South Sydney Rabbitohs 1079930 225582917 2008-07-14T12:28:15Z 121.216.48.169 /* Link to the indigenous community */ {{Infobox rugby league club | clubname = South Sydney Rabbitohs | image = [[Image:South Sydney Rabbitohs logo.jpg|150px]] <!-- an image is optional --> | fullname = South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club | nickname = The Rabbitohs | short name = Souths | founded = 1908 as ''South Sydney'' | exited = 1999 | readmitted = 2002 | ground = [[Stadium Australia|ANZ Stadium]] | capacity = 83,500 | ceo = [[Russell Crowe]]<br>Shane Richardson | coach = [[Jason Taylor (rugby league)|Jason Taylor]] | captain = [[Roy Asotasi]] | league = [[National Rugby League]] | season = [[National Rugby League season 2007|2007]] | position = National Rugby League, 7th | homejersey = South Sydney home jersey 1980.svg | awayjersey = South Sydney away jersey 2008.svg }} The '''South Sydney Rabbitohs''', also known as '''Souths''', '''The Bunnies''', '''SSFC''' or '''The Rabbits''', are an [[Australia|Australian]] professional [[rugby league]] team based in [[Sydney, New South Wales]]. They participate in the [[National Rugby League|National Rugby League (NRL)]] premiership and are one of nine existing teams from Sydney. The club was founded in [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1908|1908]] and was one of the foundation members in the [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership]], the predecessor of the current NRL competition. They are one of only two foundation clubs still present in the league, the other being the [[Sydney Roosters]].<ref>In Australia, a foundation club is one that played in the first season of a competition. South Sydney played in the first season of the [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership]], the predecessor to the [[National Rugby League]] competition.</ref> The Rabbitohs' traditional heartland covers the once-typically working class suburbs of inner-south and south eastern Sydney, however they have long held a wide supporter base spread all over country [[New South Wales]]. The team's home ground is currently [[Stadium Australia|ANZ Stadium]] at [[Sydney Olympic Park]]. At the elite competition level,<ref>[[New South Wales Rugby League premiership|New South Wales Rugby League]] (1908–1994), [[Australian Rugby League]] (1995–1997), [[National Rugby League]] (1998–present).</ref> South Sydney are the most successful professional team in the history of [[Rugby league in Australia|Australian rugby league]] in terms of total championships won, having claimed [[South Sydney Rabbitohs competition honours|20 first grade premierships]]. However, they have not won a premiership since [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1971|1971]]. In [[National Rugby League season 2007|2007]] Souths qualified for their first finals series since [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1989|1989]]. However there is such reverance for the Rabbitohs that there is a saying which is "When Souths are going well, Rugby League is going well". ==History== [[Image:Cchurchill.jpg|thumb|right|"The Little Master," [[Clive Churchill]].]] {{details|South Sydney Rabbitohs history}} The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club was formed at a meeting on [[17 January]] [[1908]] at [[Redfern, New South Wales|Redfern]] Town Hall<ref name="rl1908">{{cite web | title=South Sydney Rabbitohs | url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm | accessdate=2007-06-03 |author=Fagan, Sean | publisher=RL1908.com}}</ref> when administrator [[J J Giltinan]], cricketer [[Victor Trumper]] and politician Henry Clement Hoyle came together in front of a large crowd of supporters.<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref> The club played in the first round of the newly formed [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership|New South Wales Rugby League]], defeating [[North Sydney Bears|North Sydney]] 11–7 at Birchgrove Oval on [[20 April]] [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1908|1908]].<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref><ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1908.html Season 1908] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> The team went on to win the inaugural premiership then successfully defended their title in the [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1909|1909 season]], winning the [[Grand Final]] by default.<ref name="Balmainiacs">[http://www.rl1908.com/articles/balmain-1909.htm "The Balmainiacs of 1909"] ''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan.</ref> 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]]–[[New South Wales Rugby League season 1932|1932]], only missing out in [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1930|1930]]. The 1925 side went through the season undefeated<ref name="Season1925">[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1925.html Season 1925] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> 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".<ref>In 1925 rugby league journalist Claude Corbett nicknamed the club the "Pride of the League" - see page 3 of Ian Heads' book ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000. On the internet Souths are referred to as the ''Pride of the League'' on the Sydney Olympic Park website: [http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs Sydney Olympic Park.] Reference is also made in the official history of the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club by Tom Brock titled ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', published in 1994. This is mentioned in Mr Brocks' biography: [http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm Tom Brock Biography] at the ''Australian Society for Sports History'' website.