Michael Maguire’s efforts to turn Souths into a premiership-winning club deserve the highest praise.
What he has done with the Rabbitohs in three years is phenomenal, and there’s every chance they can improve on Sunday’s stirring grand final win over Canterbury.
‘Madge’ has shown all the hallmarks of a great rugby league coach. He is a tremendous man-manager, cool under pressure, and never afraid to make the tough decisions for the good of his team.
Tactically, he is also right up at the top.
The Rabbitoh players – young and old – clearly warmed to Maguire, the man, and his coaching style.
I really liked hearing that Madge handed his premiership ring to star hooker Issac Luke, who missed the game because of suspension. That gesture shows what sort of bloke he is – the sort of coach players want to play for.
The grand final was ultra-physical, a genuine battle of strength and will, and the Rabbitohs were simply too good. I was proud of the gutsy effort put in by my old club, but they lacked the firepower to force the decision and Souths raced away.
The ground was a sea of emotion on the night and as a league fan it was good to see a proud foundation club such as South Sydney end their drought and chalk up title number 21. The game was played before a record crowd and the TV viewing figures were records as well.
Sammy Burgess was clearly the story of the night, suffering a cheekbone fracture in the opening collision of the game and playing on to inspire histeammates and help bring home the title.
We will never know the answer but I found myself asking: would Souths have won the game if he had left the field and not returned after that first-minute head clash?
League is going to really miss the big man – what a player the latest Churchill medallist has become – but the legacy he leaves the Rabbitohs will live on forever.
His heroics in the game were the stuff of football legend. He has become one of the best Englishmen to play in Australia, if not the best.
Many believe we have not seen the last of Sam Burgess as a league player. I really hope he comes back after his stint with the rugby boys.
Not far behind Sam on the big night was his brother George. Many have put forward his name as man of the match. He must have gone close, especially after capping his performance with that incredible try when he bulldozed through James Graham and Tony Williams to pretty much decide the contest.
The improvement in this kid’s game is incredible over the past two seasons. He could be as effective as Sam in 2015 and beyond.
Stand-in hooker Api Koroisau did a terrific job as the fill-in for the suspended Luke. He was a fantastic story in itself – a Bulldogs junior called up to play in the grand final after a two-month layoff – and he performed superbly in and around dummy half.
The Bulldogs lost but can still take lots away from their stirring finals campaign. Many people wrote them off when they finished seventh but gritty wins over Melbourne, Manly and Penrith got them to the big one and they put on a typically gutsy display.
In closing, I’d like to say congratulations to all associated with South Sydney, truly worthy 2014 champions.
joister
Guest
like picking up Malony and then dropping him ... yep real class that one
joister
Guest
it was because cronk was out - i still reckon the blues would have struggled to win with cronk in
joister
Guest
at least we agree on this jacksyd
joister
Guest
jacksyd ... you still wearing nappies ... or have you allowed yourself to change? - mate, people are allowed to change - and for the record i've been through far more games than you could possible imagine starting with their game against the dragons back in '65 so don't you dare insult me to say i was never a souths supporter - it was because of how loyal i was to the way they used to play that i don't like their tactics now - as to the players you mentioned add players from other teams and you'll note that at least they get penalised and do not get away with it like Burgess did - and at least SWB got up (not my favourite player but i respected him for doing that)
Bunger
Guest
Take your Bunny glasses off mate. With 8 mins to go it was an 8'point game with the Dogs on attack. If you can recall, Johnson drops the ball supposedly in goal, Inglis dives on it in an offside position, to stop Lafai diving on the ball to score. Not only do the Dogs not get a penalty, the ref rules the knock on to have occurred in goal...Pfft. This on top of a dubious penalty to go 8 points up where a One of the Burgi was holding onto the arm of a dogs player ( a tactic Souths used all night to good success withAuva also cleverly winning a penalty the same way which resulted in a try) ...and then "blow the Dogs away" on the back of two of the most fortuitous bounces of the ball off kicks you will ever see, and a forward pass to the goanna to score! All in how you look at it and what goggles you're looking through. Perhaps Some humility in victory is what Souths fans should learn, perhaps they've forgotthen this because it's been so long. Glory Glory!
