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And it’s all a business these days, they say.
But sport is a matter of the heart, and as every barracker who’s supported an underdog will tell you, it’s about memories and dreams.
Reality? That’s the boring beast we’re trying to avoid for a few blissful hours.
“People don’t have the Steelers any more and I think a lot of people don’t follow the merger, so the Cutters are the closest we’ve got.''
As footy fans fire up this weekend for the climax of two football codes – Australian Rules today and Rugby League tomorrow – one mob of diehards are saving their loyalties for a team that no longer exists.
The Illawarra Steelers’ fan-atics have their hearts in a time before the merger with St George, and their loyalties live on through memorabilia, an active Facebook page, and the memories of a team which had its ups and downs, but it was brave, and it was theirs.
This weekend, for the first time in a long time, Steelers fanatics have something to cheer about on grand final weekend.
The Illawarra Cutters, descendants of the Steelers, are playing in the curtain-raiser game before Sunday’s NRL Grand Final, and those who have hung on to their old loyalties post-merger are buoyant.
The Cutters won the Premiership NSW competition last week, beating the more fancied Mounties, and will now take their place as the blue state’s champion, up against the Queensland champion Burleigh Bears.
For Tony Mather and Peter Head, who run the Illawarra Steelers Fanatics Facebook page, it’s like Christmas.
Mr Mather is busy planning his 23rd wedding anniversary on Saturday, which of course is the first priority. After that, it will be all red and white.
“People don’t have the Steelers any more and I think a lot of people don’t follow the merger, so the Cutters are the closest we’ve got,” Mr Mather said.
”I follow the merger but it’s not the same thing as having our own team from Wollongong.”
The name Cutters comes from major sponsor Illawarra Coal – just as the Steelers owed its name to BHP’s sponsorship.
Last week’s game showed that for fans, sport is a matter of the heart.
”I have to say, watching them last week in the grand final, I haven’t felt like that watching a game with the Dragons. It took me back to back in the days when we had our local team playing here.
”They had some tough times, but they were brave. They never gave up.”
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward put out a media release urging the region to get behind the Cutters.
Of course for the fanatics they don’t need anyone to remind them. You wouldn’t call them barnacles – it’s probably more appropriate to say they’re rusted on.
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