St George Illawarra's 2026 Season Begins with Merchandise Scandal and Charity Shield Loss
St George Illawarra's 2026 NRL campaign has commenced under a cloud of controversy, with the club accused of taking a cheap option in member merchandising just days before suffering an embarrassing Charity Shield defeat to South Sydney. The Dragons, less than two weeks from their season opener in Las Vegas, fielded a near full-strength side but fell 28-24 to a second-string Rabbitohs team at WIN Stadium.
Merchandise Mishap Sparks Fan Outrage
The backlash erupted when member Mark Raynor took to social media to complain about the caps included with 2026 season memberships. Sharing an image of the stitching, Raynor suggested the club had altered leftover 2025 merchandise to create the 2026 items. 'I got my season ticket merchandise today and the cap looks like 2025 then dodgied up to look like 2026. Not professional at all,' he posted.
Fans quickly echoed his concerns, with one noting: '100% that's a rework. The top of the 6 should be curved like the 2 is. Either that or they have used a completely different font for the 6.' Another added: 'Definitely looks like trying to re-use last year's stock.' The incident has drawn comparisons to past blunders, including the infamous 2024 'Dargons' typo on Jack Bird's milestone jersey and the 2025 NRLW jersey that misspelled 'Saturday' as 'Staurday' for Indie Bostock.
Charity Shield Disappointment Compounds Issues
On the field, coach Shane Flanagan named his strongest available side, excluding Valentine Holmes and hooker Jacob Liddle. Despite a promising start with new halfback Daniel Atkinson setting up Clint Gutherson for an early try, the Dragons struggled. Key moments included:
- Lock Hame Sele suffering a category-one concussion just 90 seconds into the game, though he is expected to be fit for Las Vegas pending NRL protocols.
- Damien Cook butchered a golden chance for a second try after dropping the ball with the line beckoning.
- Former Dragons player Matt Dufty, now with South Sydney on a NSW Cup contract, scored to level the match at 12-12 by halftime.
Even after Souths lost halfback Jonah Glover to a broken jaw, they dominated. Tries from Latrell Siegwalt and Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, capitalising on Dragons errors, put the Rabbitohs in control. Although Luciano Leilua and Mathew Feagai scored late tries for St George Illawarra, it was too little too late as Souths winger Jordi Mazzone sealed the victory.
Historical Blunders Resurface
The merchandise scandal has reignited memories of the club's previous embarrassments. In 2024, Jack Bird's 150th milestone jersey misspelled the club's name as 'Dargons,' sparking widespread ridicule on social media. Just a year later, NRLW debutant Indie Bostock's jersey featured the typo 'Staurday,' leading to fresh calls for a proofreader. Fans referenced these incidents, with one commenting: 'Well it is St George, not unfamiliar with embroidery mistakes.'
Daily Mail has contacted St George Illawarra for comment on the allegations. As the Dragons prepare to face Canterbury in their season opener, they must address both on-field performance and off-field professionalism to avoid further setbacks in their 2026 campaign.
