Rabbitohs

The South Sydney Rabbitohs are a professional Australian rugby league club based in Redfern, a suburb of inner-southern Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital, Sydney. They are often called Souths or The Bunnies.

The club was formed in 1908, as one of the founding members of the New South Wales Rugby Football League, making them one of Australia's oldest rugby league teams. The Rabbitohs were formed, under their original 1908 articles of association, with the NSWRL competition, to represent the Sydney municipalities of Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland, Waterloo, Mascot and Botany. They are one of only two NSW foundation clubs still present in the NRL, the other being the Sydney Roosters.

The Rabbitohs' traditional heartland covers the once typically working-class suburbs of inner-south Sydney. The club is based in Redfern, where the club's administration and training facilities are located, however they have long held a wide supporter base spread all over New South Wales. The team's home ground is currently Stadium Australia in Sydney Olympic Park. South Sydney are the most successful professional team in the history of Australian rugby league with 21 first grade premierships.

History

Origins (1908–1950)

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club was formed at a meeting on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall when administrator J. J. Giltinan, cricketer Victor Trumper and politician Henry Hoyle gathered together in front of a large crowd of supporters.Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000. The club played in the first round of the newly formed New South Wales Rugby League, defeating North Sydney 11–7 at Birchgrove Oval on 20 April 1908. The team went on to win the inaugural premiership then successfully defended their title in the 1909 season, winning the Grand Final by default."The Balmainiacs of 1909"
''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan. During these early years Arthur Hennessy was considered the "founding father" of the South Sydney rugby league club. A hooker and prop forward, Hennessy was Souths' first captain and coach. He was also New South Wales' first captain and Australia's first test captain in 1908. S. G. "George" Ball became Club Secretary in 1911 after Arthur Hennessy stood down from the position, and he remained in that capacity for over fifty years, only retiring a few years before his death in 1969.

After further premiership success in New South Wales Rugby League season 1914, 1914 and New South Wales Rugby League season 1918, 1918, South Sydney won seven of the eight premierships from New South Wales Rugby League season 1925, 1925 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1932, 1932, missing out only in New South Wales Rugby League season 1930, 1930. The 1925 side went through the season undefeatedSeason 1925
from th

and is only one of six Australian premiership sides in history to have achieved this feat. Such was Souths' dominance in the early years of the rugby league competition that the Rabbitohs were labelled "The Pride of the League".

South Sydney struggled through most of the 1940s, only making the semifinals on two occasions (1944 and 1949). South Sydney's longest losing streak of 22 games was during the period 1945–1947. In the 1945 season they only managed to win one game while in 1946 they were unable to win a single game.

Golden era (1950–1955)

In the 1950s South Sydney again had great success, winning five of the six premierships from New South Wales Rugby League season 1950, 1950 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1955, 1955, and losing the New South Wales Rugby League season 1952, 1952 Grand Final against Western Suburbs Magpies, Western Suburbs in controversial circumstances. The New South Wales Rugby League season 1951, 1951 side's point scoring feat in their 42–14 victory over Manly Sea Eagles, Manly-WarringahSeason 1951
remains the highest score by a team in a Grand Final and "the miracle of New South Wales Rugby League season 1955, '55" involved South Sydney winning 11 straight sudden death (sport), sudden death matches to win the premiership. Players that were involved in these years included Denis Donoghue (rugby player), Denis Donoghue, Jack Rayner, Les Cowie, Les "Chicka" Cowie, John Graves (rugby league), Johnny Graves, Ian Moir, Greg Hawick, Ernie Hammerton, Bernie Purcell and Clive Churchill. Churchill, nicknamed "the Little Master" for his brilliant attacking fullback play, is universally regarded as one of the greatest ever Australian rugby league players.

Inbetween years (1956–1964)

In the late 1950s Souths began a poor run of form failing to make the finals from New South Wales Rugby League season 1958, 1958 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1964, 1964.

"Glory years" (1965–1971)

In New South Wales Rugby League season 1965, 1965 a talented young side made the Grand Final against St. George Dragons, St. George who were aiming to secure their tenth straight premiership. The young Rabbitohs were not overawed by the Dragons' formidable experience and in front of a record crowd of 78,056 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, they went down narrowly 12–8. The nucleus of this side went on to feature in Australia national rugby league team, Australian representative teams for the next six years and ensured another golden period for South Sydney making five successive grand finals from New South Wales Rugby League season 1967, 1967 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1971, 1971, winning four. Bob McCarthy, John O'Neill (rugby league), John O'Neill, Eric Simms (rugby league), Eric Simms, Ron Coote, Michael Cleary (rugby), Mike Cleary and John Sattler from 1965 were later joined by Elwyn Walters, Ray Branighan, Paul Sait, Gary Stevens (rugby league footballer), Gary Stevens and coach Clive Churchill to form a fearsome combination before internal strife and poaching by other clubs from New South Wales Rugby League season 1972, 1972 onwards unravelled the star studded pack. From this period comes part of South's and Australian Rugby League folklore when in the New South Wales Rugby League season 1970, 1970 premiership decider against Manly, captain John Sattler inspired the side to victory playing out 70 minutes of the match with his jaw broken in three places after being king hit by Manly prop John Bucknall.

