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28 Feb 2002 Sarina, south of Mackay, is preparing for footy fever as the South Sydney Rabbitohs hop back into the National Rugby League competition. South Sydney will play a trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys in Mackay on Saturday. About 200 people will attend a special dinner in Sarina tonight, after the team has a public training session at Sarina Beach. Mayor Kevin Morgan says the visitors will help put Sarina on the map. "Already the questions have been coming from the newspapers in Sydney, where or what is Sarina?" he said. "Fair enough...people in New South Wales and Sydney have a vague idea where Mackay is, but probably 90 per cent of them have no idea where Sarina is, so for us it's great to get that exposure." http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/02/item20020228151615_1.htm 27 Feb 2002 The South Sydney Rabbitohs will kick off the NRL Premiership Season against the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium (SFS) on Friday 15th March. All members of the Rabbitohs’ Football Club we will have the opportunity to purchase a ticket for Game 1 prior to them going on sale to the general public. The priority access period is between 9am Wednesday 27th February to 5pm Friday 1st March. To take advantage of the priority access period either take the letter that has been sent out to any Ticketek agency, or phone Ticketek on (02) 9266 4800 and quote your membership number. http://www.souths.com.au/ Tickets have been released for South Sydney's National Rugby League first round clash against the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium on Friday March 15. So far, tickets have only been released to Rabbitohs members, and its' expected that interest in the match between the traditional enemies will rival that of February 16's Charity Shield match between Souths and St George Illawarra. The Charity Shield drew more than 36,000 supporters to Aussie Stadium to see Souths first official return to the NRL, on this occasion two premiership points will be on offer. "Interest in the match against the Roosters at Aussie Stadium on March 15 is enormous, and already there has been a rush for tickets," said Souths chief executive Paul Dunn. "After the experience of the Charity Shield, we are expecting a full house for this most historic game so those wanting to be there should order their tickets early to avoid disappointment." http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=43142 Tickets for South Sydney's first National Rugby League match next month went on sale this morning and club officials are predicting another sell-out crowd. Tickets are available for members only until Saturday. The club has around 20,000 members and expects the match against the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium to be well attended. The club has also announced its season launch next week will be open to members of the public for the first time in the club's history for people who purchase tickets to the event. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/02/item20020227145506_1.htm A Souths junior who turned his back on top level rugby league while the club was in exile was yesterday named in the Rabbitohs squad for Saturday night's Country Carnival match against North Queensland. Noah Sete, a member of the club's SG Ball side which won the competition in 1998, has been named in an 18-man squad by coach Craig Coleman for the game in Mackay. Sete played his junior football for the same club as George Piggins - Mascot - and was outstanding in the Rabbitohs' 24-20 trial loss to the New Zealand Warriors at the weekend. That was enough for the big forward, an SG Ball teammate of Kangaroo tourist and Bulldogs star Braith Anasta, to force his way into the South Sydney side for their final pre-season hit-out. "I'm pretty happy," Sete said yesterday. "I didn't go looking anywhere else. I didn't want to go anywhere. I just wanted to play for Souths. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2821.asp 26 Feb 2002 The comeback of North Queensland fullback Tim Brasher was shortlived, with the former Test player to miss the National Rugby League club's Country Carnival game against South Sydney this weekend. Brasher, Queensland centre Paul Bowman and former NSW player Ken McGuinness will all be absent for the Cowboys' final pre-season game in Mackay. Brasher has an elbow injury, Bowman a shoulder problem and McGuinness a hamstring injury. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2808.asp SOUTH Sydney have called in soccer sharpshooter Graham Arnold to solve the one major deficiency that threatens to derail their premiership comeback. In building their new team Souths have overlooked a specialist goalkicker -- and it has shown in the Rabbitohs' opening two games. Souths have used four kickers with little result, landing only two goals from 10 attempts in their trials. Souths coach Craig Coleman has commissioned Arnold, the former Socceroo assistant coach and one of the country's best strikers, to provide a quick fix before the premiership kickoff on March 15. "I've been called in to help out," Arnold said yesterday. "Obviously there's not a recognised first-grade kicker but I'm sure with hard work everything will be settled by round one. It's easy kicking at training and the players are kicking well at training. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3845106%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 25 Feb 2002 Lack of a goal-kicker yesterday cost South Sydney their first victory since reinstatement to the National Rugby League. The Rabbitohs outscored the Warriors five tries to four in Auckland but were beaten in the last top-flight league game at Carlaw Park before it is redeveloped. "Goal-kicking was a problem last week and it was a problem again today," lamented coach Craig Coleman. "Our guys are doing plenty of work with [soccer international] Graham Arnold - I don't know whether the pressure is getting to them or what." And the Rabbitohs may already have a problem with referee Bill Harrigan, Coleman saying: "The penalties were 7-0 against us. Maybe the Warriors were the perfect football team today." Coleman insisted that, despite the defeat, his side had proved a point. "People reckon we haven't got depth and yet we had nine players making their first-grade debuts today. We took it to the Warriors and finished well on top." The Warriors were let down by basic errors. "We played a strong brand of football - even if we had a bit too much boofhead in us at times," coach Daniel Anderson said. