Daniel Nichols posted an article this week posing the question, “Why are we acting like Souths are the only NRL team in Sydney?” The answer is simple Daniel, it’s been that way ever since 1908 when they first formed.
Souths were the first officially formed rugby league team (one week earlier than the Balmain club).
For this they were already smug but levels escalated to monumental proportions the following year, the second of the NSWRL’s new competition.
That year, Souths committed the single lowest dog act the game of rugby league has ever seen, even to this day. Worse still, they were allowed to get away with it and they’ve been a contemptuous, arrogant lot ever since.
For those not familiar with the story, allow me to elaborate.
It’s September 1909 and South Sydney and Balmain are to play the grand final. However, in their infinite wisdom, the NSWRL decides to schedule the match to be played as a preliminary game to the Kangaroos versus Wallabies clash later in the day.
Souths and Balmain players and officials protest that the grand final should be a stand-alone match and should not be a curtain raiser for another game. Their complaints fall on deaf ears with the NSWRL hierarchy, who insist it will go ahead as planned. Balmain and South agree that aren’t going to play second fiddle to anyone, so on principle the two clubs decide they will boycott the game.
What happened next however, ensured that the 1909 grand final would go down in history. Not however, for being one of the closest or greatest of all time, but unfortunately for the vile act of treachery shown by South Sydney.
On that fateful day of the September 14, 1909 at the Agricultural Ground, South Sydney (seemingly unfamiliar with the meaning of the word “principle”) arrived for the 2pm start and kicked off to a vacant opposition half of the field. They scored a farcical try and were awarded the premiership by forfeit.
Not since Benedict Arnold had anybody witnessed such a wilful act of betrayal.
And so laid the foundations for South Sydney’s pomposity and imperiousness which, more than 100 years later, they still have. And this will likely never change as long as all and sundry keep coming up with statements like “the game is strong when Souths are winning”.
It has managed to do pretty bloody nicely for the past 43 years when they weren’t.
Footnote
An unidentified Balmain official of the day stated that South Sydney would be cursed for what they did in 1909, and would never beat Balmain in a grand final again.
To this day, even though Souths have won more premierships than any other club in history, in the four times that they’ve met Balmain in grand final since, the score is Balmain, four, Souths, zero. Ah karma, don’t you just love it?
glory to souths
Guest
Boydy, Notice I said the words if Souths win next year. As far as Tim Grant and Glenn Stewart go Maguire will get the best out of them which he is very good at doing and I can see Souths being very competitive again next year. Anyway I am looking forward to the comp next year. My tip is for Penrith to go even better.
Boydy
Guest
No glory, I won't. There will most likely be no reason for me to even bother to sharpen my quill anyway. Without Sam Burgess and Ben Teo next year, their pack will lack the starch needed to win another premiership. Tim Grant and Glenn Stewart will replace them and one is not mobile enough and the other is the wrong side of 30 (I'll let you work out which is which). Oh and by the way, just because I now live in Brisbane, for work reasons I might add, it doesn't mean I would ever idolise the Broncos (noticed I spelt idolise correctly? I still follow English spelling convention not American). I would no more idolise the Broncos than I would forgive South Sydney for 1909.
glory to souths
Guest
Boydy, do you remember the 1988 and 1989 grand finals.They were precious. It's a pity Balmain no longer exist. What are you doing in Queensland if you are such an ardent Souths hater, shouldn't you be busy idolizing the broncos? They are big words you are using against Souths you must have a pretty good education. Are you a rugby league historian that you know exactly what happened back in 1909, I have read that story also. At least Souhts still exist. I can't until next year if Souths win the grand final again will you promise to make another unintelligent derogatory spiel about souths again?
The Barry
Roar Guru
...or the kicker boots it into touch when he kicks off...
Squidward
Roar Rookie
I love this!
Jacqui
Guest
You call wearing endurance performance chips guts to me it is cheating. BULLDOGS AND ALL TEAMS PLAYED AGAINST SINCE ROUND 8 have had an unfair disadvantage. Souths have different rules no fine for breaking concussion rule. SO UNFAIR BULLDOGS GET FINED FOR BEING 5 MINUTES LATE WHAT A JOKE
da plane
Guest
I am Just Wondering what would have happened if Souths had knocked on from their kick off to the non existence Balmain side- The Non existant Balmain side would then have the lose head and feed?
jacksyd
Guest
Now that the Rabbitohs have won the premiership after 43 yrs, all the knockers are digging deep to find something to replace the bagging and the jokes. Finally, found something going back to 1908. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Elma Dudd
Guest
Yes I never understood or liked the Easts change to Sydney city crap . Good on Souths for standing by their guns and the roosters should turn back the clock and change theirs back .
Glenn Innes
Guest
Natski - i am with you mate and I am not a South's supporter,but I admire the way they rejected crap like mergers and took the view that they would rather die on their feet than live on their knees as some sort of bit player in a "Joint venture"i i also admire them for still being South Sydney, not the Sydney Bunnies or some other vulgar crap name.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Just came here to say that this article is one of the most facetious gems I've read on this site. You've even managed to include my moniker! Your choice of words is great. The roar needs more articles with vocabulary like "imperiousness" and "pomposity". And it's those two words which sing out to me after the post GF week we have just had; hopefully in the sake of fairness we won't have to go through the same one-sided affair of the last week again for another 43 years. I was happy a bit for them at first out of sympathy, then as the week dragged on it was yeaaah - maybe not.
Daniel Nichols
Roar Guru
haha wow, not a Souths fan Boydy mate?
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
it's half bunny half Brisbane Roar logo I'm in the transition to the A-League season
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Sarcasm?
Silver Sovereign
Guest
fantastic article. One of the best ever written on the Roar.
robertdowney
Guest
i am no particular fan of souths or balmain but this is one of the worst articles i have ever read.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
Boydy, Souths were not the first team registered, according to minutes from all the foundation clubs it went: Glebe, Newtown, Souths, Balmain, Easts..... As for your 1909 "story", I've read that Souths made no such agreement, kicked off in the Final, scored a try and were awarded the Premiership. You accuse Souths of being smug, contemptuous and arrogant. Yet it seems Balmain were exactly that for refusing to play that 1909 final --THEY were far too good to play second fiddle in a curtain raiser. " A Balmain official stated that Souths would be cursed"...."Ah karma, don't you just love it ?" Well Boyd-Brain --Where are Souths in 2014 and where are Balmain in 2014 ? KARMA ?
Muzz
Guest
Craig - What's with your Bunny? It looks like it got into a cock fight.
Gee up
Guest
And roar, shame on you for letting such a rubbish article be printed. If it was in comments it would be moderated
Gee up
Guest
This is the biggest troll attempt published by the roar, but anyway.. When's the last time balmain won a comp? Are balmain ever going to win a comp or have a footy team again after their greedy, dysfunctional board all but ripped the heart out of the club??? I have a soft spot for them, but fans like you are the worst of the worst. You talk about dog acts but write this article.. Who really is cursed? #getalifejibberer