Hard times and revival (1972–1989)

Financial problems started to hit Souths in the early 1970s, forcing some players to go to other clubs. The licensed Leagues Club, traditionally such an important revenue provider to all first grade league sides, was closed in 1973 but a "Save Our Souths" campaign ensured the club survived. "Super Coach" Jack Gibson (rugby league), Jack Gibson's arrival turned the club's form, winning the pre-season competition in New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1978, 1978. The club captured victories in the mid-week Amco Cup, Tooth Cup competition in New South Wales Rugby League season 1981, 1981 and in the pre-season Rugby League World Sevens, "Sevens" competition in New South Wales Rugby League season 1988, 1988. The Rabbitohs made the finals on five occasions in the 1980s, including a dominant season to finish as minor premiers in New South Wales Rugby League season 1989, 1989. The New South Wales Rugby League season 1989, 1989 season proved to be the club's most successful in years, but was also the last time the club reached the finals until 2007. The following season the Rabbitohs finished as Wooden spoon (award), wooden spooners.

Financial trouble, exclusion and readmission (1990–2002)

The club stayed afloat in the 1990s despite major financial problems. Souths' only success came in New South Wales Rugby League season 1994, 1994 when they won the pre-season competition, defeating the Brisbane Broncos 27–26 in the final. The Super League (Australia), Super League War and the eventual formation of the National Rugby League affected the club greatly when it was determined in 1998 that the newly formed competition would be contracted to 14 teams for the National Rugby League season 2000, 2000 season. Following a series of mergers by other teams, South Sydney failed to meet the National Rugby League's selection criteria to compete in the competition and were subsequently excluded from the premiership at the end of the National Rugby League season 1999, 1999 season.

In 2000 and 2001, South Sydney fought their way back into the competition following a string of high-profile legal battles against the National Rugby League and News Limited. A number of well attended public rallies took place during this time, as supporters from many different clubs got behind South Sydney's case. Upon appeal to the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Court in 2001, South Sydney won readmission into the premiership for the National Rugby League season 2002, 2002 season.David Shilburu (2003)
"The Souths' Revival"
page 150 of ''Strategic Sports Marketing'' by David Shilbury, Shayne Quick and Hans Westerbeek, Allen & Unwin, 2003

NRL era (2002–present)

Early struggles (2002–2006)

After being readmitted, the Rabbitohs were initially unsuccessful in the premiership, finishing amongst the bottom three teams for five seasons straight including three Wooden spoon (award), wooden spoons. However, following the club's takeover by actor Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes à Court in 2006, the club has had great success in securing a number of major national and international player signings such as the four Burgess Brothers and Greg Inglis. The club was also successful in recruiting several key managerial positions including Jason Taylor (rugby league footballer), Jason Taylor as head coach in 2007 and more recently Michael Maguire (rugby league), Michael Maguire in 2012.

South Sydney was a party to one of the sponsorship deals promoted by the fraudulent company Firepower International.

Building years (2007–2011)

South Sydney won their first three games of the National Rugby League season 2007, 2007 season (marking their best start to a season since New South Wales Rugby League season 1972, 1972) and being competitive in every game. On the back of one of the best defences in the competition, the Rabbitohs finished strongly making the semi-finals for the first time since 1989. They finished the season in seventh position, going down to Manly in the playoffs.

On 26 January 2008, the Rabbitohs lost 24–26 to the Leeds Rhinos in front of 12,000 fans at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, the first time first-grade professional rugby league teams from Australia and England have played each other in the United States.

May 2008 saw the sudden resignation of the then current Executive chairman and CEO, Peter Holmes à Court. He had been appointed to the role of CEO at the start of 2008. Reports suggested that Holmes à Court had been forced to stand down after his relationship with Russell Crowe had deteriorated beyond repair.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrated their centenary year during the National Rugby League season 2008, 2008 National Rugby League season. That year they were named the National Trust of Australia, National Trust's inaugural 'Community Icon', in recognition of the club's significant longstanding contribution to sport and sporting culture at both state and national levels.

On 11 November 2010, South Sydney signed Melbourne back Greg Inglis on a three-year deal starting in the 2011 season.

In April 2011, Souths announced Michael Maguire (rugby league), Michael Maguire would replace retiring coach John Lang (Australian rugby league), John Lang for the 2012 season, signing as head coach on a three-year deal.

2012

In Maguire's first year as coach, South Sydney finished third at the end of the regular season, qualifying for the finals for the first time since 2007 and just the second time since 1989, recording their 1000th First Grade win in the process. Souths were eventually eliminated in the preliminary final, losing 32–8 to the Bulldogs.

2013

In 2013 Souths finished second on the table, again reaching the preliminary finals before being knocked out by Manly in a 30–20 loss.

2014

South Sydney finished third at the end of the regular season in 2014. In week 1 of the finals series they defeated Manly 40–24 and backing up in week 3 to beat the Roosters 32–22 in the preliminary final, qualifying for their first grand final since 1971, playing the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

After a slim lead of 6–0 early in the first half of the decider, Souths went on to score 4 unanswered tries in the second to defeat Canterbury-Bankstown 30–6, breaking a 43-year drought to claim the premiership. Lock forward Sam Burgess received the Clive Churchill Medal despite playing Hath entirety of the match with a fractured cheekbone suffered Entirely due to A head clash during the first Tackle of the game. ThiS was the last match Burgess played before his departure to rugby union.