</ref><ref name="rl1908">{{cite web | title=South Sydney Rabbitohs | url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm | accessdate=2007-06-03 |author=Fagan, Sean | publisher=RL1908.com}}</ref> In the 1950s South Sydney again had great success, winning five of the six premierships from [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1950|1950]]–[[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-Warringah]]<ref name="Season1951">[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1951.html Season 1951] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> remains the highest score by a team in a Grand Final and "the miracle of [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1955|'55]]"<ref>See the [http://www.souths.com.au/history/seasonbyseason.asp?Year=1955 1955 season summary] from the official South Sydney website.</ref><ref>See the article ''10 of the Best - 1955: The Miracle of '55'' by Glenn Jackson in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref> involved South Sydney winning 11 straight [[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|Johnny Graves]], [[Ian Moir]], [[Greg Hawick]], Ernie Hammerton, [[Bernie Purcell]] and [[Clive Churchill]]. [[Image:Eric Simms.JPG|thumb|left|South Sydney goal kicking legend [[Eric Simms]].]] 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]]–[[New South Wales Rugby League season 1964|1964]]. However 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 10th straight premiership. The young Rabbitohs weren't owerawed by the Dragons formidable experience and in front of a record crowd of 78,056<ref>[http://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/Record-Crowds.html Record Crowds] from the ''Sydney Cricket Ground - Aussie Stadium'' website.</ref> at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], they went down narrowly 12–8.<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1965.html Season 1965] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> 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]]–[[New South Wales Rugby League season 1971|1971]], winning four. [[Bob McCarthy]], [[John O'Neill (rugby league footballer)|John O'Neill]], [[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.<ref>See the chapter ''Premiers No More'' in Mark Courtney's ''Moving the Goalposts'', Halstead Press, 2000.</ref> 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&nbsp;minutes of the match with his jaw broken<ref>[http://www.eraofthebiff.com/mm09.html 1970 Grand Final, Souths v Manly] from the ''History of Australian Rugby League'' reproduced on the ''Era of the Biff'' website.</ref> in three places after being king hit by Manly [[Rugby league positions|prop]] John Bucknall.<ref>A full description of the famous incident is in the article ''10 of the Best - 1970: The Jawdropper'' by Glenn Jackson in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref><ref>See reference to [http://soaringseaeagles.tripod.com/players/playersb.htm John Bucknall] from the ''Soaring Sea Eagles'' website players page.</ref> 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<ref>Reference to Jack Gibson as a "Super Coach" is common terminology in Australian rugby league circles given Gibson's outstanding coaching record - see: [[Australian Associated Press]], [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/14/1060588510800.html?from=storyrhs Super coach Gibson salutes his favourite players,]''The Sydney Morning Herald'', [[14 August]], [[2003]].</ref> arrival turned the club's form, winning the pre-season competition in [[New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1978|1978]].<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref> The club captured victories in the mid-week [[Amco Cup|Tooth Cup]] competition in [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1981|1981]]<ref>See the article ''10 of the Best - 1981: The Droughtbreaker'' by Glenn Jackson in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref> and in the pre-season [[Rugby League World Sevens|"Sevens"]] competition in [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1988|1988]].<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref> The Rabbitohs were able to make 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]].<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref> The [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1989|1989 season]] proved to be the club's most successful in years, but also marked the last time the club was able to reach the finals until 2007. The following season the Rabbitohs finished as [[wooden spoon]]ers. 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.<ref name="Pride of the League">Ian Heads, ''South Sydney, Pride of the League'', Lothian, 2000.</ref> 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,<ref>The [[St George Dragons]] and [[Illawarra Steelers]] merged into the [[St George Illawarra Dragons]] in [[National Rugby League season 1998|1998]], the [[Balmain Tigers]] and [[Western Suburbs Magpies]] merged to form the [[Wests Tigers]] in [[National Rugby League season 1999|1999]] whilst also in the same year the [[Manly Sea Eagles]] and [[North Sydney Bears]] (who were excluded from the competition on failing to meet solvency criteria) merged into the [[Northern Eagles]] (the merger was subsequently dissolved with Manly re-entering the competition in [[National Rugby League season 2003|2003]]).</ref> South Sydney failed to meet the NRL'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<ref>See [http://janus.law.usyd.edu.au/slr/docs_pdfs/editions/slr_v24_n4_bhc.pdf Before the High Court - Sport and the Law: The South Sydney Appeal] by Saul Fridman, Sydney Law Review, Vol 24: 558, 2002.</ref> against the National Rugby League and [[News Limited]].<ref>See [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521534275&id=Dt_XdDY-VbMC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&ots=NtnPyY50gG&dq=south+sydney+Rabbitohs&sig=IZrsqyQ3wNtujSROFxFVmKs-LVs#PPA227,M1 "Grassroots Ethics: The Case of Souths versus News Corporation"], pages 216–229 of ''Remote Control: New Media, New Ethics'' by Michael Moller, edited by Catharine Lumby and Elspeth Probyn, Cambridge University Press, 2003 at [http://books.google.com Google Books]</ref> 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,<ref>See [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2001/862.html South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Ltd v News Limited FCA 862 (6 July 2001)], decision of the Full Bench of the [[Federal Court of Australia]].