WIN boosts Dragons coffers

St George Illawarra's future on the south coast is secure, with WIN Corporation announcing it has purchased a quarter share in the NRL joint venture club for $6.5 million.

The money put forward by the regional television network will help ease the financial burden on the Steelers Club, the Illawarra arm of the Dragons, which is struggling to pay back a loan of $8 million to its joint venture partner, the St George Leagues Club. The financial boost, for which WIN will acquire 24 per cent of the joint venture, will see Wollongong maintain its quota of hosting half of the Dragons' NRL matches at WIN Stadium each year and enable to Steelers Club to work towards financial viability.

Dragons chairman Warren Lockwood says having WIN as a corporate partner is a major coup for rugby league across the Illawarra.