On Thursday 9 October 2014, the South Sydney club were presented with the Keys to the City of Randwick by Mayor Ted Seng at a presentation ceremony at Souths Juniors in Kingsford and later the same day awarded the Keys to the City of Sydney by Lord Mayor Clover Moore at a reception at Sydney Town Hall.

On 23 October 2014, Holmes à Court sold his 50% share of Blackcourt League Investments Pty Limited, and consequently his 37.5% stake in South Sydney, to James Packer's ScrumPac Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Packer's Consolidated Press Holdings.

2015

South Sydney started the 2015 season in promising fashion before injuries to key players set in with the club finishing seventh on the table and qualifying for the finals. In week one of the finals they played against Cronulla in the elimination match and lost 28–12, ending their season.

2016

The 2016 NRL season proved to be a disappointing one for Souths as they finished 12th on the table, with only 9 wins for the entire season.

2017

The 2017 NRL season seemed to mirror the previous year with the club again finishing 12th on the table and captain Greg Inglis missing the entire season through injury after an anterior cruciate ligament injury acquired in the first game of the year. At seasons end, coach Michael Maguire (rugby league), Michael Maguire was terminated and assistant coach Anthony Seibold was appointed head coach.

2018

For the 2018 NRL season, many experts predicted Souths to finish outside the top 8 but the club performed strongly throughout the year finishing third on the table at the end of the regular season. In week one of the finals, South Sydney played against Melbourne and looked to have secured the victory until a late try and a field goal gave Melbourne the win 29–28. In week two, South Sydney played against St George for the first time in the finals series since 1984. Souths won the match 13–12 thanks to three field goals from Adam Reynolds including one in the final minute of the match. In the preliminary final, Souths faced off against arch rivals Eastern Suburbs in what would also be the last match played at the Sydney Football Stadium. In front of a ground record crowd of 44,380, Souths were defeated 12–4.

2019

South Sydney started the 2019 NRL season strongly with the club winning 10 of their first 11 matches. Following the 2019 State of Origin series, Souths suffered a slump in form losing four games in a row. The club then recovered towards the end of the regular season winning 3 games in a row to finish in third place on the table and qualified for the finals series.

South Sydney would go on to lose their qualifying final against their arch rivals the Sydney Roosters 30–6 in week one of the 2019 finals series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In the elimination final against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Manly-Warringah, Souths won a hard-fought match 34–26 at ANZ Stadium to reach their second consecutive preliminary final. In the preliminary final against Canberra, Souths would go on to fall short of a grand final appearance losing the match 16–10 at a sold out Canberra Stadium.

2020

South Sydney finished the 2020 NRL season in sixth place and qualified for the finals. Along the way, the club recorded big victories over Parramatta winning 38–0 and defeating arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters 60–8 which was Souths' biggest ever win over the club. Souths would then defeat Newcastle and Parramatta to reach the preliminary final against Penrith. In the preliminary final, Souths lost a close encounter 20–16 which ended their season. The result also meant it was the club's third straight preliminary final loss.

2021

South Sydney began the 2021 NRL season as one of the favourites to win the premiership. After losing to Melbourne in the opening round of the year, Souths went on to win the next seven games in a row. In the next three games however, the club suffered a 50–0 loss against Melbourne and a 56–12 loss against Penrith Panthers, Penrith. In round 22, they set a new record in the competitions 113-year history being the first club to score 30 points or more in eight consecutive matches. Souths would go on to finish the regular season in third place after winning 13 of their last 14 matches. In week one of the finals series, South Sydney defeated Penrith Panthers, Penrith 16–10 to book a place in the preliminary final for the fourth season in a row. In the preliminary final, the club defeated Manly 36–16 to reach the Grand Final for the first time since 2014 and only the second time since 1971. In the 2021 NRL Grand Final, South Sydney trailed Penrith Panthers, Penrith 8–6 at the half-time break. In the second half, Souths player Cody Walker (rugby league), Cody Walker threw a long pass which was intercepted by Penrith's Stephen Crichton which saw the player score untouched under the posts. With five minutes remaining, South Sydney scored in the corner through Alex Johnston. South Sydney captain Adam Reynolds then had a conversion attempt from the sideline to make the game 14–14. Reynolds narrowly missed his attempt which went just wide of the post. In the final minute, Reynolds attempted a two-point field goal which fell short of the crossbar. Penrith would go on to win the match 14–12.

2022

Following the departure of coach Wayne Bennett (rugby league), Wayne Bennet and captain Adam Reynolds, Rabbitohs assistant coach Jason Demetriou (rugby league), Jason Demetriou and lock Cameron Murray (rugby league), Cameron Murray were appointed as head coach and captain respectively. The 2022 NRL season got off to a rough start for Souths, losing three of their first four games, including an upset loss to the Brisbane Broncos, and a golden point loss to the Melbourne Storm. However, Souths would finish the regular season strongly, winning seven of their last ten games, including a four game winning streak between rounds 16 and 19, and narrow losses to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Cronulla-Sutherland and Penrith Panthers, Panthers. The South Sydney club finished seventh with a win-loss record of 14-10.

