A founding member of rugby league in Australia, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, have had more success than any other team.
Unfortunately for the fans who bleed red and green, there was an extended period of suffering. 1990 to 2006 were dreadful. If you watch footage of games in the 1990s, you often see players and teams racking up points milestones against the Bunnies.
There is no other way to describe the team’s performances than dreadful.
Then late in 1999, controversy swamped the game like a dark fog when the NRL decided to expel the Rabbitohs from the game. A manifest injustice had occurred. Fortunately for South Sydney fans, George Piggins and his team refused to give up the fight. The Bunnies were readmitted into the competition after missing two full seasons.
Once back, it was the same old Bunnies of the 90s. They were the whipping boys of the competition. However, a once mighty club had something in its favour. The masses. Being so successful in its rich history meant the club had a considerable number of fans.
One such fan was the Gladiator Russell Crowe. A mad passionate supporter who, along with businessmen and Souths fan Peter Holmes a Court, decided to turn the club around. The vote was close, but the men got the numbers they needed. The Bunnies’ road to glory had taken its first steps.
As all who play and watch this great game would attest, winning titles is not easy. It seemed something was missing from the South Sydney side. Yes, they had improved under new ownership making the eight in 2007 but struggled to make the eight after that.
The missing ingredient arrived for the 2012 season after a stint with English power club Wigan.
Michael Maguire added the necessary touch as Souths finished third in his first season with the club. Many thought 2013 would be the year the drought would end. Disappointment followed with a shocking loss to Manly. They finished third again.
Then in 2014, the magic happened. Any Souths fans that were present that day felt they were part of history. They were there for the club’s 21st title.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby-league” name=”Rugby-League”]
It has since been a slow decline since. In 2015 the club finished seventh. In 2016 and 2017 the club missed the semi-finals altogether. Not good enough for a membership-based organisation. Michael Maguire was moved on, and Anthony Seibold replaced him.
It is hoped the new coach Seibold will bring a unique playing style replacing one that had run its course. There are many questions Souths fans are pondering.
Will the new coach bring an exciting style of play? Will Greg Inglis remain injury free? Will George and Tom Burgess hold the ball? Will Adam Reynolds play like he wants to be on the field? Will Sam Burgess maintain the rage? Will the club make the eight?
Only the season that awaits will answer these questions.
As a fan myself, I hope to see the Burgess twins return to their rampaging best. I hope Inglis remains injury free because, firstly, he’s a great player who is a pleasure to watch and, secondly, the side will struggle without him.
I look forward to seeing a new style of play that may mean Adam Reynolds gets a new sense of energy and plays like a State of Origin player – the level of player that he is capable of being. I’m sure Sam will maintain the rage as always, I just hope he and squad remain injury free.
So, if all goes well then, maybe, the eight awaits in 2018.
Roostermark
Guest
I think it's fair to say the Roosters would have been happy just to get the junior areas that were stolen from them decades earlier and gifted to South Sydney back..
ChristopherGrant
Guest
I'm sure the Roosters would enjoy the Junior system it had, before the move..
ChristopherGrant
Guest
Hahahahahah
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
ACL's usually take a full season to get all movement/range back. I wouldn't be expecting the same movement this coming season. 2019 is when he will be back to 100% if he doesn't get injured again.
Mushi
Guest
Do we extend it to southern Uzbekistan?
PeterMc
Guest
The liklihood of success rests firmly on the shoulders of Sam Burgess. If he can capture the pre-rugby form and filter this through the rest of the side then finals beckon. If he continues to lie on the ground, whining at the ref while trying to milk cheap penalties, then this will also filter through the team with a bottom half of the ladder the ultimate result. I miss the Sam of old.
Big Daddy
Guest
That match on april 14 where there were 35k they were all south's supporters - just ask 3 lids.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You're missing the point. Souths poor home crowds are the fault of the away fans for not showing up.
