| About this Site | Archives | Links | Search Engines | Email Me |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
30 Sept 2001 Everyone has a opinion on which team will win this weekend's National Rugby League grand final - everyone except South Sydney chairman George Piggins. Piggins will stay well clear of Sunday night's grand final at Stadium Australia between Newcastle and Parramatta and hasn't bothered following the form of the teams. He only has eyes for his beloved Rabbitohs. Speaking today at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the site of the majority of Souths' 20 premiership victories between 1908 and 1971, Piggins only cared about the readmittance of the foundation club. "I won't be going to the grand final this year," Piggins said. "Football hasn't been too happy for me the last couple of years and let's hope from here on it will be good. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=17974 South Sydney was all but invincible on the Sydney Cricket Ground in the 1950s when it won five of its 20 premierships. Some of the Rabbitohs' former greats and current players from the newly readmitted National Rugby League club gathered on the hallowed turf of the SCG to toast season 2002 on Friday. The $375-a-head fundraiser, originally planned as a means to pay court costs incurred while fighting to get back into the NRL, turned into a celebration as players of that golden era and the future gathered to relive the memories. Souths captain Adam Muir said the turn-up of about 400 people showed that people were strongly behind the team. "The support is massive, there is so much emotion, there's so many people behind South Sydney it's really going to be good to be a part of," he said. http://i7sport.com.au/ 28 Sept 2001 South Sydney are poised to add Dragons utility back Lee Hookey to their books for next season. Hookey, who will feature in St George Illawarra’s first division Grand-Final against the Eels on Sunday, has Souths blood in his family and is believed to be extra keen to head back to Redfern Oval. Hookey, 21, was a regular in first-grade at the Rabbitohs in 1999, but has struggled to hold down a position in the Dragons top side due to injury and their depth in the backline. Dragons chief executive Peter Doust has said the club will not stand in Hookey’s way if he decides he wants to move back to the Rabbitohs. http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=17965&category=news 25 Sept 2001 The High Court has told News Limited it will not expedite an attempt to rule out the precedent set by South Sydney's return to the National Rugby League. News wants to overturn the Federal Court decision which put Souths back in the league. Souths position in the NRL is, like all other current clubs, assured until the end of season 2005. But News today sought to expedite a hearing in which it is seeking leave to appeal against the Federal Court findings on restraint of trade which allowed Souths to play again next year. News wants to ensure other clubs do not return. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2001/09/item20010925111522_1.htm South Sydney have finalised their managerial roster by adding former NSW Origin representative Marty Gurr to their team for NRL season 2002. Gurr joins the Rabbitohs as their new recruitment and development officer, and will commence his new role on October 2. Gurr’s primary focus at Souths will be co-ordinating the club’s junior development program and identifying young talent, a role played by Phil Gould until he linked up with the Sydney Roosters. Gurr will also interact with head coach Craig Coleman and football manager Sean Garlick on the day to day running of the Rabbitohs. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=40658 19 Sept 2001 The Warriors have secured a trial match against fellow NRL club South Sydney in February. The Auckland based club is also negotiating a trial match with another Sydney club. Meanwhile, the Warriors planned end of year trip to Bangkok has been cancelled due to the terror attacks in the US. The club then booked a trip to Bali, but that also fell through when Ansett collapsed and they couldn't book another flight. http://www.rugbyleague.co.nz/news.asp?id=13421 16 Sept 2001 South Sydney have up their 7th Northern Eagles player with centre Andrew King last night agreeing to a two-year deal. King was one of the Eagles standout performers this season and can also cover the centre position. The signing of King is a big coup for the Rabbitohs but a body blow for Manly who are losing players at a rapid rate. Already signed by Souths from the Eagles are Adam Muir, Brett Sheehan, Scott McLean, Joel Penny, Jay Bandy and Paul Stringer. Other Eagles players to sign elsewhere include Ben Walker (Leeds), Mark O'Meley (Bulldogs) and Steve Trindall (Wests Tigers) whilst captain Geoff Toovey has retired. It's ironic that Souths are raiding the Manly ranks as 30 years ago the Sea Eagles secured several of Souths finest including John O'Neill and Ray Branighan. http://www.rleague.com/newsarticle.php?articleID=3638 South Sydney have announced the signing of Northern Eagles fullback Andrew King for next season. The 27-year old is expected to be the last player added to the Rabbitohs first grade squad as they continue to build for their return to the senior grade next year. King made his first grade debut with the Gold Coast in 1995 before switching to Manly and then being retained by the Northern Eagles. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#king 15 Sept 2001 It has been revealed that the returning South Sydney Rabbitohs club will meet the Sydney Roosters in round 1 of the 2002 NRL Telstra Premiership. It was previously thought that the Rabbitohs would clash with the St.George-Illawarra Dragons at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Round One, but it was obviously changed with the NRL in favour of starting the season with all seven games featuring local derbies. While only the Roosters and Souths game has been confirmed, with the local derbies thought in mind you'd probably expect to see clashes such as the Broncos vs Cowboys, Eels vs Panthers, Sharks vs Dragons, Raiders vs Storm, Knights vs Manly, Tigers vs Bulldogs etc... with the Warriors likely to have the bye first up. The double header concept has now run its course and will not be a feature of the 2002 opening round. The full draw will not be released until November/December. http://www.rleague.com/newsarticle.php?articleID=3635 The traditional Charity Shield clash between South Sydney and the Dragons at the Sydney Football Stadium is back on the cards after the two famous clubs agreed to re-establish the fixture as a major pre-season drawcard.The clash had been a regular fixture since the early 1980s, but was canned when the Rabbitohs were kicked out of the NRL in 2001. Souths were initially reluctant to play the Dragons - who failed to hand the Rabbitohs support in their court battles for re-instatement - in the pre-season opener next season with the more supportive Newcastle and the Bulldogs the preferred choices. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=17325 A revived South Sydney will kick start next year's National Rugby League season when the Rabbitohs clash with the Sydney Roosters in the first of seven local derbies. It will be Souths' first premiership appearance in more than 18 months and follows its successful Federal Court appeal to gain reinstatement in the competition after being axed in 1999. The 2002 season will start on either the weekend of March 8 or March 15, with a Country Carnival to be staged two weekends before the season officially commences. The full season draw will not be available until November or December but the NRL confirmed all 15 teams would play each other once and have two byes. The remaining 10 games in the 26-week competition will be determined by a "pool" system. http://i7sport.com.au/ It's been confirmed that South Sydney will meet St George-Illawarra in a return of the Charity Shield match next season. The match is expected to be played on February 9th at the Sydney Football Stadium. Before confirming the date, both clubs are awaiting the NRL to release the draw for the Country Carnival which will be played throughout country areas in February. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#charity The 2002 Telstra Premiership will kick off with South Sydney at home to the Roosters in a first round of local derbys. The National Rugby League has confirmed the first week's matches for next season as well as the draw for the Country Carnival, which will be played two weeks before the season starts. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2001/news/static/article_2328.asp 14 Sept 2001 The traditional Charity Shield clash between South Sydney and the Dragons at the Sydney Football Stadium is back on the cards after the two famous clubs agreed to re-establish the fixture as a major pre-season drawcard. The clash had been a regular fixture since the early 1980s, but was canned when the Rabbitohs were kicked out of the NRL in 2001. Souths were initially reluctant to play the Dragons - who failed to hand the Rabbitohs support in their court battles for re-instatement - in the pre-season opener next season with the more supportive Newcastle and the Bulldogs the preferred choices. But the NRL’s decision to begin the 2002 competition with local derbies dashed plans to have the two famous clubs open the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground prompting Dragons chief executive Peter Doust to persuade the Souths club to the St George Illawarra cause. http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=17325&category=news 13 Sept 2001 SOUTH Sydney last night confirmed their coaching staff for next season -- and all three were raised in the Rabbitohs' heartland at Waterloo. Craig Coleman was confirmed as first grade coach, Arthur Kitinas has shifted from the Roosters to take charge of first division while former Souths first grade fullback Danny Loftus will coach the club's Jersey Flegg side. "We're all from the same junior club -- the Waterloo Waratahs," Coleman said. "I am really pleased with the appointments of Arthur and Danny. "Arthur comes with a wealth of experience and will be a good supporter of mine. "He had some success coaching lower grades at the Roosters over the past seven years. http://foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2851481%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html THE South Sydney Rabbitohs have turned down the chance to sign a player who rates himself better than Sharks five-eighth Adam Dykes and Parramatta fullback Brett Hodgson. "I'm sick of sitting at home and watching guys like Adam Dykes and Brett Hodgson making it and playing so well and knowing that I'm better," the unknown 26-year-old told the club. "I played with Adam Dykes at Cronulla, I play exactly like him ... only personally I think I'm better." The truck driver and father of two was one of 600 hopefuls who applied for a trial with the resurrected Rabbitohs. The return of the famous club to the NRL resulted in a flood of applications from players, more in keeping with auditions for TV shows Big Brother or Survivor. http://foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2851480%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 12 Sept 2001 South Sydney president George Piggins has sent a letter of condolence to the United States consulate following the death of thousands in a terrorist attack. Piggins, who heads Australia's oldest and most successful rugby league club, addressed his letter to the government and people of the United States. He extended his deepest sympathies and condolences and described the attack as an outrage to all decent and compassionate people around the world. A minute's silence will be held before this weekend's National Rugby League semi finals in memory of the thousands killed in last night's terrorist attack. http://www.sofcom.com.au/cgi-bin/news/getAAPPreview?keyword=leagueplanesouths 2 Sept 2001 ST GEORGE Illawarra star Lee Hookey, once dubbed the best junior to emerge at South Sydney in 20 years, wants to return home to Redfern. Hookey has already spoken to the Dragons about the possibility of a release and plans to talk to them again at the end of the season. The 22-year-old was forced from Souths when the Rabbitohs were excluded from the premiership in late 1999. "My heart is always at Souths," said Hookey, a Zetland junior. "My dad's a Souths supporter and he'd love me back there, too. "He hasn't come to any games since I've been at St George because he's such a big Souths fan. I've got tickets to games for him, but he still won't come. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2739604%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 1 Sept 2001 Manly will withdraw its offer for former Australian Test halfback Brett Kimmorley when he refuses to sign a contract by Monday's deadline. The Sea Eagles, who will take control of the doomed Northern Eagles joint venture on Friday week, have set a deadline of Monday for players to agree to terms or it will field a team of little-known youngsters in next year's National Rugby League competition. But Kimmorley's manager Sam Ayoub was adamant his player would not agree to Manly's demands. "It will be Mad Monday and Brett Kimmorley will definitely not sign by Monday," Ayoub said as the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA) held a crisis meeting with NRL director of legal affairs David Gallop. http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010831/aapleague/999257036-1007214631.html http://news.ninemsn.com.au/sport/story_2241.asp |