</ref> South Sydney won readmission into the premiership for the [[National Rugby League season 2002|2002 season]].<ref name="Souths Revival">See [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1865089184&id=Y_KSvEkUUNIC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&ots=N183KHJT2w&dq=rabbitohs&sig=VND-p2NDomWFLlcBM-6_YW0uCBM#PPA150,M1 "The Souths Revival"], page 150 of ''Strategic Sports Marketing'' by David Shilbury, Shayne Quick and Hans Westerbeek, Allen & Unwin, 2003 at [http://books.google.com Google Books]</ref> Since being readmitted, the Rabbitohs have been rather unsuccessful in the premiership, finishing amongst the bottom three teams for five seasons straight including three [[Wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]]s. However, following the club's takeover by famous Hollywood actor [[Russell Crowe]] and [[Peter Holmes à Court]] in 2006,<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1553 New Era at Souths Begins Today With Official Handover Ceremony] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> the club has had great success in securing a number of major international player signings as well as recruiting several key managerial positions including [[Jason Taylor (rugby league footballer)|Jason Taylor]] as head coach. The results were shown on the field with South Sydney winning 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 defenses in the competition, the Rabbitohs finished strongly making the semi finals for the first time since 1989. They finished the season in 7th 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]]. The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrate their centenary year during the [[National Rugby League season 2008|2008 National Rugby League season]]. The club is fielding teams in the National Rugby League Telstra Premiership and the [[National Youth Competition|Toyota Cup National Youth Competition]] throughout the 2008 season. The Rabbitohs also have affiliate clubs in the [[New South Wales Cup]] competition ([[North Sydney Bears]]) and the [[Super League (Europe)|European Super League]] ([[Leeds Rhinos]], the reigning Super League champions). ==Emblem== [[Image:Souths emblem orig.JPG|frame|right|The original Rabbitohs emblem introduced in [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1959|1959]]]] One version of how the club got the "Rabbitohs" nickname comes from the team's pre-[[History_of_rugby_league#Professional_rugby_begins_in_Australia|schism]] days at the turn of the 20th century. During that period, players wearing their [[cardinal red]] and [[myrtle (color)|myrtle green]] football jumpers, earned some extra money on Saturday mornings by hawking rabbits around the district with the traditional cry of "Rabbitoh!" echoing through the narrow streets.<ref>See the comments of reporter Roy Masters of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' from the transcript of the Channel 9 ''Sunday'' TV program cover story: [http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/cover_stories/transcript_1012.asp "The Resurrection of the Rabbitohs".]</ref> As they made a sale, they would sling the bunny from their shoulder and skin it on the spot, inevitably accumulating some of the fur and blood on their jerseys as they did so. 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.<ref>See the comments of ABC radio reporter Joe O'Brien from the transcript of the ABC ''PM'' radio program [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s324987.htm "Rabbitohs continue historic form",]broadcast on Friday, [[6 July]], [[2001]].</ref> [[Image:Souths Centenary.jpg||thumb|left|The Rabbitohs centenary emblem]] Another account of the legend relates that the Rabbitoh name 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.<ref name="rl1908">{{cite web | title=South Sydney Rabbitohs | url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm | accessdate=2007-06-03 |author=Fagan, Sean | publisher=RL1908.com}}</ref> Yet another version links the Rabbitoh name as being adopted from that of the touring [[Australia national rugby union team|Australian rugby union]] teams of the early 1900s who where nicknamed "Rabbits" prior to discarding the name in 1908 in favour of the moniker "Wallabies".<ref name="New Speculations">[http://www.rl1908.com/clubcomps/origins.htm "Club Histories - New Speculations"] ''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan.</ref> 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 will celebrate their centenary year during 2008. The club has released a centenary emblem to commemorate the occasion. <br style="clear:both;" /> ==Colours== [[Image:South Sydney home jersey 1908.svg|150px|right]]South Sydney has used [[cardinal red]] and [[myrtle (color)|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.<ref name="New Speculations">[http://www.rl1908.com/clubcomps/origins.htm "Club Histories - New Speculations"] ''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan.</ref> However, the suburb of Redfern was named in honour of Dr. [[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 of alternating red and green, and has been used for the vast majority of the club's history.<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/shop/viewproduct.asp?ProductID=277 South Sydney traditional jersey] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> 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 back 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"<ref>See the article ''Having a "Mintie wrapper" in your wardrobe'' by Mark Courtney in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref> jersey (so-called due to its apparent similarity to the wrapper design of the popular sweet).<ref>See [http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=783 '80s Week] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> 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 as been styled similarly to the one that initially featured on jerseys in the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/shop/viewproduct.asp?ProductID=522 South Sydney 2007 home jersey] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> For home matches, the rabbit emblem remains white and for away matches the emblem is black.