Dragons CEO defends turnout at awards
ST GEORGE Illawarra chief executive Ryan Webb has described criticism of his club’s end-of-season awards night turnout as “unwarranted” and a “mountain out of a molehill”.
Just three of the Dragons’ 30-man roster attended the presentation evening – held at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, on October 4 – with the club again having to fend off insinuations about player disharmony.
Up to 80 per cent of the top squad were either leaving the club, playing in the World Cup, interstate or overseas on holidays or completing family commitments. Players were also on annual leave – which
started on September 3 – when the night was held. There were only six to eight players who were actually available to attend. Dragons management pushed the date back to allow NRLW players to attend.
The club’s NRL and NRLW sides finished their playing commitments at different times this year.
Webb will further explain the alleged “snub” in a letter to club members later this week.
“I think it (criticism) is unwarranted because people haven’t really taken into account the reasons why people couldn’t go,” Webb said.
“The implication was that players weren’t getting on but it had nothing to do with that. This was a timing issue. People are putting two things together and it doesn’t make sense. It was a mountain out of a molehill.
“You’ll find most clubs will hold their presentation night right after their final game but we wanted to include NRL and NRLW so we chose to delay until the NRLW season was complete.
“We knew at that time that would affect the NRL players who could attend but we thought we would make an effort to include not just players but also staff, sponsors and everyone who supports both as a whole-of-club.
“We knew we wouldn’t be able to get everyone. We just didn’t think the media would try and turn it into an issue. It’s why some other NRLW clubs separate the two, because of this. If we did it the other way the girls couldn’t come.”
The three players to attend were Ben Hunt, Zac Lomax and Michael Molo.