BA Sports
Guest
Yes, Barlow is a small suburban ground in another state and yet more people went to that game than 6 Souths home games at ANZ and more than their home crowd average at ANZ in 2017 which was below 11k. They are supposed to be the pride of the league and their fans tell you they are the most well supported club and best fans in the country... but they don't show up unless their team is winning, just like most clubs. Normal fan base, but club can't play in their area. If you are going to relocate them out of South Sydney, why not relocate them out of Sydney and fix two problems?
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Personally, I do like Gagai on the Wing also.
Rod
Guest
Yeah hate to admit playing club games at ANZ is not a good look for the club or the game. There are two many teams in Sydney and too be frank . I would support a shift if it was in the best interests of the club. We have tremendous support on our away games, through out the country . In fact I feel we okay better away than we do at home.
Rod
Guest
I agree Souths have not been great. But they were better to watch through my red and green eyes.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Good one. Absolutely nothing to do with anything I wrote.
The Barry
Roar Guru
So what? Old mate was telling me how bad the Bulldogs were over the last 18 months. Which they were...still comfortably better than Souths. You can bag the Morris’ all you like but Richie Kennar was well down the pecking order behind them and Montoya, Stanley, Smith, etc So good luck with a Bulldogs benchie...and John Sutton who probably wouldn’t make any other starting side in the comp.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
That Good Friday game was a Dogs home game where they profited and it added to their home ground figures. Souths also had 2 Thursday and 2 Friday 6 pm games the Game in Perth was pissing down and Barlow Park is a small suburban Ground. 6 of our 12 games were severely limited for fans to turn up. 2 other home games were inclement weather where less than 500 away fans turned up. In 2018 it is a Souths Home Game on Good Friday and we will get 40k fans turn up and will help OUR home crowd average.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
Farah in Reggies. Sad , funny Someone should whisper in his ear about retiring.
Nat
Roar Guru
Understand what your saying 3-Hats and I like your passion. I'm not privy to how Seibold is planning to line his team up. My point with Gagai is that he is a finisher but needs to be outside someone a classy as Inglis to put him away. As devastating as Inglis is, having both Gagai and Johnston hunting off him = points. I said not many FBs trouble these two but Darius will ;)
Big Daddy
Guest
South's had the lowest home game average of all NRL club's in 2017. Also note Canterbury v south's april 14 2017. 35000. I am not a Canterbury supporter
Gold Coast Bunny
Guest
Hi BA Sports. I note your point re crowds. Certainly not as good as some other Sydney clubs no doubt. Now if we were back in the 60’/70’s the key criteria for success probably was bums on seats at venues. Today however, and what you have not included in your consideration, is tv and digital presence. You ask where are all the fans who marched gone. Well we are all over Australia, buying memberships, watching our side on tv,reading about them online etc. So from a value point of view to the nrl, who rely on advertising dollars (not revenue from gate takings) the key component will be how many people will be viewing which sides via these platforms so they can sell the rights for increased values. This also allows clubs to sell their own jersey sponsorship to raise revenues. Roy Morgan released their research on the 2017 most supported clubs. In Sydney the eels headed the list with 447k. Next we’re two J/V clubs with two fan bases being Drangons and West Tigers. Souths were 4th on 391k, bulldogs on 355k and manly 327k. Roosters and Cronulla 224k and Penrith at 186k we’re bringing up the rear. So from a value to the competition point of view I would think that Souths are well ahead of other sides in Sydney who are likely to view sides via these platforms. But before you start using this as a reason why they can be moved as they will still retain the fan base who can watch via tv and digital platform I don’t believe it would as you will change the fabric of the foundation club. It will no longer be South Sydney to me and I watch NRL because of South Sydney.
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
Greg Inglis will be playing at Fullback. I really can understand all of the scepticism towards GI but go down to Redfern Oval and have a look, I did! Inglis is fit and just needs to tick off a few boxes before playing. He has 8 weeks to do so! Inglis has had BOTH Knees operated on and BOTH are 100% His troublesome knee from a few years ago was his Right knee. Last season ACL was his Left Knee. We can't post pictures or videos on here, it is a real shame so I will include a link from an independent source so you can see for yourself! https://twitter.com/nrlphysio/status/950984982691901440