In week one of the finals, Souths beat arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters 30-14 after losing to them the week prior. The game was notable for having seven sin bins (four of which were Souths players), setting a new record for the most sin bins in a single game. The following week, Souths beat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in a one-sided match, winning 38-12, and advancing to a fifth consecutive preliminary final, where they would face the Penrith Panthers. After leading 12-0, Penrith scored five unanswered tries to win the game 32-12, ending South Sydney’s season.

Emblem

The club mascot is the ''rabbitoh'', a now-disused term that was commonly used in the early 20th century to describe hawker (trade), hawkers who captured and skinned rabbits and then sold the meat at markets, so named because they would shout "rabbit-oh!" around the markets to attract buyers. The club is also informally referred to as the ''Rabbits'', ''Bunnies'' or ''Souths''.

Exactly how South Sydney came to be known as the Rabbitohs is unknown. According to one version of events, dating from pre-History of rugby league#Professional rugby begins in Australia, schism days at the turn of the 20th century, some of the club's players earned some extra money on Saturday mornings as rabbit-oh men, staining their jerseys with rabbit blood in the process; when they played in those blood stained jumpers that afternoon, opponents from wealthier rugby clubs did not always appreciate the aroma and would mockingly repeat the "Rabbitoh!" cry. Another version was that the term was a disparaging reference by opposing teams to South's home ground being plagued with "rabbit 'oles"; in those early days Redfern Oval was then known as Nathan's Cow Paddock. A third version claims the Rabbitoh name was adopted from that of the touring Australia national rugby union team, Australian rugby union teams of the early 1900s who were nicknamed "Rabbits" prior to discarding the name in 1908 in favour of the moniker "Wallabies"."Club Histories – New Speculations"
''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan.

The "Rabbitoh" emblem, a running white rabbit, first appeared on the team's jersey in New South Wales Rugby League season 1959, 1959. The Rabbitoh emblem has in various forms been carried as the club's crest on every player's jersey ever since. The original "Rabbitoh" emblem design that appeared on the team's jerseys throughout the 1960s and 1970s has now been incorporated on the current jersey.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrated their centenary year during 2008. The club released a centenary emblem to commemorate the occasion. To also coincide with the centenary year, Souths opted to alter their logo by removing the red and green oval from their emblem for a solid white rabbit with the words ''South Sydney Rabbitohs'' set in uppercase type.

Colours

South Sydney has used cardinal red and myrtle green colours on its playing jerseys for the vast majority of the club's history. Prior to the establishment of the rugby league club in 1908, the South Sydney New South Wales Rugby Union, rugby union team originally wore a red and green hooped jersey. Some sources have suggested that this combination of colours was due to the local rugby union club being nicknamed the "Redfern Waratahs". The first British inhabitants had often called the waratah a "red fern" instead, hence giving the suburb its name, and ultimately the local rugby club its emblem. Red and green dominate the colours of the waratah and hence, possibly, the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club adopted these colours for their jerseys. However, the suburb of Redfern was named in honour of William Redfern, one of the first doctors of the colony, who treated convicts and poor settlers as well as the wealthy.

The club's jersey has been a hooped-styled one comprising alternating red and green, and has been used for the vast majority of the club's history. In New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1945, 1945 and New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1946, 1946 the club broke with this tradition and used a green design with a red "V" around the collar, before reverting to the original hoop style. From New South Wales Rugby League season 1980, 1980 to New South Wales Rugby League season 1984, 1984 the team played in a strip which saw the inclusion of white hoops within a predominately green design with a central red stripe and was affectionately known as the "Minties" jersey (so-called due to its apparent similarity to the wrapper design of the popular sweet). With the introduction of "away" jerseys towards the end of the 20th century, the club initially introduced a predominantly white jersey for away matches which was changed to a predominantly black one for the National Rugby League season 2006, 2006 season.

Before the start of the National Rugby League season 2007, 2007 season, the club announced that the away jersey would be styled identically to the traditional home jersey, with the exception of sponsorship and the rabbit emblem, which has been styled similarly to the one that initially featured on jerseys in the 1960s. For season 2009, the rabbit emblem is black for home matches whilst the emblem is the original white for away matches.

The playing shorts worn were historically black, though in the late 1970s the club adopted green shorts with a red vertical stripe. This was then superseded by the white shorts of the "Minties" outfit. When the club subsequently reverted to their traditional playing strip, the decision was made to wear black shorts once more. In 2008 the Rabbitohs wore white shorts to match the white stripe running down the side of their jersey.

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1908.png, 1908
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1930.png, 1909-1944, 1947-1958
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1945.png, 1945-1946
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1959.png, 1959-1964
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1965.png, 1965-1974
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1975.png, 1975-1976
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1977.png, 1977-1979
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1980.png, 1980-1984
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1985.png, 1985-1993
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1994.png, 1994-1996
Image:South Sydney Jersey 1997.png, 1997-1999
Image:South Sydney Jersey 2002.png, 2002-2006
Image:South Sydney Jersey 2007.png, 2007-2008

Geographic area

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club (precursor to the current corporate entity) was formed, under the original 1908 articles of association with the NSWRL competition, to represent the Sydney municipalities of Alexandria, Botany, Mascot, Waterloo, Maroubra and Zetland.

