It was October 1990: I was a skinny runt of a 15 year old, walking to school on a bright, clear morning with the sunshine beating on my back.
Today was one of the rare “mufti” days where us kids could throw our suffocating school uniforms in the corner of our bedrooms and dress in any casual attire we chose.
There were the cool kids who wore flash outfits, the lads with daggy shirts and stone-washed jeans and the grungy kids who couldn’t care less and wore their stained tracky dacks.
And what did I wear? Naturally, I proudly donned my South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey – the one with Smith’s Crisps emblazoned on the front and a number six on the back in honour of my favourite player, the mercurial Phil Blake.
Now, this was the year that this once mighty club finished last on the ladder with two measly wins, after finishing as minor premiers the previous season. While my choice of attire didn’t cause a reaction from my school mates, I recall my chemistry teacher saying, “Gee, you’re brave wearing that after the season you’ve had”.
Little did she know that I had in fact attended every Souths home game that year (along with my best mate Glen, who was a Roosters supporter), so the scars were a lot deeper than she could have imagined.
Wearing the jersey was my own personal way of saying that, despite the fact that the Rabbits were clearly destined for a decade of mediocrity (it actually turned out to be two decades), I would proudly wear my jersey, always.
I can’t help but feel that the psychological turmoil suffered that year, leaving the Sydney Football Stadium every fortnight dejected and deflated by another loss, has in some way formed the self-deprecating, optimistic bloke I am today.
Having stared mediocrity in the face, you learn to love life for what it is and start to see the world through rose (rather than cardinal and myrtle) coloured glasses.
And my chemistry teacher was partly right. Wearing my jersey, despite a win loss record of 2 – 20 and a points differential that would make a grown man weep…well, I did feel brave. As well as a little foolish, but certainly not embarrassed or ashamed.
However, I am embarrassed, and a little ashamed, by the behaviour of a small group of Rabbitohs supporters lately – particularly in the many blog forums I’ve been wading through.
So, as someone who loves my club and always will, I want to put forward a reality check to my fellow Bunnies fans – call it a ‘Community Service Announcement’, if you will. So here goes:
1. We haven’t won it yet
“It’s too easy this comp”, “Yet another classy win by the Premiers elect”, “We’ve already got one hand on the trophy”.
These are some of the comments I’ve read on blogs. It’s all well and good to be optimistic, but boys, I have news for you: gloating is arguably one of the least attractive traits that anybody can display.
Gloating makes you sound like a tosser. Worst of all, gloating gives ammunition to your mates to get stuck into you should the Bunnies fall at the final hurdle.
Nobody likes a gloater, especially one who has endured 20 less than admirable years in the comp and therefore hasn’t had much to gloat about.
So, please stop gloating. Follow the lead of Greg Inglis, or even better, John Sattler.
Be humble. Accept the victories with grace and the defeats with style. Whatever you do, don’t gloat.
2. The NSWRL is not against you
It’s obvious that all league fans have their own perceptions about individual clubs. I have for example heard the Melbourne Storm labelled as the league’s “untouchables”, apparently favoured by the administrators and allowed to get away with more than any other club.
Then again, I’ve also heard the untouchables label applied to other teams: notably Souths, the Roosters, Manly and Brisbane.
It does get a bit silly because fans of each of the clubs named above often believe that their own club is the whipping boy of the league, hated and harassed by administrators and the judiciary. Of course, you can’t be an untouchable and a whipping boy at the same time, so I choose to believe that the NRL behaves fairly under the circumstances.
Which brings me to some of my fellow Souths fans. You guys should know that the league is not out to get you.
They don’t want you out of the comp. They don’t want to deny you a premiership. Talking that way makes you sound like a paranoid conspiracy-theorist. Stop doing it. Please.
The above is not discounting that there are some players whose success at avoiding suspension does lead one to believe that they are “untouchable” to the referees and judiciary – I’m talking to you Billy Slater. But that’s an article for another day.
3. Stop whining about Origin
Following from point two, please stop whinging about Origin selections. We have 17 players in our run-on squad. Greg Inglis is a Maroon (albeit, a controversial one).
