Today I will continue my series naming the greatest all-time teams for each NRL side. I will continue with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
They are over 100 years old and have had many great players that helped them win a record 21 premierships.
1. Clive Churchill- 37 caps for Australia, Immortal
I have never seen him play, but when the best player on the field in the grand final wins a medal named after him, you know he was special. Churchill was a master in all facets of attack who changed the way fullbacks played. Only 175cm, he would often stand up to bigger opponents with huge tackles.
The first ever Immortal had to get a place in this team.
2. Terry Fahey- 6 caps for Australia, winger of the year, 2 caps for NSW
Fahey was a consistent and dynamic runner of the ball who was a fan favourite for years at Redfern.
3. Ray Barnigan- 17 caps for Australia
It was always a tough assignment marking him. He could provide a lot of points for Souths. One of the best in his position in his time, it is unfortunate he went to Manly as he could have been a Souths great.
4. Greg Inglis- 34 caps for Australia, 27 for Queensland, Clive Churchill Medal Winner, Centre of the year, fullback of the year, five-eighth of the year, RLIF Fullback of the year, RLIF Centre of the year and Wally Lewis Medal Winner
Inglis is the most damaging ball runner ever seen in rugby league. At 196cm, over 100kg and with the speed, power and a fend, Inglis is a Mack Truck with eyes. He can break tackles and destroy a defence at will.
He also posses great ball skills. He won Clive Churchill Medal at five-eighth. He may play for the Rabbitohs now but his greatest days were in Storm colours. Inglis will go down as one of the greatest players.
5. Nathan Merritt- 1 cap for NSW
He has been the heart and soul of the Rabbitohs in the 2000s. He was there when the team was a laughing stock and he was super underrated during his entire career. He scored 154 tries, a Souths record.
6. Dennis Pittard- 2x Rothmans medal winner, 6 caps for Australia.
A small, cheeky player, Pittard was often the star in the great Souths teams – a true testament of his amazing talent. He was a part of one the best halves pairing in history.
7. Bob Grant- 2 caps for Australia, RLW Player of the year.
Grant was overshadowed by the great team he played in but he was the on-field general who led the side around the park. He played in a great era of halfbacks which explained his lack of representative jerseys.
8. John O’ Neil- 8 caps for Australia.
A tough and rugged prop who belted his opponents in defence and barged over people like a steamroller. One the most scariest sights in rugby Leauge.
9. Mario Fenech- 2 caps for NSW
The Falcon was without a doubt the most passionate Souths player ever. His blood was red and green. His fiery temper and rage made him a great captain who should have played more representative games.
10. Les Davidson- 4 caps for Australia, 5 for NSW
Another fiery Souths player who made his mark with brute aggression and toughness he was a great defender who made oppositions go around not through him.
11. Bob McCarthy- 15 caps for Australia
This guy was a mutant and in a good way. How can someone be that strong and that fast and big is beyond me. He changed the way second rowers play by being the first to play on the edge. The five tackle rule came to effect to nullify his unstoppable runs.
His finest moment is scoring a length of the field intercept try to win a grand final against the Bulldogs.
12. Sam Burgess- 13 caps for England, RLIF Prop of the year, lock of the year, Clive Churchill Medal Winner
Perhaps the greatest ever English player, Burgess was a warrior who was a damaging runner and defender he caused nightmares for opposition due to his power and Footy IQ. His performance in 2014 grand final, where he played 79 minutes with a fractured cheekbone, was phenomenal. He helped his side to break Souths’ 43-year premiership drought and win the Clive Churchill Medal.
13. Ron Coote- 23 caps for Australia, 14 for NSW
Coote is one of the greatest locks ever. He signature cover defence helped him save plenty of tries. His tall frame made him difficult to tackle as he could fend and offload like no other. He was a key factor in Souths’ late 60s and early 70s premiership wins.
Bench: Ian Roberts, John Sattler, John Sutton, Paul Sait
This team has everything, with forward strength and fast backs. They have plenty of grunt up front but also the finesse to put on points from the back.
