St George Illawarra’s 2026 season is off to a shocking start, accused of taking a cheap option in member’s merchandising days before an embarrassing Charity Shield loss to South Sydney.
Less than a fortnight out from their season opener in Las Vegas, a near full-strength St George Illawarra team suffered a 28-24 Charity Shield defeat at the hands of a second-string South Sydney side.
And it came after one member took to social media to complain about the caps included with their season memberships for 2026.
Sharing an image of the stitching on the hat, Saints fan Mark Raynor said it looked like the club had altered leftover 2025 merchandise to give to members in 2026.
‘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 said.
‘100% thats 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. I’d ask them for another one with a proper 2026 on there,’ another fan responded.
Members accused the club of altering leftover 2025 caps, crudely re-stitching numbers to resemble updated 2026 merchandise releases
Fans quickly referenced past blunders, including the infamous 2024 ‘Dargons’ typo on Jack Bird’s milestone jersey
Another embarrassment followed in 2025 when Indie Bostock’s NRLW jersey misspelled Saturday as Staurday
Another added: ‘Definitely looks like trying to re-use last year’s stock.’
‘Well it is St George, not unfamiliar with embroidery mistakes,’ another posted, referring to previous blunders the club has endured.
The Dragons were left red faced in 2024 after Jack Bird’s 150th milestone jersey misspelled the club’s name as ‘Dargons.’
The engraving error was quickly spotted by fans and spread widely on social media. The blunder sparked ridicule online and became an ongoing joke among supporters.
Then the Dragons were ridiculed in 2025 after NRLW debutant Indie Bostock’s jersey misspelled ‘Saturday’ as ‘Staurday.’
The error came just a year after the club’s infamous ‘Dargons’ typo, sparking fresh calls for a proofreader.
Daily Mail has contacted St George Illawarra for comment.
The Red V face Canterbury in a fortnight’s time and will have to up the ante if they are to prove a match for the Bulldogs.
The latest backlash arrived days after Saints suffered a 28-24 Charity Shield loss to South Sydney
Shane Flanagan fielded a near full-strength side, excluding Valentine Holmes and hooker Jacob Liddle
Except for Valentine Holmes, who is expected to be fit for their round-one clash, and hooker Jacob Liddle, Shane Flanagan named his best side for Saturday night’s meeting at WIN Stadium.
But, save for a few moments of magic from new halfback Daniel Atkinson, there was little to suggest the Dragons will trouble the Bulldogs on March 1.
Flanagan lost luckless lock Hame Sele to a concussion just 90 seconds into the game.
Sele was diagnosed as a category-one concussion and, providing he passes the NRL’s return-to-play protocols, should be clear to line up in Las Vegas.
Sele has missed big chunks of the last two seasons with injury and a heart condition but the early signs were that the Dragons would be able to cover his absence.
Atkinson was lively and made a break down the right to set up Clint Gutherson for the first try of the night with just eight minutes gone.
But the young Rabbitohs side were unfazed and Talanoa Penitani burned Moses Suli to draw the Bunnies level.
Damien Cook responded to re-establish a six-point lead for the Dragons only to then butcher a golden chance for a second.
Late tries proved futile as Souths capitalised on Dragons errors, leaving concerns ahead of the Bulldogs clash
The Dragons will launch their premiership campaign on the bright lights of Las Vegas, taking the NRL spectacle to the United States
Cook dropped the ball with the line beckoning after Gutherson and Atkinson had combined for another upfield break.
Then former Dragons man Matt Dufty – back in Australia on a NSW Cup contract with the Bunnies after being shown the door by Super League club Warrington – darted over to make it 12-12 at the break.
But even accounting for the fact they lost halfback Jonah Glover to a broken jaw, the Rabbitohs kept coming at Saints.
Latrell Siegwalt cruised in before Bayleigh Bentley-Hape capitalised on a loose carry from Setu Tu to move Souths out of sight.
A try to Luciano Leilua briefly stemmed the flow before Rabbitohs winger Jordi Mazzone pounced on another Dragons error to wrap up victory for Souths.
Dragons centre Mathew Feagai crossed for a try with three minutes left but it was a case of too little too late.