So too are Ben Te’o and Chris McQueen. The Burgess brothers are Poms. Isaac and Bryson are Kiwis. So, a big chunk of our squad is ineligible to wear the sky blue jersey.
Granted, Nathan Merritt is deeply unlucky never to have been selected over the years, but there are strong arguments for and against his selection, so I’ll cop that one.
I do think that Adam Reynolds is superior to Mitchell Pearce in almost every facet of a halfback’s game and should be given a go, and Johnny Sutton was no doubt very unfortunate to miss out, especially given the foolish way in which his drill with Josh Reynolds was conducted.
But the reality is that there are a lot of players unlucky to miss out. This year I would add the names Todd Carney and Tim Grant to that list. If I was either of those guys I would feel deeply aggrieved at being overlooked.
Given their strong form all season they should both be there. But I don’t hear Sharks or Panthers fans having a constant whine about it. So please stop.
So there you have it – my Community Service Offering for fellow Red and Green fans.
Like you I’ll be hoping to don my old Smiths Crisps jersey (which remarkably still fits, if a little bit tighter than in the old days) on that final day in September, passionately cheering my team all the way.
But without the negative stuff.
Clevo
Guest
When 6 teams used to compete during black and white tv
seven dollers worth
Guest
Wow, all this carry on over a team thats won more grandfinals than any other team.
Clevo
Guest
Is clem short for clemydia?
Clevo
Guest
Obnoxious is the word I'm looking for and more relevant now
Renegade
Guest
Con, If only more Souths supporters were like you my friend... great article written with common sense.
Renegade
Guest
Averaging 7th??? You can't count 1st place for this year when there is more than half the season still to go.....this is exactly what Con is writing about above!!
Silvertail
Guest
Soufs tall poppy , ha ha ha , you maybe doing ok so far this year but its been 42 since you archived anything , but hey your gettn full of yourselves who am I to spoil ya party , still 42 long years , when you think about it say ya win a GF this year , your still a joke , ya still been pathetic for 42 years !!!
Clem
Guest
Maybe you should look up obnoxious because I feel you may have misunderstood the definition....
Clem
Guest
Mate, welcome to Australia we call it 'Tall Poppy Syndrome.' Generalisations about all Souths fans is your prerogative, generally most people are good irrespective of who they support. The wonderful fabric of rugby league breeds these cultural variables. People who really have Souths as their second team still will because most Aussies love an under dog story and after all this great champion of a club has battled through defines and now we have the under dog once again climbing from the pits to hopefully a premiership. We all know we haven't won anything yet but to quote Phil Gould 'So Souths fans enjoy the ride.'
jack c
Guest
rabbits, I think you really dont understand other peoples attitude to souths. Over the years people liked them because of what they stood for. Players were humble but tough,fans were solid and humble, even in 89 with the good teams fans were humble. Maybe its the new generation but the fans have lost all the qualityies that made other fans like them and their club even when they were winning.
jack c
Guest
I was one who had a soft spot for souths for 35yrs(growing up my best mate followed them), But this yr has really tested me. The fans constant whinning and arogance shown on forums has really dissapointed me. I assume it has to be some the younger fans because you wouldn't expect grown mature adults to carry on the way some people have. Maybe the years of lack of success has shown that they don't know how to be humble. i know a lot of other supporters feel the same way which to me is sad. As my team is looking little chance i would love to egg souths on but find myself hoping they get beat just because of the fans. As has been pointed out most the teams is QLD,Pommies or Islanders with a few blues thrown in. I think reyolds will get a chance and i thought merrit should have in front of Turner a few years ago, But he is not as good as the 2 wingers we have now and has never stood out in rep games.He is a good club player. To the fans who dont carry on i feel for you because you will all be tarred with the same brush because of the few inbreds who follow your club.
Clevo
Guest
Everyone gives souths a flogging cause they have the most obnoxious fans in the game
eagleJack
Guest
But in those 23 years your team have played finals football twice. Comparatively Manly have played finals football 8 times in the last 8 years. Play a consistent, high standard of football every year and your players will be rewarded with a Blues jersey (well the ones who are eligible which isn't very many).