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/25/sport/sport27.html The New Zealand Warriors have defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 24-20 in the National Rugby League trial match played in Auckland. The Warriors remain undefeated in the pre-season after last weekend's 30-30 draw with the Sharks. The home side led 14-12 at the break, and fought off a second half challenge from the Rabbitohs to record a four point win. The Rabbitohs ran in more tries than their opponents but failed to make the conversions. To make matters worse, the Rabbitohs may be without lock Shane Rigon for their next trial after he suffered a concussion early in the game. Warriors halfback Stacey Jones was his usual busy self, dominating play across the park. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/02/item20020224213225_1.htm What a difference a year makes. The New Zealand Warriors beat South Sydney 24-20 in yesterday's National Rugby League trial before a full house at Carlaw Park in Auckland. But club officials, who watched the Warriors maintain their unbeaten record in the pre-season following last weekend's 30-30 draw with the Sharks, were left lamenting a sub-standard display by the New Zealand side. It shows how far the club has come in the past 12 months, with the Warriors satisfied just to field a team at this point last season. "We didn't play very well," Warriors chief executive Mick Watson said. "We were making holes but throwing the ball away. "We had a draw against the Sharks, we beat Souths, we had a full crowd and we're not happy. "We're taking it very seriously. We have to consolidate on last year." http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2802.asp The Warriors are unbeaten so far in their NRL pre-season. The Auckland-based club has capped off last week's 30-all draw with the Sharks, with a 24-20 win over the Rabbitohs at a sold out Carlaw Park in Auckland. The Warriors, without a handful of regular first graders, led 14-12 at half time and held onto to win despite being outscored by Souths five tries to four. http://www.rugbyleague.co.nz/news.asp?id=18157 24 Feb 2002 SOUTH Sydney have budgeted for the club's highest average crowd figure this season -- even bigger than the glory days when fans packed Redfern Oval to watch Churchill, McCarthy and Sattler. The Rabbitohs, the hottest ticket in the NRL, are planning for crowds of 18,000 at Aussie Stadium. Only Brisbane drew a higher average crowd last year, and the NRL match average was just 13,273. "We actually thought 20,000, but made it 18,000 to be on the safe side," Souths chief executive Paul Dunn said. "We always knew the first couple would be sold out and we've got home games against Parramatta and Brisbane. If we don't get over 20,000 for those, I'll be disappointed." http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3835020%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 21 Feb 2002 The South Sydney Rabbitohs have today announced a three-year naming rights sponsorship agreement with entertainment magazine TV Week. The TV Week logo will appear on the Rabbitohs’ jersey from round one of the Telstra Premiership, when the club meets the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium on March 15. “The Rabbitohs is a family and community oriented club, and TV Week is a family and community oriented magazine,” said Souths chief executive Paul Dunn. "The fact that we will be making numerous television appearances during the course of the National Rugby League season makes Souths and TV Week the perfect fit." http://www.ozleague.com/default.asp South Sydney today shelved plans to play its opening National Rugby League game at the SCG, but left the door open for a possible return to the ground at some point this season. Souths chief executive Paul Dunn said the club would kick-off the premiership against the Sydney Roosters on March 15 at Aussie Stadium due to the logistical difficulties with switching the game to the neighbouring cricket ground. The club can also offer more tickets to its fans by playing at Aussie Stadium, almost certainly guaranteeing Souths' second sell-out since its return to rugby league. The Rabbitohs' Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra earlier this month at Aussie Stadium - its first since being re-admitted to the NRL - was also a sell-out. "Our preference is to play at the SCG," Dunn said today at the announcement of TV Week magazine as the club's naming rights sponsor for the next three years. "Further down the track we might do it. But given the atmosphere we had the other week here (at Aussie Stadium), it's hard to beat." http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2791.asp SOUTH SYDNEY have announced a sponsorship deal with TV Week, but don't expect any of the NRL club's players to be appearing in the magazine any time soon. For a club that has had its fair share of high-profile problems in recent years, the Rabbitohs are more than happy to stay out of the headlines for a while. Even if it means missing out on a place at the Logies. "A few of the staff expressed interest in being invited along to the Logies," Souths chief executive Paul Dunn said today. "I don't think there's much chance of being there though." But while the Logies are out, there's an awards the show the Rabbitohs are far more interested in later in the year. It's held in September and it's called the NRL finals series, an award - or reward - for the year's top eight teams. The club has already enjoyed a