Dragons left red-faced after 13 premiership players absent from 2010 reunion event
Only five members of St George Illawarra's 2010 NRL squad reportedly attended a 15-year premiership reunion event on Saturday.
News Corp reports premiership players Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Jason Nightingale, and Michael Weyman, as well as squad member Dan Hunt, who didn't play in the grand final, were at Kogarah Oval to mark the occasion.
It means 13 players who were involved in that victory over the Roosters 15 years ago did not go to the celebrations.
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The premiership players who were not there were Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Mark Gasnier, Matt Cooper, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby, Neville Costigan, Beau Scott, Jeremy Smith, Nathan Fien, Trent Merrin, Matt Prior, and Jarrod Saffy.
Hornby is an assistant coach with South Sydney, but the Rabbitohs had an NRL bye in round 19. Morris now works with the Roosters in a coaching role.
In a tweet on Sunday that has since been deleted, Soward was coy about his reasons for not attending.
Coach Wayne Bennett celebrates with Jamie Soward and Dean Young after the Dragons' 2010 victory. Getty
"I decided not to attend the 2010 reunion for personal reasons," he wrote.
"The whole squad was not going to be there, and I didn't believe that was a big enough event without them there.
"Tim (Watsford, CEO) and I spoke about in the future, making it a bigger event. I respect him for contacting me."
In an interview with Wide World of Sports last month, Soward said he would likely attend the event despite having 2GB commentating commitments that same night.
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He famously fell out with the club despite leading the joint venture to its only premiership in the NRL era.
Premiership teammate Cooper has also spoken in recent years of his disappointment with how the Dragons treat their former players.
Soward claimed it had been left up to the players themselves to organise any type of celebrations in the decade and a half since the famous 2010 triumph.
"For me personally, I've never felt comfortable, like I was part of the Dragons club, and I stand by that," he said.
Mark Gasnier and Jamie Soward of the Dragons in 2010. Sydney Morning Herald
"When you are a player and you look at other clubs, you see the way (past players) are presented to the crowd... You go and play Newcastle on Old Boys day, and it's the bloody hardest game of the year. They've had a function, they have been on the drink all day, and they are actually treated like they're part of the club.
"I left the club in 2013, I'd played State of Origin (when I was) there, won two minor premierships, and never felt welcomed back.
"It's really sad because it is such a proud, historic club, but ... you never hear about the 2010 team, do you?"
When Wide of World of Sports contacted the Dragons and put Soward's comments to them last month, the club defended itself.
"The Dragons would like to emphatically state that Jamie Soward is an important part of the Dragons and is always welcome at the club," it said.
"While Jamie's email was originally not included on the 2010 reunion invitation due to a clerical issue, that was quickly rectified.
"Jamie is a 2010 premiership winner with the Dragons and has held a number of key roles at the club since his retirement from playing and we look forward to welcoming him to the 2010 reunion soon."
New Dragons CEO Watsford has since spoken to Soward about his comments.
