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.
doyen
Roar Rookie
Jack RAYNER should be in the second row of that starting side ahead of Sam B.—–Jack played 194 games for Sths & was an Aust. & NSWs rep—he was Capt/Coach from 1949 to 1955—under his coaching[& he was always on the field too] Sths played in 6 straight GFs,winning 5 of those—-this puts Sam’s record to shame by comparison—-he was an extremely hard enforcer with a “fair but tough” attitude—CHURCHILL described him as a “brilliant tactician.” He definitely has a record second to none with Sths;significantly better than Sam’s & without Sam’s disruptive, regular visits to the judiciary!! Of course,his “Jack RAYNER” medal is a highly valued prize to win at our club at season’s end !! Sam’s aggression more than “sometimes” got the better of him!!???? 16 visits to the judiciary is NOT sometimes !!
doyen
Roar Rookie
Bob GRANT & Craig COLEMAN were great players---Grant won 3 p/ships & scored 2 tries in one of them--he also won RLWs player of the year in 1971---Coleman was a vital cog in Sths great team of the late 80s--I really loved his cheeky,tenacious game !! I started watching Sths as a kid in 1954 & have watched all players since--I think I would give my half posse to GRANT !!
doyen
Roar Rookie
There's no way COOK should be in that side ahead of Mario FENECH ----he wouldn't have even made 1st Grade in Mario's era---he would have been smashed out of the game in 2 seconds flat !! Today's game has been tailor-made for Damien but I still have serious doubts about him in the pressure games !!
William W
Roar Rookie
I just can't understand why so many people have Herb Gilbert in their best of team... He only played 23 games for Souths for Farks sake!
Jeff Cook
Roar Rookie
I've come into the discussion well late , with a fair bit of Reynolds/Grant conversation . I think it's a good side not great ! To bad Craig Coleman didn't to get a mention anywhere .
Slammin_Sam
Roar Rookie
all those guys from an era where theyve won a single premiership?? Need more from the black and white era...
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Ray Branighan and tall long striding Arthur, Fred Anderson, Richie Powell* (who, like Fred at Canterbury Bankstown RLFC, came into First Grade sometime soon after the First World War and played for about half a century) big sandy headed Bill McCarthy, Bob Moses, big Jim Morgan ... and I have enjoyed every minute of this! :happy: * it is recorded somewhere in the annals of the Mighty Rabittohs that Richie from Waterloo was born bald and remained so for the whole of his life.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Mick Falla and Bob Grant did a pretty good job - I still have Grant's autograph on a Drummoyne Sailing Club drink coaster, tucked away with my first Rabbitohs scrapbook from 1963. :happy:
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Dave Bolton should have been deported! :stoked:
Rick Rack
Guest
My best Rabbitohs all-time team. 1. Clive churchill (vc) 2. Harold horder 3. Herb gilbert 4. Greg Inglis 5. Ian Moir 6. Denis Pittard 7-. Bobby Grant 8. John Sattler (c) 9. Elwyn Walters 10. John O'Neill 11. George Treek 12. Bobby McCarthy 13. Ron Coote 14. Greg Hawick 15. Jimmy Lisle 16. Damian Cook 17. Ian Roberts 18. Paul Sait
sheek
Roar Guru
Churchill(vc), Horder, Gilbert, Inglis, Moir, Pittard, Grant, Sattler(c), Walters, O'Neill, Treweek, McCarthy, Coote. Hawick, Lisle, Cook, Roberts, Sait.
sheek
Roar Guru
My best, 1908-2020. C.Churchill (vc) H.Horder H.Gilbert G.Inglis I.Moir D.Pittard R.Grant J.Sattler (c) E.Walters J.O'Neill 11-G.Treweek 12-R.McCarthy 13-R.Coote 5 man bench 14-G.Hawick 15-J.Lisle 16-D.Cook 17-I.Roberts 18-P.Sait
steveng
Roar Rookie
I'd add the great Jimmy Lisle RIP, played for Australia in 1962, 1964 and 65 and overall played for the Bunnies from 1962 to 1965. I saw Jimmy Lisle play during those days and what a player he was and what a contribution he added to the Bunnies.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Are you talking about the 1969 GF? Not that again, that was a blow and a shock to all Bunnies that we’d rather forget lol
Rob
Guest
I’m tipping Cameron Murray will make the team in a few years time. Think he might be applying a lot of Pressure to SB IMO.
