met with the boos and jeers one might expect from a fiercely pro-Dragons crowd. Yesterday's blockbuster was a fitting celebration for the Dragons' Kogarah homecoming. But back in Wollongong the clock continues to tick.