 During World War II , the design of the jersey was modified because the dye used to colour jerseys was needed for the war effort . This saw Eastern Suburbs playing in different colours and an altered design . Instead of using the traditional hoops , the side used a sky @-@ blue based jersey and a red and white V @-@ strip around the collar . This is the only noted time in the club 's history where the traditional deep blue , red and white combination was absent from the jersey . After the war , the V @-@ strip design reverted to the original blue that had been present in the original jerseys , and the single red and white stripes around the shirt 's chest were incorporated with a single white stripe surrounded by a red stripe on either side . This jersey appeared in the 1950s and remains the team 's base design . 