<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/shop/viewproduct.asp?ProductID=563 South Sydney 2007 alternate (away) jersey] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> 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 wear white shorts to match the white stripe running down the side of their jersey. ==Stadium== [[Image:Aussie Stadium.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Sydney Football Stadium]] as it appears whilst hosting a [[National Rugby League]] finals match.]] During the early years of the [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership]], "home games" were not assigned as readily as they are today. However, South Sydney played most of their games at the [[Royal Agricultural Society Ground]] from 1908 until the club's final departure in 1920. From 1911 onwards, the [[Sydney Sports Ground]] was also used interchangeably with the Agricultural Ground over a decade for hosting matches.<ref>[http://www.angelfire.com/nb/coop/zSOUTH_SYDNEY.htm South Sydney] Co-op.</ref> In 1947 the club played its final season at the Sports Ground, before relocating to [[Redfern Oval]] in 1948.<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/redfern.html Redfern Oval] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> It was here that team played in the heart of the club's territory and played the vast majority of its allocated home matches for an extended period of time. In 1988, the club began to play in the newly built [[Sydney Football Stadium]],<ref>[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/s.f.s..html Sydney Football Stadium] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> built upon the former Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground No. 2 Oval. [[Image:Panorama-TelstraStadium-Oct2005.jpg|thumb|[[Stadium Australia|ANZ Stadium]], the Rabbitohs current home ground.]]The side continued to play here up until 2005, with the exception of 2000 and 2001 during South Sydney's absence from the premiership. In 2006 the club relocated home games to [[Stadium Australia|ANZ Stadium]] 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&nbsp;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. Currently $19.5&nbsp;million is being spent by the [[City of Sydney|City of Sydney Council]]<ref name="Redfern Park upgrade">[http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityImprovements/RedfernParkUpgrade.asp Proposed Redfern Park Upgrade,] on the [[City of Sydney]] website.</ref> to completely upgrade and renovate Redfern Oval. Completion is expected in the later half of 2008. The upgraded ground will provide the Rabbitohs with training facilities as well as the option of hosting minor pre-season and exhibition matches.<ref name="Redfern Park upgrade">[http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityImprovements/RedfernParkUpgrade.asp Proposed Redfern Park Upgrade,] on the [[City of Sydney]] website.</ref> In the meantime, [[Erskineville Oval, Sydney|Erskineville Oval]] is the club's training venue until the upgrade of Redfern Oval is complete. ==Supporters== [[Image:Rabbitohs737.JPG|thumb|One of South Sydney's Corporate Partners is [[Virgin Blue]]. One of the airline's Boeing 737s wears the Rabbitohs flag on the nose instead of an Australian flag, with the legend "Proudly flying the flag"]] The South Sydney Rabbitohs continue to have a large supporter base in their traditional areas of [[South-eastern Sydney|South-Eastern Sydney]], despite having moved from [[Redfern Oval]] two decades ago, whilst also enjoying wide support throughout other rugby league playing centres around the country.<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/supportergroups.asp South Sydney supporter groups] from the official South Sydney website.</ref>The main South Sydney supporters group at matches is known as "The Burrow."<ref>[http://www.theburrow.com.au/about_us.html The Burrow website.]</ref> By the start of the 2008 season, membership<ref>Membership is of the South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club which owns 25% of the South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club. The other 75% is owned by businessman Peter Holmes à Court and actor Russell Crowe through their company Blackcourt League Investments - see [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1595946.htm "Rabbitohs sold"], by reporter Margaret El-Chami and presented by Virginia Trioli, ''702 ABC Sydney'', [[20 March]], [[2006]].</ref> of the Rabbitohs amounted to over 11,500 (including over 6,500 season ticket holders), after it had peaked at some 22,000 when the club was readmitted to the National Rugby League for [[National Rugby League season 2002|season 2002]].<ref>Glenn Jackson, [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/pride-in-the-rabbitohs-jersey--and-dollars-too/2006/12/19/1166290546793.html Pride in the Rabbitohs jersey - and dollars, too], ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', [[20 December]], [[2006]].</ref> Souths Sydney's bid for reinstatement, following their exclusion from the competition at the end of the 1999 season, saw a sustained campaign of public support unprecedented in [[Sport in Australia|Australian sporting history]]. In that year 40,000 people<ref>[http://www.api-network.com/main/index.php?apply=scholars&webpage=default&flexedit=&flex_password=&menu_label=&menuID=76&menubox=&scholar=131 Reclaiming the Game: Fandom, Community and Globalisation], by Michael Moller, from the APINetwork website.</ref> attended a rally in the [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]] in support of South Sydney's cause.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/transcripts/s336534.htm In George We Trust], producd by Helen Grasswill, ''Australian Story'' transcript, [[2 August]] [[2001]], from the ABC website.</ref><ref>See the chapters ''Reclaim the Game'' and ''Taking it to the Streets'' in Mark Courtney's ''Moving the Goalposts'', Halstead Press, 2000.</ref> In 2000 and 2001, public street marches took place in Sydney with in excess of 80,000 people rallying behind the Rabbitohs.