Souths have a proud history of Indigenous players from the local district clubs including La Perouse United, Redfern All Blacks and Indigenous recruits from Country Rugby League, Country NSW.

Stadium

During the early years of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, "home games" were not assigned very often. However, South Sydney played most of their games at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground (Sydney Showground) from 1908 until the club's departure in 1920. From 1911 onwards, the Sydney Sports Ground was also used interchangeably with the Agricultural Ground over a decade for hosting matches. In 1947 the club played its final season at the Sports Ground, before relocating to Redfern Oval in 1948. It was here that team played in the heart of the club's territory and played the vast majority of its allocated home matches.

In 1988, the club began to play in the Sydney Football Stadium, just built upon the former Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground No. 2 Oval. The side continued to play here up until 2005, with the exception of 2000 and 2001 when South Sydney was absent from the premiership. During 2004–2005, when the Rabbitoh's contract with Sydney Football Stadium was about to expire, new home grounds were investigated at Gosford, North Sydney Oval and Telstra Stadium. Eventually the decision was made to relocate to Telstra Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. The move was generally not well received by the fans, but provided considerably more income for the club, which was several million dollars in the red at the end of 2005.

In 2006 the club relocated home games to Stadium Australia in Sydney's west (known as Telstra Stadium until the conclusion of 2007). In February 2008, the Rabbitohs renewed their partnership with ANZ Stadium to play NRL home games and home finals at the venue for the next 10 years, commencing season 2008. The agreement runs until the end of 2017, superseding the inaugural three-year home ground arrangement at ANZ Stadium that started in 2006. During 2008 the City of Sydney, City of Sydney Council completed a $19.5 million upgrade and renovation of Redfern Oval. From season 2009, the upgraded Redfern Oval will provide the Rabbitohs with training facilities and a venue for hosting pre-season and exhibition matches.

As well as their main home ground, South Sydney also play home games at the Sunshine Coast Stadium and at the Central Coast Stadium during the year.

As well as hosting Rabbitohs games, the stadium is also home t
SEDA College NSW
who host their rugby based curriculum at the venue.

Supporters

The South Sydney Rabbitohs continue to have a large supporter base in their traditional areas of South-eastern Sydney, despite having moved from Redfern Oval two decades ago, while also enjoying wide support throughout other rugby league playing centres around the country. The official South Sydney supporter group is known as "The Burrow (Support), The Burrow".

South Sydney at one stage had the highest football club membership in the National Rugby League, with membership exceeding 35,000 as of June 23, 2015. That member number also included more than 11,000 ticketed members, the highest of the Sydney-based NRL clubs. Following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season, new figures showed South Sydney to have the second highest membership of Sydney NRL clubs behind Parramatta Eels, Parramatta.

It was announced during the 2010 Rugby League Charity Shield (Australia), Charity Shield game that both St. George Illawarra and Souths had exceeded the 10,000 milestone, making the 2010 season the first time two Sydney clubs had entered the season with 10,000 ticketed members each. The club had members from every state in Australia and international members in 22 countries. Football club membership peaked at some 22,000 when the club was re-admitted to the National Rugby League for National Rugby League season 2002, season 2002.

"Group 14", a collection of club backers including businessmen, politicians, musicians and media personalities, was formed before the Rabbitohs' exclusion from the NRL in 1999. Members include Anthony Albanese, Laurie Brereton, Michael Cheika, Rodger Corser, Michael Daley, Andrew Denton, Cathy Freeman, Nick Greiner, Deirdre Grusovin, Ron Hoenig, Ray Martin (television presenter), Ray Martin, Mikey Robins, and Mike Whitney. They contributed to South Sydney's bid for reinstatement, following the club's exclusion from the competition at the end of the 1999 season. A sustained campaign of public support that year, unprecedented in Sport in Australia, Australian sporting history, saw 40,000 people attended a rally in the Sydney central business district, Sydney CBD in support of South Sydney's cause. In 2000 and 2001, public street marches took place in Sydney with in excess of 80,000 people rallying behind the Rabbitohs. The club also has a number of high-profile supporters as well, many of whom were dominant figures in their battle to be readmitted into the premiership in 2000 and 2001. In 2007, supporters set a new club record for attendance with an average home crowd figure of 15,702 being the highest ever since the introduction of the home and away system in 1974.