THENRLRABBITOHS
Guest
So much jealousy towards South Sydney in the past 3 years. Its funny that all other NRL fans loved Souths when they were poor and getting flooged in every game. Now that Souths are financial and are a very hard team to beat all the whinging from other team supporters has become so full of frustration now that South Sydney are likely to win this years premiership. Fact is there is no point trying to put a downer on the Bunnies. There are many teams in the comp who havent even won a premiership and there are teams at this point in time that have bad management and are so far in debt it will be a test to see if some teams are still around in 5 years. My point is , so many NRL supporters give Souths a flogin due to their past, well toughn up you jealous whingers cause the Bunnies are here to stay and are in it to win!
Super Eel
Guest
2007 Merritt was unlucky a bit when they picked Hayne who turned into one of NSW best players. Calling the selectors racist is more stupidity than bad luck which has probably kept him out since. From memory Sutton was a chance on of the years but broke his hand in City Country didn't he. Then he was "injured" this year for that match , maybe if he roughed it out that game he would have got the spot over Josh Reynolds. 2008-2011 Souths were poor. Last year you came good but not early , didn't you lose like 3 of first 5 games. Hardly a good start to get Origin buzz.
Matt_S
Guest
Southsforever, that is my biggest gripe this year is "where are the fans". Disgusting their was only 13,000 last home game. They might as well move to Suncorp where we QLD based fans, along with those who appreciate a great team, can guarantee 20,000 minimum.
Terry
Guest
I agree that Suths prior to Russell were bad..... no doubt. Piggins ran the place into the ground and took the FC money to prop up the LC. But here is how Souths have fared snce 2007. but how far do you go back to judge the current fate of the non-selections? Souths since 2007. 2013............... currently 1st 2012............... 3rd 2011............... 10th, 2 points off 8th spot 2010............... 9th 2 points off 8th spot 2009................ 10th. 2 points off 8th spot. 2008................14th 2007.................. 7th Hardly a terrible performance, keeping in mind 3 years running they missed the finals by one game. So Souths as a club has averaged 7th spot and NSW has lost every series in that time, we have had dozens of nuffies and duds play SOO but not a SINGLE Souths player? , from a team thats averaged respectable results in that time?
Terry
Guest
Paranoid? 23 years and not a single Souths player debuting. Not one. 23 years. nearly 1/4 of a century and not one Souths player deemed worthy? Not even as a said a flip of the coin judgement? But we'll see i guess if NSW loses tomorrow night and whether Mitchell keeps his spot or if not whether the next in line ala Adam gets a run.
Southsforever
Guest
The real disappointing thing for me as a long time Souths supporter is where are the fans on game day. Yes we are having a great year to date but with the exception of the game against the dogs the crowds I feel have been lower than what the boys deserve. Souths fans need to show their support with their feet and attend games especially the home games. We should have at least 20,000 every week if not more against the better teams and then if the run continues which I hope and pray it does we can fill stadiums during the back end and dream of long held dreams being fulfilled.
Super Eel
Guest
Terry, Your club has been terrible for years. No one has debuted for your club because up until this year they haven't deserved it. You are unlucky this year with Merritt and Sutton but I am sure next year things will change when your players have more success and big game experience under their belt. Con is right on the money at present about Souths fans , I have never heard such a bunch of whingers in my life. For years when you were bad it was whinge , whinge , whinge . Now when your side is going gangbusters all you can do is keep whinging about Origin despite the fact your 3 best players aren't even eligible for NSW and are rep players elsewhere. In fact you have 3 QLD reps , Issac Luke a Kiwi rep , Asotasi and Lima as Samoan reps , Sam B a Pommy rep and Luke and George B all but certain World Cup players , and you still want to whinge about being hard done by from selectors , spare us. The overwealming response I have seen in the media and by fans is that this NSW team is near spot on. You are a special breed you Souths fans.