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Opinion
The winners of 21 premierships, the South Sydney Rabbitohs are a foundation club established in 1908.
They were famously kicked out and then reinstated in to the competition. Their squad is as follows.
1. Clive Churchill- 37 caps for Australia, Immortal, Clive Churchill Medal
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. He was such an all round gifted player who easily the best of his time and possibly ever. RLW rated him the best player ever in 1992.
The first ever Immortal was a lock in this team.
2. Harold Holder-13 caps for Australia, 31 for NSW and one for Queensland
Holder is regarded as one of best wingers of his time. His famous try where he beat most the the Glebe team to score is a all time great one.
His strike rate is quite remarkable he scored 152 tries in 139 games. That’s more than a try a game. He has scored five tries and in a game on multiple occasions.
3. Paul Sait- 16 caps for Australia, five for NSW
A tenacious competitor , who was versatile enough to play in the forwards .Sait won two premierships with Souths in the 70’s. He had little self preservation as he will launch himself to punish attacking players . The type of player that every team will benefit from .
4. Greg Inglis- 39 caps for Australia, 32 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
The NSW-born and raised Inglis who is the leading try scorer in State of Origin, is one of the most damaging ball runners ever seen in rugby league. At 196cm, over 100kg and with the speed, power and a powerful fend, Inglis is a Mack Truck with eyes.
He can break tackles and destroy a defence at will. It’s really unfair for a player of his size can move like that.
Greg Inglis (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Ian Moir- 8 caps for Australia, 11 for NSW
Another Souths winger with a fantastic strike rate, he had 105 tries from 110 games.
He ran the 100m at a dazzling 12.7 seconds at 56 years old!
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. His darting and incisive play made him difficult to contain.
7. Adam Reynolds- 2 caps for NSW
Reynolds is a local product who has the most effective kicking game.
He can trap a team with constant repeat sets of six, or keep them camped inside their half with his long kicking game.
His goal kicking is excellent, against Manly in 2020 he nailed multiple conversions from then sidelines. He was a vital piece to their 2014 drought breaking premiership win.
8. John O’ Neill- 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. Was the most aggressive and punishing players in Souths packs full of stars. His performance in the 1970 grand final where he punished Manly-Warringah which propelled his team for victory.
9. Damian Cook- 4 caps for Australia, 9 for NSW, Hooker of the year, Provan Summons medal winner
First beach sprint champion who bounced around the NRL before finding a home at Redfern. His such a dangerous weapon to have as his incredible burst off the mark makes any tired forwards pay as his always a threat to score from any spot on the field.
The threat he poses calls upon too much attention from markers that it can open up to opportunities to the players out wide .
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 him 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- 24 caps for England, two for Great Britian RLIF Prop of the year, lock of the year, Clive Churchill Medal Winner
Perhaps the greatest ever English player in the last 15 years, the dual international Burgess was a warrior who was a damaging runner and defender he caused nightmares for opposition due to his power and aggression which sometimes got the best of him.
Sam Burgess. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
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, Clive Churchill Medal Winner
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. Many thought Johnny Raper will never be overtaken and Coote has some strong claims to be the “Prince of Locks”.
Bench
Greg Hawick, John Sattler, Roy Asotasi and George Treweek.
Coach : Jack Rayner
When you have won 21 premierships it’s not a surprise to see the type of team they have.
The backrowers of Burgess, Coote and McCarthy are extraordinary. They all command special defensive attention due to their force and game-breaking ability.
This will be perfect for a Damian Cook who will love seeing defenders coming off the back foot. He just needs the smallest openings to make the defence pay.
A pair of try scoring machines as wingers will take opportunity of the slightest of chances . It helps when you have the destructive Greg Inglis who powerful fend and movement ability for his size will create terror for anyone marking him.
The star of the show is the little master himself Clive Churchill. The class he brings his footwork up the middle and smarts allow him to wreak havoc on the field.
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