Peter Newell, a key figure in bringing the NRL to the Illawarra, has died aged 71 following a battle with cancer.
Mr Newell stepped down as chair of the Steelers Club in July 2019 after 20 years' service amid ongoing health concerns.
In a statement, the St George Illawarra Dragons said they were deeply saddened by his death and expressed their condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren.
As the editor of the Illawarra's daily masthead, the Mercury, Mr Newell was influential in the Steelers joining the Sydney Rugby League Premiership in 1980.
"We had a saying when we started the Steelers, 'We're not joining the big league, we were bringing the big league to the Illawarra," said friend and former Steelers chief executive Bob Millward.
"Peter's influence was there through the Illawarra Mercury, he led the charge to back the Illawarra in those days, and it was only fitting that he eventually became the chairman of the club."
Mr Newell was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2003 for his role negotiating the Steelers' merger with St George in 1999.
As chairman, he oversaw the St George Illawarra Dragons' only NRL premiership in 2010.
"He would have been proud in his last days with us that rugby league, by way of the joint venture, is still being brought to the Illawarra," Mr Millward said.
Mr Newell's success as the head of the Steelers Club opened the door to the association representing clubs across the state and country.
"In recent years his greatest achievement was he was appointed the chairman of Clubs NSW and ultimately Clubs Australia where he did an outstanding job," Mr Millward said.
"Under the articles it is only two terms per person, but Peter was doing such an amazing job there that he was kept on for three or four terms.
"His achievements with Clubs NSW is a great legacy and one of many that he's left this community."
'Pioneer of the newspaper game'
Mr Newell joined the Mercury in 1970 and was appointed editor in 1978 before taking over as general manager.
Journalist Nick Hartgerink, who worked at the paper under Mr Newell's leadership between 1977 and 2001, said he would be remembered as a mentor and media innovator.
"He was quite a pioneer in the newspaper game," Mr Hartgerink said.
"The Mercury had the first colour printing press in Australia for a daily newspaper and we were the first paper to go to digital photography.
"They used us as a test bed for a lot of technologies and Peter very much led the way."