theot
Guest
Laurie Daley ought to buy himself a lottery ticket.I am still trying to figure out how NSW won SOO with Reynolds and Hodkinson running the ship.Reynolds ran plenty of metres on Sunday night, most of them sideways or in reverse.Hodkinson might have had some excuses after injuring his knee in the Manly game , but what has been his excuse since origin. I reckon the pressure would be all on Hasler now. You aren't paid $1m per year to see your team run second and he has no excuses either as he was in his 3rd year. All up the Dogs did pretty well considering that have no creative players in their spine.Until this is rectified Dogs fans don't go off too early again.Also your luck is bound to run out when the only tactic you seem to have is to try and spoil and niggle to try and bring the opposition down to your level.
jacksyd
Guest
You're confusing Souths supporters with the Roosters supporters, thats what "we all know" as you put it. Souths could miss the semis 5 years straight and still have the biggest membership base as history shows. How do you explain that?
jacksyd
Guest
If you used to be a Souths supporter, then you were never a Souths supporter,
jacksyd
Guest
Where do you rate Hargreaves, Napa, Moa and Guerra when speaking of grubs? Ben Teo dismantled the 4 of them one by one (legally) on the way to Souths putting 40 on them. Thats the difference.
jacksyd
Guest
Poor discipline and an overrated team was a big factor with the roosters this year.
jacksyd
Guest
Dear Steve, You finally may have got 1 right. You spent the whole week leading up to the GF constantly giving us all the reasons why Souths will lose and why the Bulldogs would prevail. I'm surprised you haven't tucked your keypad away by now.
joister
Guest
i still want to know how Burgess got away with that high shot on SBW ... had that being a roosters (or manly) player they'd have been hit with a penalty all too quickly and a suspension - their grub tactics worked for this year - and whilst not a souths supporter it was good to see a team get up after so many years (ps - used to be a souths supporter but didn't like the grub tactics mags brought into the souths game ... they didn't need them as shown when they took those tactics out)
paul
Guest
The rabbitohs are loved by the reffs that will take them a long way next year. Easts had 150 more penalties against this year no wonder they were gone its a joke.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Bunny, your spot on re Madge. I met him a couple of times last year and had a decent chat, lovely bloke and very genuine. I can see why the players love him. A very likeable guy and couldn't be happier for him.
Bunny Boy Marty
Guest
Worlds Biggest would not surprise to hold Stewart back to round 6. Souths have great physios. If anyone can get him on the park they can. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Bunny, we lose a lot of toughness with Sammy and T'eo leaving, the pack could be a bit vulnerable I think. MacQueen really needs to step up and make a starting spot his. Grant is a handy addition to the prop rotation however I'm not convinced Glenn Stewart is a good signing. At 31 he looks to be busted. If he plays a full season I will be amazed. He was a great player 2 or 3 years ago but is very injury prone these days. Perhaps Joe Picker will get an opportunity in the back row and or emerging youngsters. I really like our backline, this group should stay together for a while. I just would have like a hard running, mongrel second rower added to the squad. You are right regarding changing tactics a bit if we are any chance of repeating. Go Rabbits !
Arthur Beatsons Mum
Guest
Regardless of anything on these pages Souths are the best team of 2014. They won the comp. I would think rather than trying to find fault with Souths, it would probably be more enlightening to ask why the other teams failed. There is far more to like about Souths then some of the questionable tactics adopted by other clubs.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Why don't you immigrate to England.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Tim Grant.
david webb
Guest
Hopefully souths can keep making the semis because if they don't we all know that the souths supporters will all jump off the bandwagon really quickly