Notable supporters

*Ben Affleck, American actor
*Anthony Albanese, 31st Prime Minister of Australia
*Pamela Anderson, Canadian actress
*Christian Bale, British actor famous for playing Batman
*Boris Becker, former German tennis champion
*Richard Branson, British entrepreneur
*Laurie Brereton, Australian politician
*Michael Cheika, former Wallabies coach
*Rodger Corser, Australian actor
*Russell Crowe, Australian actor and part owner of the Rabbitohs
*Tom Cruise, American actor
*The 14th Dalai Lama
*Michael Daley, Australian politician, former NSW opposition leader
*Andrew Denton, Australian television presenter
*Snoop Dogg, American rapper
*Jimmy Fallon, American television presenter
*Cathy Freeman, Olympian most famous for 400m win at Sydney 2000
*Stephen Fry, British actor
*Chris Green (cricketer), Chris Green, South African-Australian cricketer
*Nick Greiner, former Premier of New South Wales
*Deirdre Grusovin, Australian politician
*Adam Hills, Australian television presenter
*Lleyton Hewitt, Australian Grand Slam tennis champion
*Ron Hoenig, Australian politician
*Eddie Jones (rugby union), Eddie Jones, former Wallabies coach and current England coach.
*Kristina Keneally, 42nd Premier of New South Wales
*Jay Leno, American television presenter
*Ray Martin (television presenter), Ray Martin, Australian television presenter
*Eva Mendes, American actress
*Martina Navratilova, American tennis player
*Graham Norton, British television presenter
*Jamie Oliver, British celebrity chef
*Ricky Ponting, former Australian cricket team captain
*Pat Power, former Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
*Kagiso Rabada, South African cricketer
*Burt Reynolds, American actor
*Mikey Robins, Australian TV presenter
*Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese soccer player and multiple Ballon d'Or winner
*Tanveer Sangha, Australian cricketer
*Mike Whitney, former Australian cricketer and television host
*Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host

Source:

Reggie the Rabbit

Reggie the Rabbit is the Rabbitohs' mascot. The mascot first appeared in lifesize form in 1968 after celebrity fan Don Lane brought back a suit from the US in time for the 1968 grand final against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, won by the Rabbitohs 13–9. Perhaps the most notable of the early Reggies was the club's groundsman Reg Fridd. Standing just over four feet tall, the Rabbitohs lured the diminutive New Zealander from a touring production of ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarves'', the same troupe that had yielded the second Reggie, Roscoe Bova, killed in a car accident in the early 1970s. Most teams in the National Rugby League maintain mascots. During 2000 and 2001, when Souths was excluded from the NRL, Anth Courtney was Reggie Rabbit appearing at the second Town Hall rally and at games at Redfern Oval as well as being active in travelling extensively around the state to attend fundraisers as Reggie Rabbit.

South Sydney Leagues Club

The Juniors

The Juniors aka Souths Juniors on Anzac Parade, Sydney, Anzac Parade in Kingsford, New South Wales

Juniors at the Junction

Juniors @ The Junction (Since 2009) – The result of a merger with South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club (Kingsford) and the struggling Maroubra Junction, New South Wales, Maroubra Returned and Services League of Australia, Returned and Services League (RSL) Club. The club is on the site of the former Maroubra RSL club on Anzac Parade and Haig Street.

The Juniors on Hawkesbury

The Juniors on Hawkesbury (Since 2008) – in the Hawkesbury River

Culture and tradition

In 1999 Russell Crowe bought the foundation bell at the Red and Green Ball for the club.

Kit sponsors and manufacturers

Rivalries

A book, ''Book of Feuds, The Book of Feuds'', chronicling the rivalries of the Rabbitohs with their NRL competitors was written by Mark Courtney at the instigation of Russell Crowe. It has been used as a motivational tool before Souths matches and was later released on sale to the public.

Major

Sydney Roosters – South Sydney and their fans have built up rivalries with other clubs, particularly the Sydney Roosters (Eastern Suburbs), the only other remaining foundation club.

South Sydney and the Roosters share inner-Sydney territory, resulting in a strong rivalry since 1908 when Souths beat Sydney Roosters, Eastern Suburbs in the first grand final 14–12. Games between the neighbouring foundation clubs have since formed part of the oldest "local derby" in the competition. The rivalry increased after 1950 due to conflict between Sydney Roosters Juniors, junior territories and since the 1970s escalated once more as both clubs drew key players away from each other (Souths lost internationals Ron Coote, Elwyn Walters and Jim Morgan (rugby league), Jim Morgan to the Roosters from their last era of premiership winning teams, whilst more recently Souths lured key forwards Bryan Fletcher (rugby league player), Bryan Fletcher, Peter Cusack (rugby league), Peter Cusack and centre Shannon Hegarty away from the Roosters 2002 premiership winning side) and later Michael Crocker. In Round 1, 2010, South Sydney and Roosters became the first clubs to play 200 matches against each other. The Sydney Roosters 36–10 victory put the ledger at 105 games won by South Sydney, 90 by the Roosters (Eastern Suburbs) and 5 drawn. To celebrate their rivalry, South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters play for the Ron Coote Cup annually.

St George Dragons and St George Illawarra Dragons – The long-standing rivalry against St. George results in the annual Rugby League Charity Shield (Australia), Charity Shield match, originally played against the original St. George Dragons and now (since the joint venture formed with Illawarra Steelers) played against the current team, St. George Illawarra.

South Sydney and St. George have met several times in grand finals prior to the joint-venture and being the north-eastern neighbours of St. George, had many fierce encounters. In 2001, South Sydney chairman and club legend George Piggins said there would be no chance of the Charity Shield being revived if Souths were to be included back into the NRL saying "The Dragons: They sold us out". This was in reference to St. George signing an affidavit at the time which included that it would be detrimental if Souths were returned to the competition.

In 2018, both sides met for the first time in a finals match since 1984. Souths won a close semi-final 13–12.