<ref name="Souths Revival">See [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1865089184&id=Y_KSvEkUUNIC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&ots=N183KHJT2w&dq=rabbitohs&sig=VND-p2NDomWFLlcBM-6_YW0uCBM#PPA150,M1 "The Souths Revival"], page 150 of ''Strategic Sports Marketing'' by David Shilbury, Shayne Quick and Hans Westerbeek, Allen & Unwin, 2003 at [http://books.google.com Google Books]</ref> 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.<ref>See pages 16 and 17 of [http://www.souths.com.au/sponsorship/Brochure_2007.pdf South's 2007 Corporate Partnership Brochure.]</ref><ref>See page 16 of [http://www.souths.com.au/sponsorship/Brochure_2007.pdf South's 2007 Corporate Partnership Brochure] where Shane Warne is being presented with his own personalised Souths jersey.</ref><ref>See [http://www.souths.com.au/photogalleries/index.asp?ImageID=1132&GalleryID=162 Shane Warne at the Rabbitohs Twenty20 Cricket day] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> In season 2007 supporters set a new club record for attendance with an average home crowd figure of 15,702 being the highest ever for the Rabbitohs since the introduction of the home and away system in 1974. ==Link to the indigenous community== Souths has a long history of producing talented [[Indigenous Australians|indigenous]] players, including stars such as [[Eric Simms]], [[Eric Robinson (Rugby League Player)|Eric Robinson]], [[Kevin Longbottom]] and, more recently, [[Nathan Merritt]].<ref>See the article ''Red and Green and Black'' by Shayne Bugden in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref> Throughout its history the club has been a provider of opportunity for young [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] players from both the South Sydney district and regional New South Wales. The link that exists between South Sydney Rugby League Club and the Aboriginal community of the district goes back to the formation of the Redfern All Blacks Football Club<ref>[http://www.sportingpulse.com/club_info.cgi?c=7-2153-20427-0-0&sID=18925 Who are the Redfern All Blacks] from the Redfern All Blacks website.</ref><ref>[http://www1.aiatsis.gov.au/dawn/docs/v19/s03/3.pdf A Club to be proud of...] by Ken Brindle, Hon. Secretary Redfern All Blacks, in ''New Dawn'', June 1970.</ref> in 1930, a vitally important nursery for Souths over the years.<ref>See section on [http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1639 The History of the Rabbitohs and the Indigenous Community] by Ian Heads in the article ''Rabbitohs and NASCA Form New Alliance'', from the official South Sydney website.</ref> [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] players in the current Souths squad for 2008 include [[Nathan Merritt]], [[Dean Widders]], [[Yileen Gordon]], [[Shannon Hegarty]], [[Germaine Paulson]], [[Beau Champion]] and [[Chris Sandow]]. ==Rivalries== The Rabbitohs and their fans have built up rivalries with other clubs, [[Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs rivalry|particularly the Sydney Roosters]], the other remaining foundation club.<ref>Will Swanton, [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/shove-thy-neighbour-souths-rule-the-roost/2005/08/20/1124435184478.html Shove thy neighbour: Souths rule the roost], ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', [[21 August]], [[2005]].</ref> The Rabbitohs 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.<ref>Iain Payten, [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21384078-5001021,00.html Souths' bitter blast at Roosters] ''The Daily Telegraph'', [[15 March]], [[2007]].</ref> 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 to the Roosters from their last era of premiership winning teams, whilst more recently Souths lured key forwards [[Bryan Fletcher]] and [[Peter Cusack (rugby league)|Peter Cusack]] away from the Roosters 2002 premiership winning side). In June 2007, amid controversy and much public fanfare, Souths signed from the Roosters [[Craig Wing]], a Souths junior and former Rabbitoh player, on a four-year deal commencing season 2008.<ref name="Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years">{{cite web|url=http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=1939|title=Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years|publisher=Souths.com|date=2007-06-20}}</ref> Other long-time traditional rivals include the Manly Sea Eagles (who since 1970 purchased many of Souths' star players)<ref> Key Souths players purchased by Manly included internationals John O'Neill, Ray Branighan, Elwyn Walters, Mark Carroll, Terry Hill, Jim Serdaris and Ian Roberts and other stars such as Bob Moses, Tom Mooney and Craig Field. </ref> and former clubs the St George Dragons (resulting in the annual [[Rugby League Charity Shield (Australia)|Charity Shield]] match) and [[Balmain Tigers]]. The rivalry with Balmain began in 1909 when the Tigers failed to appear for the grand final and thereby forfeited to Souths.<ref name="rl1908">{{cite web | title=South Sydney Rabbitohs | url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm | accessdate=2007-06-03 |author=Fagan, Sean | publisher=RL1908.com}}</ref><ref name="Balmainiacs">[http://www.rl1908.com/articles/balmain-1909.htm "The Balmainiacs of 1909"] ''RL1908.com'' by Sean Fagan.</ref> In [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1969|1969]] enmity was again fueled between the clubs with Balmain's controversial<ref>Balmain players feigned injury in order to slow down the game, disrupt Souths attacking momentum and run-down the clock to full-time - see the [http://www.souths.com.au/tradition/seasonbyseason.asp?Year=1969&go.x=16&go.y=8 1969 season summary] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> victory against the Rabbitohs in the grand final that year.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/30/1096527870183.html Five of the best: grand final controversies] from the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' website, [[1 October]] [[2004]].