FEBRUARY 28 remains the most significant date in the history of the Illawarra Steelers, but this year it will be extra special with the 14 'Originals' set to gather toast to old times just a stone's throw from where they made history.
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In what's quite possibly just the second time they've all been in the same room, the 14 players who took to park in Illawarra's first NSWRL outing at what was then - and to some still - known as Wollongong Showground, will attend a special luncheon later this month to coincide with that significant date.
Coached by Allan Fitzgibbon and skippered by John Dorahy, the Steelers went down 17-7 to Penrith. Prop Greg Cook, who was the first player signed but the fledgling club, also became its first try-scorer.
In other notable distinctions, hooker Barry Jensen also became to first Steeler sent to the sin-bin, while Mitchell Jones was the first player substituted onto the park.
It was a day of celebration regardless of the result, coming two years after the Steelers were given the go-ahead to enter the world's premier competition. It was more than a significant day for Wollongong, with the effort the first time the NSWRL spread its reach beyond the Sydney metro area.
"Prior that day the major rugby league competition in the world was played between Hornsby and Sutherland," founding general manager Bob Millward said.
"Even though we'd missed out in 1954 when Illawarra Leagues Club nearly bought a Test side and again in 1966, we took the league and said 'this is your major competition and it's only played between those two suburbs'.
"Twice you've had the opportunity to put Illawarra into the competition and twice you've rejected it. When we went back on December 13 1980 we had the catchphrase 'Illawarra's no longer at the intersection, it's gone through the intersection' and we succeeded.
"We made it, we ran them out on February 28, 1982 in front of just under 10,000 people which started 18 years of the Illawarra Steelers. The 13 players that took the paddock, including one replacement player (Jones) we used in the second half, will all attend.
"There's a story in every player and there's a story in how we eventually got there on the third go."
Tickets and information about the February 28 luncheon are available from the Steelers Club.
Mitch Jennings
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
Sports writer. Sport is my passion, rugby league my first love.