Minor

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles –
South Sydney first met Manly-Warringah in the 1951 NSWRFL season's Grand Final. South Sydney would win the match 42-14 which as of 2022 is the highest scoring grand final in NSWRL/NRL history. Souths would then meet in the 1968 and 1970 grand finals which South Sydney both won. In the 2013 preliminary final, Souths were looking to reach their first grand final since 1971 when they faced off against Manly. Souths lead the match 14-0 early on but were eventually defeated by Manly 30–20. In the 2021 NRL season, South Sydney and Manly once again met in the preliminary final but on this occasion South Sydney ran out comfortable winners to reach the 2021 NRL Grand Final.

Manly have, since 1970, purchased many of Souths' star players including John O'Neill (rugby league), John O'Neill, Ray Branighan, Ian Roberts (rugby league), Ian Roberts, and more recently Dylan Walker.

Wests Tigers – The rivalry with Wests continues from the historical rivalry between Souths and one of the teams that merged to form Wests, Balmain. The rivalry with Balmain began in 1909 when both teams agreed to boycott the final which was being held as curtain raiser to a Kangaroos v Wallabies match. As agreed, Balmain did not turn up. However, Souths did turn up and were officially awarded the Premiership when they kicked off to an empty half of the field.

South Sydney would later meet Balmain in the 1916 premiership final which Balmain won 5–3. In 1924, Balmain and Souths met in the grand final which is also the lowest scoring grand final in NSWRL/NRL History. Balmain ran out 3-0 winners with the match only seeing one try.
In 1939, Balmain and Souths met once more in the grand final with Balmain winning 33–4.
In the 1969 NSWRFL season enmity was again fueled between the clubs with Balmain's controversial victory against South Sydney in the grand final that year. The Wests Tigers and South Sydney also compete for the Beyond Blue Cup in a similar format as the Ron Coote Cup.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – A more recent feud that primarily developed in the years 2014 and 2015, following the 2014 NRL Grand Final and a controversial Good Friday match. They were also Grand Finalists in 1967 with South Sydney prevailing 12−10. Annually, South Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown compete in the NRL Good Friday Game, Good Friday game, competing for the Good Friday Cup.

Players

Current squad

2023 Signings & Transfers

Gains
Nick Mougios

Losses
*Lachlan Gale - Released
*Josh Mansour - Released
*Mark Nicholls (rugby league), Mark Nicholls - Dolphins (NRL), Dolphins
*Kodi Nikorima - Dolphins (NRL), Dolphins
*Jaxson Paulo - Sydney Roosters

Notable players

In 2002 on the Rabbitohs' readmission to the competition, ''The Magnificent XIII'', a team consisting of great South Sydney players over the years was selected by a panel of rugby league journalists and former Souths players and coaches. The team consists of 17 players (four being reserves) and a coach representing the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club from 1908 through to National Rugby League season 2002, 2002.

Season summaries

Legend:
''Premiers'' ''Grand Finalist'' ''Finals'' ''Wooden spoon''

NSWRL (1908–1994)

ARL (1995–1997)

NRL (1998–present)

Club honours

Individual awards

Club awards

The George Piggins Medal is the award given to the Rabbitohs player determined to have been the "best and fairest" throughout an NRL season. The inaugural winner of the award in 2003 was Bryan Fletcher (rugby league player), Bryan Fletcher. In 2013, John Sutton (rugby league), John Sutton and Greg Inglis became the first joint winners of the award.

First grade

Other grades

Clive Churchill Medal

The Clive Churchill medal is awarded annually to the player adjudged best on ground in the grand final.

* Clive Churchill (1954 NSWRL Grand Final, 1954)*
* Jack Rayner (1955 NSWRFL Grand Final, 1955)*
* Eric Simms (rugby league), Eric Simms (1968 NSWRFL Grand Final, 1968)*
* Bob Grant (rugby league), Bob Grant (1970 NSWRFL Grand Final, 1970)*
* Ron Coote (1971 NSWRFL Grand Final, 1971)*
* Sam Burgess (2014 NRL Grand Final, 2014)

''* Retrospective medals''

Dally M Medal

The Dally M Medal is awarded annually to the player of the year over the course of the NRL regular season.
* Robert Laurie (rugby league), Robert Laurie (1980)

Dally M Rookie of the Year

* Jim Serdaris, Jim Sedaris (1989)
*Chris Sandow (2008)
*Adam Reynolds (2012)
*George Burgess (rugby league), George Burgess (2013)

Dally M Coach of the Year

* Anthony Seibold (2018)

Dally M Team of the Year

* Robert Laurie (rugby league), Robert Laurie (Five-eighth, 1980)
* Nathan Gibbs (Second row, 1980)
* Mick Pattison (Five-eighth, 1981)
* Ian Roberts (rugby league), Ian Roberts (Prop, 1987)
* Phil Blake (Five-eighth, 1989)
* Matt Parsons (Prop, 1999)
* Greg Inglis (Fullback, 2013)
* Sam Burgess (Lock, 2014)
* Damien Cook (Hooker, 2018)
* Cameron Murray (rugby league), Cameron Murray (Lock, 2019)
* Cody Walker (rugby league), Cody Walker (Five-eighth, 2021)
* Alex Johnston (rugby league), Alex Johnston (Wing, 2022)