</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/bitter-feud-to-get-public-airing/2007/09/01/1188067436982.html "Bitter feud to get public airing"], Adrian Proszenko, ''League HQ'', 2 September 2007</ref> ==Statistics and Records== {{details|List of South Sydney Rabbitohs records}} South Sydney are the most successful club in terms of honours and individual player achievements in the history of Australian rugby league. The club boasts some notable achievements: * The Rabbitohs have won the most first grade premierships ([[South Sydney Rabbitohs competition honours|20]]) during the history of elite rugby league competition in Australia.<ref name="NRL Records">[http://www.nrl.com.au/PremiershipRecords/tabid/292/Default.aspx NRL Premiership records] from the official NRL website.</ref> * Souths have also won the most reserve grade<ref name="Premier League">Up until 2002, the second division of [[rugby league]] in [[New South Wales]] was Reserve Grade/Presidents Cup/First Division Premiers; since then, it has been the [[NSWRL Premier League]].</ref> premierships ([[NSWRL Premier League|20]]). * The club 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.<ref name="Season1951">[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1951.html Season 1951] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> * Souths' 1925 first grade side is one of six New South Wales sides to ever go through a season undefeated.<ref name="Season1925">[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1925.html Season 1925] from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics website].</ref> 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). The club's players have also achieved some notable individual game and point scoring milestones: * Bob McCarthy holds the record for the most first grade games for the club, having played 211 matches between 1963 and 1978.<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> Craig Coleman and Eric Simms are the only other two players to have played over 200 matches, having taken to the field in 208 and 206 games respectively.<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> * Jack Rayner holds the individual record of the most grand final successes as a captain (5) and coach (5) achieved between 1950 and 1955. * Eric Simms holds the club record for the most points, tallying 1841 points between 1965 and 1975.<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> *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.<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> 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 number of goals (112 goals and 19 field goals) in a season, most career field goals (86) and most field goals in a game (5). * Johnny Graves' tally of 29 points in a match against Eastern Suburbs in 1952<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> 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. * Between 1921 and 1933 [[Benny Wearing]] scored 144 tries in his 172 games for the club,<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> which is an exceptional proportion of tries per games played. * [[Les Brennan]]'s 29 tries in 19 games in 1954 remains a club record,<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> having broken Johnny Graves' tally of 28 in 17 games set just three years earlier. * During his career Bob McCarthy scored 100 tries for the club, the most by a forward.<ref name="NRL">[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx Rabbitohs Club Records] from the official NRL website.</ref> ==2008 Squad== The following list comprises players who are in the Rabbitohs full-time first-grade squad for the [[National Rugby League season 2008|2008]] Centenary Season in the NRL Telstra Premiership. {{Rugby league squad start}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=PR|name=[[Roy Asotasi]]'' (Captain)''}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=[[Nathanael Barnes]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=FE|name=[[Beau Champion]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HK|name=[[Beau Falloon]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=SR|name=[[David Fa'alogo]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=[[Scott Geddes]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=[[Yilleen Gordon]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=[[Luke Grant]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=[[Michael Greenfield]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=CE|name=[[Shannon Hegarty]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=WG|name=[[Sam Huihahau]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=SR|name=[[David Kidwell]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=LK|name=[[Ben Lowe]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=PR|name=[[Jaiman Lowe]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=HK|name=[[Issac Luke]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Tonga|pos=PR|name=[[Manase Manuokafoa]]}} {{Rugby league squad mid}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=[[Shannan McPherson]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=FB|name=[[Nathan Merritt]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Lebanon|pos=HK|name=[[George Ndaira]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=HB|name=[[Eddie Paea]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=CE|name=[[Germaine Paulson]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=[[Eddy Pettybourne]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HB|name=[[Chris Sandow]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=FE|name=[[Jeremy Smith (rugby league footballer)|Jeremy Smith]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=CE|name=[[Jamie Simpson]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=SR|name=[[Luke Stuart]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=LK|name=[[John Sutton]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Tonga|pos=WG|name=[[Fetuli Talanoa]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=New Zealand|pos=WG|name=[[John Tamanika]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Samoa|pos=CE|name=[[Nigel Vagana]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=LK|name=[[Dean Widders]]}} {{Rugby league squad player|nat=Australia|pos=HB|name=[[Craig Wing]]}}'' {{Rugby league squad end}} '''Coach:''' [[Jason Taylor (rugby league footballer)|Jason Taylor]]<ref>[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsTeam/tabid/233/Default.aspx South Sydney coaching profile for season 2007] from the official NRL website.