It's 20 years this month since the late, great Graham Murray was sacked as Steelers coach when the Super League war erupted.

His removal would ensure Illawarra's allegiance to the ARL and put the club on the path to the joint venture it is today.

Whether or not rugby league in this region is in a better place is central to a debate about the corporate dollar, the NRL's strategic planning, the 2010 premiership and of course, why the Dragons only play four home games a year at WIN Stadium.

Murray would always talk with a clear sense of warmth about his days in charge, maintaining the Steelers deserved a grand final place in 1992, when they lost 4-nil to St George in the preliminary final, denied a couple of tries by contentious forward pass calls.

His time in Wollongong ended after facilitating talks with players about a future in Super League.

But in remembering Murray's role in making the Steelers competitive in the pre-Super League war days - even if the 1992 Tooheys Challenge was the only silverware they won - it's time another Illawarra hero got the credit he deserves.

Regardless of Friday night's result, Paul McGregor, perhaps the greatest Steelers player of them all, has turned St George Illawarra into a credible force this year.

It was only five weeks ago, after losing their first two games, McGregor became the fans' latest pantomime villain - a supposed symbol of the Dragons lack of direction both on and off the field.

While supporters rage against the Peter Doust-operated machine, McGregor has reignited in the club the heart and desire not seen since the Dragons won the JJ Giltinan Shield, NRL premiership and World Club challenge under Wayne Bennett.

A star of those relatively heady days in the early 90s, once the Steelers had finally coaxed McGregor to leave Dapto at the age of 23, perhaps McGregor still has Murray as a source of inspiration.

A NSW State of Origin and Roosters (2000) and Cowboys (2005) grand final coach, Murray died in August 2013 after a series of heart attacks.

He was also a highly-respected Mercury columnist.

McGregor, a pall bearer at Murray's funeral, has made changes for which the Dragons are only just starting to see the benefits.

He has the players buying into the uncompromising defence as seen in the Bennett glory days, when now captain Ben Creagh would lead the charge with the call of "lockdown" repelling raids on their own goal line.

The Dragons were praised for finding some attacking spark in the 31-6 win over Canterbury, but it was the defensive effort against an admittedly disjointed and undermanned opponent which provided the platform.

Results aside, the attitude is back. The type of punishing mongrel not seen since Neville Costigan and Jeremy Smith were in the trenches.

It will be some weeks before there can be an accurate measure on the Dragons' finals credentials, as McGregor shapes a squad in transition.

McGregor denied having a point to prove tackling Bennett in Friday night's NRL clash at Kogarah, even though he was punted as conditioning coach when the now Broncos coach arrived in Wollongong at the end of 2008.

It's been a long and remarkable journey for McGregor and the doubters still remain.

Their lingering doubt is whether he is the man to lead them long term.

It must be remembered how quickly McGregor has had to implement his blueprint.

He was only appointed full-time in August, as the Dragons believed Bennett was going to return after a difficult stint in Newcastle.

In reflecting on the past two decades, it is important to consider the role McGregor has in the region's future, given the significant part he has played in its past.

The fact is rugby league in the Illawarra will continue to suffer while only four Dragons games are played in Wollongong and that's out of his control.

McGregor - like Paul Green at the Cowboys, Jason Taylor (Tigers) and Andrew McFadden (Warriors) - are the new generation coaches earning the code's respect.

Supporters continue to criticise the joint venture board and Doust over the club's financial state, but need to recognise one of their own has the ability to build a new, successful era.