They are a great side, but are they the best ever?
tony
Guest
souths all time team Churchill Muir GI Sait Horder Pittard Grant Coote Cowie Hambly Burgess Luke O'Neil Bench Davidson Roberts Tewick McCarthy Coach Jack Rayner
Steve price
Guest
Elwyn walters and George piggins his raking back the ball in the 1971 Grand Final was instrumental to winning that game tough as teak and also won the fight against Malcom Reilly in a club game i think in 1975.
Steve price
Guest
Paul Sait won the grand finsl against Manly in 1970 he only played the first half and played all over Fulton he had a great step and carved manly to pieces was called up from reserve grade to play for Australia.
JohnnoMcJohnno
Roar Rookie
Plenty of better wingers than Merritt. As well as those mentioned you could throw in Mike Cleary, or even Ziggy Niszcot who unlike Merrit was able to perform at state level.
Snakefingers rise
Guest
There were so many great Souths players you could name 2 great sides and Mario would not be in either of them., David Boyle was a tough player.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
jersey
Guest
Rossco's comments are accurate. Harold Horder and Ian Moir were superior to Merritt and Fahey, as indeed were Blinkhorn, Graves and Wearing. Brannigan could play wing, centre, and 5/8 Hawick, Blair and Lisle were better than Pittard. Coote and Trewecke select themselves. Had to compare hookers as different eras but Luke is a premiership winning international whereas Mario as good as he was did not fulfill these achievements. When selecting forwards Brian Hambly should not be forgotten. I would select Sam Burgess. Of course Harry Wells played a season with Souths so is eligible. He would be in my team Churchill Moir Inglis Wells Horder Brannigan Reynolds Coote Trewecke Burgess Hambly Luke Roberts Bench O'Neill, Cowie, McCarthy Sait
Jet
Guest
Sam Burgess, our greatest player since the 80's without fail, just ahead of GI.
The Boss
Roar Guru
Merritt was NRL leading try scorer when South won the wooden spoon he played for NSW. The real question is are they better then other all-time teams.
Rossco
Guest
It's not the number of tries that determines a player's true worth - it's the ratio of tries to games played. And Horder, Moir and Les Brennan would leave your wing choices in their wake (the latter scored 32 tries in 24 games before injury ended his career. He still holds the rookie try scoring record). If you don't consider players you never saw play, why call it the greatest ever Souths team? Call it your choice from the 60s onwards.
The Boss
Roar Guru
Nathan Merritt is the clubs leading try scorer and his consistency warrants selection, the halves of Pittard and Grant led them to many premierships, sorry I wasn't old enough to watch footy before the 60's and there is not enough footage or video of that time to make them a selection.
Niall
Guest
There's too many great players to mention. I'll never understand the need to put one or two as the greatest when the all time greats really can't be separated.
jamesb
Guest
I love it how Inglis has more bolded black writing under his name compared to the others. It makes out that Inglis is the greatest Rabbitohs player of all time.
Rossco
Guest
Some ridiculous choices in that team. How can you have Terry Fahey and Nathan Merritt in front of Ian Moir? Obviously the author has done little research into the era before the 60s. otherwise he would have Smacker Blair, Greg Hawick, Harold Horder, Cecil Blinkhorn in the backs and Jack Rayner, Len Cowie, Ernie Hammerton and George Treweeke in before some of those forwards and halves he has chosen. BTW: Ray Branighan played mostly wing; his brother Arthur in the centres. Best to go to the team of the century chosen by more serious pundits.
Bearfax
Guest
What about Tommy Bishop?
Bearfax
Guest
Not sure I know Ray Barnigan, but they did have a pretty decent young centre called Ray Branighan, who won a few premierships for them and then a couple at Manly.
jamesb
Guest
Missing Charlie Saab.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Missing Joel Reddy
Niall
Guest
He might have the most significant media profile but it would be hard to argue that his career matches up with Malcolm Reilly or Ellery Hanley. There's so many great players that are forgotten.
jacksyd
Guest
Its based on opinion. For me, Sam Burgess is definitely the best pom ever to play here.