</ref> ===Player Gains and Losses for 2008=== {{details|South Sydney Rabbitohs 2007}} '''GAINS''' [[Craig Wing]] (Sydney Roosters), [[Nathanael Barnes]] (Tweed Heads Seagulls), [[Luke Capewell]] (Brisbane Easts Tigers), [[Jamie Simpson]] (Toowoomba Clydesdales), [[John Tamanika]] (Brisbane Easts Tigers), [[George Ndaira]] (Sydney Roosters). '''LOSSES''' [[David Peachey]] (retired), [[Paul Mellor]] (retired), [[Shane Rigon]] (retired), [[Reece Simmonds]] (retired), [[Daniel Irvine]] (retired), [[Joe Williams (NRL Player)|Joe Williams]] (Penrith Panthers), [[Joe Galuvao]] (Parramatta Eels), [[Stuart Webb]] (St George Illawarra Dragons), [[Peter Cusack (rugby league footballer)|Peter Cusack]] (Hull FC), [[Ben Rogers]] (released mid-season to join St George Illawarra Dragons). ==Notable players== {{details|South Sydney Rabbitohs players}} The South Sydney Rabbitohs' greatest club side in history, the ''South Sydney Dream Team'',<ref>[http://www.souths.com.au/history/viewclublegends.asp?ArticleID=842 South Sydney Dream Team] from the official South Sydney website.</ref> was announced in Sydney on [[29 July]], [[2004]]. The team consists of 17 players (four being reserves) and a coach representing the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club from [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1908|1908]] through to [[National Rugby League season 2004|2004]]. The team spans the history of the code of rugby league in Australia and has collectively played 2,135 first grade games for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, 158 games for [[New South Wales Rugby League team|New South Wales]], 3 games for [[Queensland State of Origin Team|Queensland]] and 158 Tests for [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]]. {{Rugby league squad start}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=1 | nat=Australia | pos=FB | name=[[Clive Churchill]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=2 | nat=Australia | pos=WG | name=[[Harold Horder]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=3 | nat=Australia | pos=CE | name=[[Herb Gilbert]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=4 | nat=Australia | pos=CE | name=[[Paul Sait]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=5 | nat=Australia | pos=WG | name=[[Ian Moir]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=6 | nat=Australia | pos=FE | name=[[Jim Lisle]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=7 | nat=Australia | pos=HB | name=[[Bob Grant (rugby league)|Bob Grant]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=8 | nat=Australia | pos=PR | name=[[John Sattler]] | other=c}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=9 | nat=Australia | pos=HK | name=[[Elwyn Walters]]}} {{Rugby league squad mid}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=10 | nat=Australia | pos=PR | name=[[John O'Neill (rugby league footballer)|John O'Neill]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=11 | nat=Australia | pos=SR | name=[[George Treweek]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=12 | nat=Australia | pos=SR | name=[[Bob McCarthy]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=13 | nat=Australia | pos=LK | name=[[Ron Coote]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=14 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Greg Hawick]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=15 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Ray Branighan]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=16 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Ian Roberts (rugby league footballer)|Ian Roberts]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=17 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Les Cowie]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no= | nat=Australia | pos=CO | name=[[Jack Rayner]] | other=coach}} {{Rugby league squad end}} In 2002 on the Rabbitohs readmission to the competition, ''The Magnificent XIII'',<ref>See "The Magnificent XIII" in the article ''Hall of Fame'' in ''Souths The People's Team'', edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.</ref> a team consisting of great South Sydney players over the years was selected by a panel comprised 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 [[New South Wales Rugby League season 1908|1908]] through to [[National Rugby League season 2002|2002]]. {{Rugby league squad start}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=1 | nat=Australia | pos=FB | name=[[Clive Churchill]] | other=c}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=2 | nat=Australia | pos=WG | name=[[Harold Horder]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=3 | nat=Australia | pos=CE | name=[[Ray Branighan]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=4 | nat=Australia | pos=CE | name=[[Paul Sait]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=5 | nat=Australia | pos=WG | name=[[Ian Moir]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=6 | nat=Australia | pos=FE | name=[[Alf Blair]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=7 | nat=Australia | pos=HB | name=[[Bob Grant (rugby league)|Bob Grant]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=8 | nat=Australia | pos=PR | name=[[John Sattler]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=9 | nat=Australia | pos=HK | name=[[George Piggins]]}} {{Rugby league squad mid}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=10 | nat=Australia | pos=PR | name=[[John O'Neill (rugby league footballer)|John O'Neill]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=11 | nat=Australia | pos=SR | name=[[Jack Rayner]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=12 | nat=Australia | pos=SR | name=[[Bob McCarthy]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=13 | nat=Australia | pos=LK | name=[[Ron Coote]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=14 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Terry