sheek
Roar Guru
It's tricky when you offer your opinion, because we're all biased to greater & lesser degrees, & can suffer from 'blind-eye' syndrome. I think there is too much emphasis here on modern players who simply haven't achieved enough in their careers, but are fresh in our minds. Here's my offering, hoping to offer some balance to the debate. 1-Clive Churchill. No argument here. 2-Harold Horder. No argumentshere. 3-Greg Inglis. No argument here. 4-Herb Gilbert. A dual international from the 1910s, both a Wallaby & a Kangaroo. Some old-timers considered him the equal of Dally Messenger. Huge praise indeed! 5-Ian Moir. No argument here. 6- Denis Pittard. This is a tricky one, as the alternative is Jimmy Lisle, another dual international. I would be happy with either. Lisle could also play centre. 7-Bobby Grant. I just think Grant had the consummate all-round game. Not as spectacular as Adam Reynolds maybe, but highly consistent & effective. 8-John Sattler(c). Simply impossible to ignore. Not the greatest prop to play the game, but as tough as teak, & his players would die for him. A true leader. 9-Elwyn Walters. What has Cook done to surpass Walters, who played 20 tests, 12 matches for NSW & won 5 grand finals (3 with Souths, & 2 with Easts). 10-John O'Neill. As good as Les Davidson was, both O'Neill & Sattler demand to be selected here. Lurch was the unmovable mountain. 11-George Treweek. The legend from the 1920s. Sam Burgess was tough, but also played too much dumb footy. Treweek was a Kangaroo with 7 tests, 26 appearances for NSW & 4-5 premierships, I think. 12-Bob McCarthy. No argument here. 13-Ron Coote. No argument here. I like to pick a five man bench, generally 2 backs & 3 forwards. 14-Greg Hawick. Another versatile international who could cover five-eighth & centre. 15-Jimmy Lisle. Could cover five-eighth, centre & also halfback, as could Pittard. 16-Damian Cook. A backup hooker here is necessary. Walters could switch to prop or second row in an emergency. 17-Ian Roberts. A hotly contested position as Davidson, Burgess & Jack Rayner were also contenders. Could effectively cover both prop & second row. 18-Paul Sait. Ideal man coming off the bench, able to cover back row & centre positions. Wouldn't pick him as all-time centre, because lock was his true position. Can't fault his commitment. So there you have it. I hope this is seen as a more balanced team. Still plenty more good players who have missed out: Howard Hallett, Cec Blinkhorn, Benny Wearing, Chicka Cowie, Jack Rayner, Ray Branighan, Les Davidson, Mario Fenech, Sam Burgess, John Sutton, etc. Today's players may be bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic & appear on our TV screens every week, but that doesn't mean they're intrinsically better. As Don Bradman observed; "A champion in one era, is a champion in any era". What makes a player stand out is the influence he exerted in his own era, & how much he contributed to his team's success. For me, this is usually the ultimate determining test.
sheek
Roar Guru
Duncan Smith - that's according to one man's opinion.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
From the modern era Reynolds, Cook, Sam Burgess, Greg Inglis and John Sutton would all deserve to be in there. I'd also add Mario Fenech, Roy Asotasi. From the Golden Era - so many to pick from but the must haves are Churchill, Sattler, McCarthy and Coote. Elwyn Walters, Dennis Pittard, Ian Moir, Mike Cleary, George Piggins, John O Neill could be all be included in any great team. Eric Simms was great, but would be edged out by the Little Master Clive Churchill.
max power
Guest
i think your best premiership was when Balmain did not turn up to the ground that year. such a special club - just ask them
max power
Guest
not even close. players played less games in the old days