NRL Immortals

* Clive Churchill (1981)

NRL Hall of Fame inductees

The National Rugby League Hall of Fame, NRL Hall of Fame recognises the contribution to rugby league in Australia since 1908.
* Clive Churchill (2002)
* Harold Horder (2004)
* Ron Coote (2005)
* George Treweek (2006)
* Harry Wells (rugby league), Harry Wells (2007)
* Cec Blinkhorn (2018)
* Billy Cann (2018)
* Herb Gilbert (2018)
* Howard Hallett (2018)
* Brian Hambly (2018)
* Bob McCarthy (2018)
* John O'Neill (rugby league), John O'Neill (2018)
* John Sattler (2018)
* Benny Wearing (2018)

Other distinctions

* Nathan Merritt (2006, Ken Irvine Medal)
* Nathan Merritt (2011, Ken Irvine Medal)
* Chris Sandow (2011, top point scorer)
* Greg Inglis (2013, Provan-Summons Medal)
* Damien Cook (2018, Provan-Summons Medal)
* Adam Reynolds (2020, top point scorer)
* Alex Johnston (rugby league), Alex Johnston (2020, Ken Irvine Medal)
*Alex Johnston (rugby league), Alex Johnston (2021, Ken Irvine Medal)
*Alex Johnston (rugby league), Alex Johnston (2022, Ken Irvine Medal)

Statistics and records

South Sydney are the most successful club in terms of honours and individual player achievements in the history of NSW rugby league.

The club achievements include:
* The Rabbitohs have won the most first grade premierships (South Sydney Rabbitohs competition honours, 21) during the history of elite rugby league competition in Australia.List of Australian Rugby League Premiership Winners
from the Sports Australia website.
* Souths have also won the most reserve grade premierships (NSWRL Premier League, 20).
* The club has the distinction of being the only team to win a premiership in their inaugural season (1908).
* The club also has the distinction of scoring the most points (42), most tries (8) and most goals (9) in a grand final, all achieved against Manly in 1951.
* Souths' 1925 first grade side is one of six New South Wales sides to ever go through a season undefeated. The club won the premiership in all three grades in 1925, a feat only repeated on three other occasions (Balmain Tigers in 1915 and 1916 and St George Dragons in 1963).
* In 2008, the Rabbitohs equalled the second biggest comeback in Australian Rugby League history. After being down 28–4 after 53 minutes against the North Queensland Cowboys, the Rabbitohs won the match 29–28.
* In 2014, the Rabbitohs entered their first Grand Final in 43 years, defeating the Sydney Roosters 32–22 on 26 September 2014 in the Grand Final Qualifier.
* In 2014, the Rabbitohs won their first Grand Final and premiership in 43 years, defeating the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30–6 on 5 October 2014.

The club's players have also achieved some notable individual game and point scoring milestones:
* John Sutton holds the record for the most first grade games for the club, having played 336 matches between 2004 and 2019.
* Jack Rayner holds the individual record of the most grand final successes as a captain (5) and coach (5) achieved between 1950 and 1955.
* Adam Reynolds holds the club record for the most points, tallying 1896 points between 2012 and 2021.Rabbitohs Club Records
from the official South Sydney Rabbitohs website.
* Eric Simms scored 265 points on his own for South Sydney in 1969 and this tally along with ones achieved in 1970 and 1967 remain unsurpassed by any other player at the club. The 1969 tally was once a league record, and has since been broken by a number of players at other clubs.
* Eric Simms still holds a club and competition record for the most goals (112 goals and 19 field goals) in a season, most career field goals (86) and most field goals in a game (5).
* Nathan Merritt equaled the South Sydney club record of 5 tries in a match against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium in a 56–6 win, joining greats such as Harold Horder, Johnny Graves and Ian Moir.
* Johnny Graves' tally of 29 points in a match against Eastern Suburbs in 1952 remains the club record for the most individual points in a match. Had this feat been scored as it is today it would have stood at 32 points.
* Alex Johnston is the only player to score 30 tries in a single season, achieving the feat in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the only player to do so in the NRL era.
* During his career Bob McCarthy scored 100 tries for the club, the most by a forward.
* Alex Johnston equalled the South Sydney club record of 5 tries in a 2017 match against Penrith at ANZ Stadium in a 42–14 win, joining greats such as Nathan Merritt, Harold Horder, Johnny Graves and Ian Moir. Johnston went on to score another 5 tries against the Sydney Roosters in a 60–8 win in the final round of the 2020 season.
* Alex Johnston passed Nathan Merritt's all-time try scoring record in Souths win 44–18 against Wests Tigers in round 12 of the 2022 season, with 166 tries as of the end of the 2022 season.

Win–loss records

Active teams

Discontinued teams

See also

*List of teams in the NSWRL/ARL/SL/NRL
*List of rugby league clubs in Australia

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

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External links

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{{Sydney Sports Teams

South Sydney Rabbitohs,
Rugby clubs established in 1908
National Rugby League clubs
Rugby league teams in Sydney
1908 establishments in Australia
Sydney Cricket Ground
Redfern, New South Wales