Fahey]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=15 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Ziggy Niszczot]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=16 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[Elwyn Walters]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no=17 | nat=Australia | pos=RE | name=[[George Treweek]]}} {{Rugby league squad player | no= | nat=Australia | pos=CO | name=[[Bernie Purcell]] | other=coach}} {{Rugby league squad end}} ==Honours== {{details|South Sydney Rabbitohs competition honours}} *{{sport honours|[[New South Wales Rugby League premiership|New South Wales Rugby League]], [[Australian Rugby League]] and [[National Rugby League]] Premierships<ref>Up until 1994, the top division of the premiership in [[New South Wales]] was the [[New South Wales Rugby League premiership]]; since then, it has been the [[Australian Rugby League]] (1995–1997) and the [[National Rugby League]].</ref>|20|1908, 1909, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971}} *{{sport honours|Premiership runners-up|13|1910, 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1949, 1952, 1965, 1969}} *{{sport honours|[[New South Wales Rugby League]], [[Australian Rugby League]] and [[National Rugby League]] minor premierships|17|1908, 1909, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1989}} *{{sport honours|[[New South Wales Rugby League]] Club Championships|9|1932, 1933, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1989}} *{{sport honours|[[City Cup]]|5|1912, 1919, 1921, 1924, 1925}} *{{sport honours|Pre-Season Cup titles|4|1966, 1969, 1972, 1978}} *{{sport honours|[[Amco Cup|Tooth Cup]]|1|1981}} *{{sport honours|Tooheys Challenge|1|1994}} *{{sport honours|[[Rugby League World Sevens|Sevens]]|1|1988}} *{{sport honours|Sports Ground Cup|2|1914, 1915}} *{{sport honours|League Cup|5|1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1922}} *{{sport honours|[[Rugby League Charity Shield (Australia)|Charity Shield]]|11|1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008}} *{{sport honours|First Division, [[NSWRL Premier League|Premier League]]<ref name="Premier League">Up until 2002, the second division of [[rugby league]] in [[New South Wales]] was Reserve Grade/Presidents Cup/First Division Premiers; since then, it has been the [[NSWRL Premier League]].</ref>|20|1913, 1914, 1917, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1943, 1945, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1966, 1968, 1983}} *{{sport honours|Third Grade|10|1912, 1918, 1925, 1928, 1933, 1962, 1969, 1981, 1986, 1989}} *{{sport honours|[[Jersey Flegg Cup]]|8|1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1978}} == References == ===Footnotes=== <!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php] --> {{reflist|2}} === Works cited === {{refbegin}} *{{cite book | last = Andrews | first = Malcolm | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The ABC of Rugby League | year = 2006 | publisher = ABC Books | location = Australia | id = ISBN 9780733319464 }} *{{cite book | last = Courtney | first = Mark | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Moving the Goalposts | year = 2000 | publisher = Halstead Press | location = | id = ISBN 1-8756-8449-2 }} *{{cite book | last = Fontaine | first = Angus (ed) | authorlink = | coauthors = League Week | title = Souths The People's Team | year = 2002 | publisher = ACP Publishing | location = | id = }} *{{cite book | last = Heads | first = Ian | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = South Sydney, Pride of the League | year = 2000 | publisher = Lothian | location = | id = ISBN 0-7344-0152-3 }} *{{cite book | last = Piggins | first = George | authorlink = | coauthors = as told to Ian Heads | title = Never Say Die - The Fight to Save the Rabbitohs | year = 2002 | publisher = Macmillan | location = | id = ISBN 9780732911058 }} *{{cite book | last = Whiticker | first = Alan | authorlink = | coauthors = Hudson, Glen | title = The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players - South Sydney Rabbitohs | year = 2005 | publisher = Bas Publishing | location = | id = ISBN 1920910581 }} *{{cite web | title=Rabbitohs Club Records | work=National Rugby League| url=http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/RabbitohsClubRecords/tabid/327/Default.aspx| accessdate=5 May | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | title=Rugby League Tables and Statistics | work=The World of Rugby League | url=http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html | accessdate=5 May | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | title=South Sydney Rabbitohs | work=South Sydney Rabbitohs Official Website| url=http://www.souths.com.au| accessdate=23 December | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | title=[[Sean Fagan]]'s Rugby League History | work=RL1908.com | url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm South Sydney Rabbitohs| accessdate=5 May | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | title= Sydney Olympic Park| work= Sydney Olympic Park Website| url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs South Sydney Rabbitohs | accessdate=5 May | accessyear=2007}} *{{cite web | title= Biography| work= Australian Society for Sports History | url=http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm Tom Brock | accessdate=5 May | accessyear=2007}} {{refend}} ==External links== *[http://www.rebelrabbitohs.com/ Rebel Rabbitohs - Truth @ Souths] *[http://www.souths.com.au/ South Sydney Rabbitohs] *[http://thepride.250x.com/ The Pride] *[http://www.nrl.com.au/Clubs/Rabbitohs/tabid/96/Default.aspx/ Rabbitohs at NRL website] *[http://www.southsidestory.com.au/ South Side Story] *[http://www.thesingersend.com/ The Singers End] {{South Sydney Rabbitohs}} {{Sydney Sports Teams}} {{Rugby League in New South Wales}} [[Category:National Rugby League]] [[Category:Australian rugby league teams]] [[Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs]] [[Category:Sport in Sydney]] [[Category:Sport in New South Wales]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1908]] [[fr:South Sydney Rabbitohs]]