solid start to its season, drawing 20-20 with St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield last weekend. SMH 19 Feb 2002 SOUTH SYDNEY almost pulled off a fairytale finish on their return to Rugby League on Saturday night after two years fighting for reinstatement to the NRL. Before an almost capacity crowd at Aussie Stadium (formerly the Sydney Football Stadium) of 36,804, the Rabbitohs came from behind for a 20-all draw with St George Illawarra. Twenty-year-old former Northern Eagles winger Scott McLean scored the final try, less than three minutes from full-time. He then had the chance to become an instant hero with a conversion kick from near the touchline. But the attempt drifted wide. http://www.totalrugbyleague.com/news/viewnews.cgi?newsid1014040242,18920, The Warriors will face a reshuffled Souths forward pack in their NRL warm-up match in Auckland this weekend. The Rabbitohs' pack will be without skipper Adam Muir, Jason Death and Glenn Grief for the clash. However, the back line is unchanged from the one which lined up in last weekend's 20-all draw with St George Illawarra. Five-eighth Owen Craigie will captain the side in Muir's absence. http://www.rugbyleague.co.nz/news.asp?id=17976 Souths will rest skipper Adam Muir and forwards Glenn Grief and Jason Death for this weekend's trial match with the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland. Chief executive Paul Dunn is quick to point out, however, that there are no injuries to report following Saturday's thrilling 20-20 draw with St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield. "All the boys pulled up well," he said. "There's no doubt that those guys can play football so we'll just give them a week off." Five-eighth Owen Craigie will captain Souths against the Warriors in Muir's absence on Sunday. The backline is unchanged, meaning Scott McLean, who crossed in the dying minutes to level the scores on Saturday night, retains his place. Like a lot of the Souths squad, McLean came from the Northern Eagles after the joint venture collapsed in October last year and Dunn is excited at his prospects. "He played a lot of lower grade last year but he's a good young player who's strong and fast. "And despite the effort on Saturday, he can kick a bit as well." http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2772.asp 18 Feb 2002 Former Norths and Souths utility Chris Caruana could possibly make a comeback to the NRL this season if Rabbitohs coach Craig Coleman gets his way. Coleman is keen to bring back the 28-year-old from retirement and has spoke to Souths boss Paul Dunn about giving Caruana the opportunity to play again. Coleman says that Caruana is as fit as he has ever been and really wants him back at the club. Caruana has offered to play for nothing unless he makes first grade. A player of Caruana's versitility will be a good asset for Souths with the former Norths Mr Fix-it able to cover centre, five-eighth, lock and hooker. Souths still look a bit thin in the backs and Caruana provided he is signed up by Souths will add extra depth to the backline. Fullback Wade McKinnon, winger Brent Grose and halfback Brad Watts look to have spots wrapped up. Russell Richardson who missed the Charity Shield through injury will be an automatic selection in the centres. Scott McLean and Damien Mostyn will battle it out for a wing position whilst both Jacin Sinclair and Owen Craigie struggled. Andrew King was a late replacement for Richardson and had a very solid match. Blaine Stanley is set to put pressure on Craigie for a spot in the halves. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5294 Five-eighth Owen Craigie will lead South Sydney in Sunday’s trial against the Auckland Warriors on Sunday with captain Adam Muir to be rested. Muir and forwards Glenn Grief and Jason Death will be rested from the team that drew last Saturday’s Charity Shield game against St George Illawarra 20-all. Chief executive Paul Dunn said there were no injury concerns from the game. "All the boys pulled up well," Dunn said. "There's no doubt that those guys can play football so we'll just give them a week off." The absence of Muir, Grief and Death from the forward pack leaves it looking considerably weaker against the Kiwi international-led Warriors, with ex-Penrith first grader Duncan MacGillivray joined by rookies Jamie Fitzgerald and Scott Geddes. "They have a well-renowned forward pack with guys like Monty Betham, Logan Swann and Awen Guttenbeil. We will have to be at our best to beat them,” Dunn said. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=23639 The South Sydney Rabbitohs have high hopes that Wade McKinnon will be a star in the National Rugby League. If McKinnon's 2002 Charity Shield performance is anything to go by, then that hope could bloom to reality during the course of this season. The 21 year old made an excellent start to his NRL career in Souths 20-20 draw against St George Illawarra on Saturday night; he was active defensively and well positioned, his sense of support play enabled him to score a vital try for the Rabbitohs, and he was very competent under probing high kicks from the likes of Trent Barrett. McKinnon's strong start drew significant praise, and Souths coach Craig Coleman describes the former Parramatta Eels first division fullback as "a special kid." http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42897&ngref=http%3A%2F%2Ffootyshow%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fnrl%2Fdefault%2Easp If the South Sydney revival is rugby league's Cinderella story, then another unexpected parallel emerged in the early hours of yesterday morning that may just ensure the Rabbitohs' comeback has a fairytale ending. After their successful return to the game on Saturday night, players and fans headed back to South Sydney Leagues Club for celebrations that went on until 5am. Yet not long after the official team function, which ended just before midnight, most of the players had gone - and not to Star City, sponsors of the Charity Shield clash, as had been suggested on the Channel9 telecast. Souths chief executive Paul Dunn said yesterday that some players had stayed on to watch the Chisel-Barnes Show downstairs at the club, but many of the new-age Rabbitohs were tucked up in bed not long after the pumpkin hour. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/18/sport/sport13.html George Piggins is hoping the politicians who were at Saturday night's game learned a lesson about people power and the need to protect sport from being screwed by big business. "The fans are what create an atmosphere like we saw last night," he said. "If Joe Blow had been sitting there on his own watching the game, no-one would have cared. But if the people turn up it becomes a big event. People are what sport is all about." People like Souths coach Craig "Tugger" Coleman, whose coaching career hung in the balance while he fought for the club and worked part-time as a baggage handler at Sydney Airport. "Tugger probably wouldn't have got another chance to coach had Souths not got back in," Piggins said. "It was either here or nowhere. But now he's got a two-year contract with us, and if he's successful it will make him as a coach." http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/18/sport/sport12.html South Sydney's claim that it is a genuine National Rugby League finals threat may be based on more than just emotion. The Rabbitohs showed Saturday night in their 20-all draw at Aussie Stadium with St George Illawarra that club officials have given coach Craig Coleman a solid base to work with. Whether they can carry the club's Charity Shield form into the premiership competition remains to be seen, but there were plenty of positives from Saturday night's performance. Props Paul Stringer and Glenn Grief upstaged their Dragons rivals, including Kangaroo front rower Jason Ryles, while captain Adam Muir was outstanding. Fullback Wade McKinnon, who joined the club from Parramatta in the off-season, was also brilliant while winger Brent Grose scored a try and set up another. "It was a very good first up effort from our guys," Coleman said. "They didn't surprise me at all. We have been going four and a half months now, we've improved since day one. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2767.asp SOUTH Sydney coach Craig Coleman wants to bring utility star Chris Caruana back to the game after an absence of two years. Caruana has not played since Souths were kicked out of the premiership at the end of the 1999 season. But Coleman and Caruana have remained close friends despite the player pursuing other interests. It was in the Rabbitoh dressing room after Saturday night's Charity Shield game that Coleman broached the prospect of Caruana's return with chief executive Paul Dunn. Coleman was given an assurance by Dunn that Caruana would be given a sympathetic hearing by the management if he was serious about coming out of retirement. While aboard the big Souths Juniors boat on Sydney Harbour yesterday, Coleman spoke enthusiastically about hiring Caruana again http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,3794183%255E2771,00.html 17 Feb 2002 Astute recruiting from South Sydney has resulted in what looks likely to be a formidable forward pack for the 2002 National Rugby League season. The Rabbitohs biggest signing was of course captain Adam Muir, but chief executive Paul Dunn and coach Craig Coleman, with a little help from part-time touch judge Phil Gould, have spent wisely in acquiring veteran talent that forms a hardworking and versatile group. “We’ve got a lot of experience in our pack,” said Dunn. “We’ve got seven guys that have played in a first grade Grand Final, so it’s not as if we’ve got a bunch of Bunnies. “I think we’ve got a good base to build around,” he concluded. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42873 A crowd of 36,804 fans saw a match that would make history with the two traditional rivals South Sydney and St George Illawarra go head to head in the Charity Shield at Aussie Stadium. History shows us that St George/St George Illawarra have had the upper hand in the matches played in the Charity Shield but tonight was not the case when the match turned into a 20 all draw. The match started with plenty of aggression from the Dragons with over half an hour gone they scored the first try from a little kick, off Jason Ryles for Trent Barrett to score in the 32nd minute which Mark Riddell converted. Lee Hookey was the next man to score for the dragons in the 37th minute from a pass off Brett Kite and Riddell converted to make the score 12 nil in favour of the Dragons, South’s needed to score the next try and they did through Andrew King who had replaced Russell Richardson with injury. Damien Mostyn missed the conversion and it was 12-4 in favour of the Dragons at half time. In the second half South’s seemed to come out strongly and when the Dragons realised what was happening they gave away a penalty which Scott McLean converted to make the score 12-6. Five minute’s later the Dragons were in again with Lance Thompson scoring in the right hand corner at the southern end of the field, six minutes later Brent Grose crossed over for another try. Fifty-five minutes gone and a converted try from McLean the score was 16-12. The game was far from over-all south’s didn’t need was a try against them. Trent Barrett kicked high for Nathan Blacklock to leap high in the air to make a clean catch before getting over the line to score a try. In the 61st minute he converted his own try to make the score 20-12. In the 66th minute Wade Mckinnon scored for South’s making it 20-16 then 11 minutes later Scott McLean scored and with a miss at the conversion attempt the game was drawn. Souths retain the Charity Shield from when they last won it in 1999. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5272 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman was extremely happy with his side’s performance in the 20-20 draw with St George Illawarra in the 2002 Charity Shield. Scott Maclean scored the equalising try for Souths in the dying minutes, which sees the Rabbitohs retain the Charity Shield because they held the title last in 1999. “It was a very good first up effort from our guys,” said Coleman. “We spoke at halftime and started controlling the ball a bit. We hung in there, and thought things would change and they did.” When asked of the strong performance, particularly from the Rabbitohs forwards, Coleman said he wasn’t surprised by their efforts at all. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42871&ngref=http%3A%2F%2Ffootyshow%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fnrl%2Fdefault%2Easp The most widely-known fairytale story in Australian sporting history finished with a slight anti-climax tonight, with South Sydney and St George-Illawarra playing out a 20-all draw at Aussie Stadium. In front of a crowd close to 37,000, the Dragons led throughout the entire match, but Souths set up the possibility a miracle victory with a try in the final moments, giving Scott McLean the chance to win the game with a kick from the touchline. The match marked the return of South Sydney, who spent the last two years fighting for re-instatement to the National Rugby League after being excluded from the competition at the end of 1999. The re-born Rabbitohs withstood an early onslaught from the Dragons, and then clicked into gear themselves with several raids on their opponents line. That the match was a trial was evident in the opening ten minutes, with both sides making uncharacteristic mistakes and leaving gaps in the defensive line. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42868 Two years of anticipation came to an end and a new era began tonight at the Sydney Football Stadium, now Aussie Stadium, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs returned to the top flight of rugby league. The Charity Shield match against the St George-Illawarra Dragons was the occasion – a pre-season tradition dating from before their ejection from the National Rugby League – and the Rabbitohs were watched by a full house, a live television audience and Russell Crowe in Rome via a personal satellite link. OzLeague After two years without a competition to play in, South Sydney produced a "fairytale" return in the Charity Shield on Saturday night. They may not have won the rugby league match, which finished in a 20-all draw at Aussie Stadium, but they won plenty of admirers in a performance which exemplified the club's fighting spirit and retained the Shield after winning the last clash in 1999. The Rabbitohs trailed by 12 points in the first half, and ten points with half an hour remaining, but incredibly had a chance to snatch victory inside the game's final minute. But winger Scott McLean's conversion attempt from his own try fell short, and then replacement forward Jamie Fitzgerald failed with a desperate field goal shot from halfway as the siren sounded. It was a manic end to a match which started off slowly and gathered momentum in an exciting second half, which included five tries and a thrilling finale after a "brain explosion" from Rabbitohs captain Adam Muir. Souths chairman George Piggins claimed the Rabbitohs had brought back memories of their famous fighting spirit in the second half. http://www.sofcom.com.au/cgi-bin/news/getAAPPreview?keyword=leaguesouths Regularly rising before 4am, South Sydney's George Piggins was never one to take things lying down. The Rabbitohs boss let Greg Prichard tag along for one of the biggest days of his life. George Piggins, otherwise known as the man who saved South Sydney, has a prediction: another era of glory days for the most famous and best-loved club in the game is just around the corner. He was armed with it when he arrived at Aussie Stadium last night for the Rabbitohs' comeback game in the Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra. "We'll be winning premierships again long before they put me in a box," Piggins said. "It will happen within the next few years." http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/17/sport/sport4.html As the Rabbitohs burst on to the turf last night to play their first game of top-flight rugby league following a two-year banishment, deafening cheers went up all over the newly-named Aussie Stadium. On the terraces, the 42,000-strong crowd cheered until they were hoarse for South Sydney's comeback. But high up in the corporate boxes where the well-heeled sponsors, News Ltd executives and club heavyweights were sipping Crown lagers and chardonnay, there were full-throated cheers, too - for the much-prayed-for comeback of the National Rugby League. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/17/sport/sport3.html Wow! You South Sydney fans are something else and I've now got a new main ambition in football - to repay you for the fantastic support you have given us since the Rabbitohs got back into the competition. I've got a two-year contract with the club and I'm convinced Souths will be back in the finals by then. I don't think it will take that long, either. I believe it will happen this season. I'm not just reacting to the emotion surrounding the lead-up to the Charity Shield game, either, although it was impossible not to get caught up in it a bit. I've thought for a while now that we were good enough to make the eight. There are three clubs that look to be on the top rung of the premiership - Newcastle, Brisbane and Parramatta - but after that it's pretty open. We should be able to grab a spot towards the bottom of the eight and that would be a fantastic achievement in our first year back. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/17/sport/sport5.html What an unbelievable night for rugby league. To be at Aussie Stadium at the start of the match to see South Sydney run on - and to witness first-hand the reception they received - certainly warmed the heart of all die-hard supporters of the game. In the dying moments - when Scott McLean crashed over in the corner to give himself a shot at a goal from the sideline for a fairytale ending - old-timers standing near me said it was reminiscent of the game's halcyon days in the 50s and 60s. Congratulations to both sides. First of all to South Sydney, who showed that they have a squad of players with the commitment and courage to fight on every play and fight for the full 80 minutes every week. There is some real talent there and a few games together should mould them into a formidable outfit. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/17/sport/sport2.html Last night's Charity Shield match may have been a draw, but for all intents and purposes the scoreline didn't matter. After 30 months in exile, all indications following the Rabbitohs' return game are that the code's oldest and most successful club will be competitive this season. The Rabbitohs trailed 12-4 at half-time, and 18-6 when Lance Thompson dived over from dummy-half in the 51st minute, yet went within inches of stealing a win in the dying minutes that would have blown the roof off the Sydney Football Stadium. Earlier, winger Brent Grose had got them within striking distance when he scored in the 55th minute and played a leading role in a try by fullback Wade McKinnon 10 minutes later. In between, Dragons international Nathan Blacklock had outleapt the former Sharks winger to score a 61st-minute try at the opposite end but when Grose put McKinnon over after being put in the clear by Owen Craigie the defecit had narrowed to only 20-16. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/17/sport/sport1.html South Sydney Rabbitohs marked their return to rugby league with a thrilling 20-20 draw in their Charity Shield trial game against St George Illawarra. But it could so nearly have been a win had winger Scott McLean landed a touchline conversion in the final minute. Saturday's match was the first for the Souths following their controversial axing from the National Rugby League in October 1999. Willed on by a 36,000 crowd, they trailed until McLean crossed with two minutes remaining. Souths captain Adam Muir said: "It was very hard with so much build-up. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/rugby_league/newsid_1824000/1824410.stm South Sydney has marked its return to top level competition with a spirited 20-20 draw with St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield clash at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Dragons led 12-4 at half-time, but the Rabbitohs scored three tries to two in the second half to draw level. South Sydney coach Craig Coleman says it was an encouraging performance. "Great effort, you know, I said to them at half-time you hang in there, things will change and they certainly did," he said. "We've got a bit of work to do mate, but certainly they've got that famous South Sydney spirit." http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/02/item20020217010306_1.htm South Sydney winger Scott McLean missed a conversion attempt inside the final minute as the Rabbitohs returned to rugby league with a thrilling 20-all draw in their Charity Shield game against St George Illawarra tonight. It was a fitting comeback for the Rabbitohs, who played their first top level game in more than two years after their controversial axing from the competition in October 1999. Souths trailed for most of the match but had a chance to snatch the game twice in the dying moments, first through McLean - who came on as a replacement - and then through Jamie Fitzgerald. McLean, the 20-year-old former Northern Eagle, crossed to level the scores with two minutes remaining, but failed to land a difficult conversion from the sideline. Then the Dragons put the ball out on the full from the kick-off, gifting the Rabbitohs a penalty on the halfway line. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2762.asp SOUTH Sydney has marked its return to rugby league by coming from behind to force a 20-all draw with St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield match at Aussie Stadium. Winger Scott McLean levelled the score with a 78th minute try, but missed with his conversion attempt. Each team scored four tries with Souths coming back from 12-nil down in the first half and a 10 point deficit in the second. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3790316%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 16 Feb 2002 Only a late missed conversion has prevented South Sydney making a winning return to the NRL, with its Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra finishing in a 20-20 draw. Winger Scott McLean had the chance inside the final minute of the game to cap a fairytale return for the Rabbitohs with a win, but his attempt from the sideline as he tried to convert his own try went wide. "I got over the line and I was on my back and I thought I don't think I'm going to get this down," McLean said. "But I just tried as hard as I could and got the ball down. It was unbelievable. "Then going back for the kick I thought this is what I have practiced since I was little, this is what I have dreamed of - kicking for goal to win the game in the last seconds. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=23564 SOUTH SYDNEY have accused StGeorge Illawarra of throwing up a smokescreen over stars Trent Barrett and Mark Gasnier ahead of tonight's Charity Shield clash. Dragons coach Andrew Farrar indicated earlier in the week Barrett and Gasnier were unlikely to start and might only play a short stint to protect them from injuries. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,3784392%255E5927,00.html Perceived as soft in recent years, St George Illawarra’s forward pack is gearing up to prove its detractors wrong, starting with the Charity Shield clash with South Sydney. The Rabbitohs forwards Adam Muir, Andrew Hart, Glenn Grief and Jason Death are expected to target their Dragons counterparts, but Luke Bailey, Jason Ryles, rookie Justin Smith and Lance Thompson are ready to hit back. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=23522 When Craig Coleman assembled South Sydney's new-look team for the first time last October, he told the players that he could accept them getting beaten. "But," Coleman added, "there's never an excuse to quit." Yet just a few months earlier, the Rabbitohs coach had been on the verge of doing just that. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/16/sport/sport9.html Deep down, Souths fans believed their stubborn belief in moral justice would be crushed by the corporate heavyweights, writes Brad Walter. The most remarkable thing about Joe Chiha's decision to pay $2000 two years ago for the right to be in the South Sydney dressing-rooms on the night of their comeback game isn't that he did so knowing the odds were stacked against it ever happening - but that his wife, Shamma, let him do it. Then again, it was the fanatical support of people like the Chihas that enabled and inspired the Rabbitohs to take on the might of Rupert Murdoch in their battle for re-instatement to the National Rugby League. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/16/sport/sport8.html After a long struggle, the Rabbitohs will reach their Promised Land tonight, writes Peter FitzSimons. When the Rabbitohs run out into the middle of the Sydney Football Stadium just after 8 o'clock tonight before some 40,000 of the roaring faithful - to play the Dragons in the rugby league Charity Shield - it will be the latest chapter in a very Sydney saga. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/16/sport/sport7.html Charity Shield matches are always staged within a couple of days of St Valentine's Day, an inappropriate date considering there is no love lost in this interrupted 20-year battle between South Sydney and St George. But don't forget one of the world's most famous blood feuds erupted on February 14, 1929, when seven people were killed as Chicago mobsters fought it out, the occasion becoming known as the St Valentine's Day massacre. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/16/sport/sport6.html As 40,000 fans gather to witness the resurrection of the Rabbitohs, Roy Masters argues they are voting for the way things used to be. Tonight's Charity Shield match has that rare feel of history come alive. A 40,000 crowd for a trial game between South Sydney and StGeorge Illawarra is a celebration of people power and a statement against rapid change in sport. The fans who will pack the Sydney Football Stadium know they resurrected the Rabbitohs. The 80,000-people march through Sydney; the eight-year-olds who gave $10 each to Souths' fighting fund; the extended Lebanese family that boasted 49 cancelled Foxtel subscriptions; the union movement that threatened to boycott Rupert Murdoch-owned building sites; the taxi drivers who refused to pick up at Fox Studios; the court system that found two "bleeding heart" Federal Court judges to allow the club's appeal against its culling from the National Rugby League - all brought Souths back from the dead. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/16/sport/sport5.html CRAIG Coleman only went to school at Cleveland Street High to play sport and left as soon as the law let him at 14 years and nine months. He got a job raking up leaves and mowing grass for the local council and quit with not too much to show for it except a nickname after one of his workmates said he was a bit of a "tugger". At 17 he was playing a muck-around game of basketball at the South Sydney Police Boys when the Rabbitohs' under-23 coach, a young school teacher named Brian Smith, asked him if he'd like a game with the club. For the next 20 years rugby league became Tugger's life and livelihood. He thrived on the mateship and the camaraderie, the nervous anticipation before a big game, the thought of going into battle, going into a tough situation, with his mates by his side. But when Souths were booted out of the NRL in 1999, Coleman was a 37-year-old ex-halfback, ex-coach with a wife and two kids, little education, no job and no prospects. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,3782931%255E2771,00.html Rugby League season kicks off in Sydney tomorrow night marking the return of South Sydney when they do battle against St George Illawarra at the Sydney Football Stadium. The Dragons go into the match as slight favourites but the Rabbitohs will be fueled with emotion and spirit not seen on a Rugby League field since the glorious 1980's era. Souths have been hit with a big blow in the lead up to the Charity Shield with centre Russell Richardson ruled out with a quadricep injury. Richardson played for Australia in 1999 but had a tough season with Cronulla last year where he lost his position in the first grade side with Paul Mellor and Chris McKenna emerging as two of the form NRL centres. Former Manly centre Andrew King comes into the Souths squad to replace Richardson. But even taking into account of Richardson's loss, the Rabbitohs still have a strong side with Adam Muir, Owen Craigie and Brad Watts leading the way. http://nrl.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=5253 15 Feb 2002 The High Court this morning granted News Limited special leave to appeal a decision made last July which paved the way for South Sydney’s return to the premiership. While the Rabbitohs will face another court room showdown, their future in the competition remains secure. A decision made by the full bench of the Federal Court in July said that News Limited had breached the Trade Practices Act by excluding the Rabbitohs from the competition at the end of 1999. News Limited has given its word that whatever the outcome of the court hearing, scheduled for later this year, they will not attempt to get Souths excluded from the competition again. News Limited’s main aim is to rule out a precedent which will have been set by the Federal Court’s ruling. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42857 St George-Illawarra have been installed as slim favourites heading into tomorrow night’s Charity Shield encounter with South Sydney. Sports betting agency SportsTAB has posted the Dragons at $1.75, while the Rabbitohs are at $2.00. While the Dragons have named a clearly superior side, bookies say that it is not impossible for the Rabbitohs to spring an upset in their comeback match. The Rabbitohs received a blow yesterday, with centre Russell Richardson officially ruled out of the clash due to a leg injury. Coach Craig Coleman named former Gold Coast, Manly and Northern Eagles centre Andrew King as his replacement. With tomorrow night’s match sold out, fans are being advised to stay home and watch the game live through Channel Nine or Foxtel. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42846&ngref=http%3A%2F%2Ffootyshow%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fnrl%2Fdefault%2Easp South Sydney’s return to the NRL will be complete when the Rabbitohs step onto Stadium Australia against St George Illawarra this weekend. After two seasons away from the game Souths are back in the big time, and no one in the game has any doubt who can be thanked, former player and coach and now club chairman George Piggins. Having begun his association with the Rabbitohs nearly 40 years ago, Piggins led the fight to have his beloved club readmitted to the league after it was axed on October 15, 1999. And now that the team is on the verge of playing the Dragons in the Charity Shield tomorrow night, coach Craig Coleman has led the chorus of tributes to Piggins’ tireless efforts. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=23513 South Sydney centre Russell Richardson today put his personal goals on hold by withdrawing from the Rabbitohs side for Saturday night's Charity Shield. Richardson told coach Craig Coleman this morning he would be unable to take his place against St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium after failing to overcome a thigh injury. His place in the centres has been taken by former Gold Coast and Northern Eagles back Andrew King. The ex-international had been training the house down in the off-season as he looked to win back a place in representative rugby league. "I am pretty down," Richardson said today. "Obviously I wanted to play the first game. I have had such a great off-season. "It's a bit annoying to end it like this. Tugga (Coleman) was going to give me until tomorrow but I didn't want to disrupt the team in the lead-up to the game. "It's annoying but I have to do the right thing by the team and myself. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2751.asp South Sydney hooker Jason Death says emotion could carry the Rabbitohs into the National Rugby League finals. "The emotion is going to carry us a long way I think," Death said today. "We have talked about making the top eight. I dare say we will be very close. "It depends on injuries. We have Brad Watts and Owen Craigie in the halves at the moment, if we lose one of those guys it gets a bit skinny." The 30-year-old Death built up a cult following in Auckland, where his legion of fans christened themselves `Death Row' and attended home games in Grim Reaper costumes. Death, who played with Canberra and North Queensland before finding a home in Auckland, is hoping he can attract the same sort of support across the Tasman. However, he concedes he may have to rely on family members to get the ball rolling. "If I play well I hope I get a few supporters, but I think Death Row is now my family," he said. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2753.asp The last thing a player expects in the opening minutes of a Charity Shield match is a few laughs, but that's exactly what South Sydney back rower Andrew Hart is looking forward to on Saturday night. Hart, who moved from St George Illawarra to the Rabbitohs in the off-season, will make his debut for Souths against his old National Rugby League club at Aussie Stadium this weekend. And he expects to receive a warm welcome from his former teammates. "I suppose there will be a few giggles in the first 10 minutes," Hart said today. "There's a couple of close mates there. I have been with some of the blokes since I was 15 or 16 years old. "I suppose I'll be in for a bit of flak." Hart still lives in Wollongong, where he is surrounded by his former teammates, but has quickly settled into life at a new club. The 25-year-old back rower had an outstanding season with the Dragons last year and is part of a strong Souths pack which includes former international Adam Muir. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2755.asp There will be another court hearing for News Limited's battle with rugby league club South Sydney, but the High Court appeal will not affect the team's position in the National Rugby League competition. The High Court this morning granted News Limited special leave to appeal against a decision of the Full Bench of the Federal Court which found News Limited had breached the Trade Practices Act in excluding South Sydney from a 14 team NRL competition. News Limited has given an assurance that whatever the outcome of the appeal, it will not seek to remove Souths from the competition. News is seeking to rule out the precedent set by the decision which allowed South Sydney to return to the NRL. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/02/item20020215135255_1.htm The High Court will today hand down its decision on whether or not it will allow News Limited to appeal the decision made last July which paved the way for South Sydney’s return to the premiership. The Rabbitohs will tomorrow night play their first official match since being excluded from the competition at the conclusion of National Rugby League season 1999. The wait is finally over for thousands of Rabbitohs fans who will pack into Aussie Stadium tomorrow night for the Charity Shield encounter with St George-Illawarra. Tomorrow night is seen as the end of an heroic and sometimes fiery two-year battle in which the Rabbitohs fought for re-instatement into the NRL. After initially losing an injunction attempt, the Rabbitohs launched full federal court action against News Limited and the NRL. That action failed, but the Rabbitohs claimed victory on appeal and shortly after were invited back into the premiership. Today, News Limited will attempt to get that decision reversed, but it will make no difference to the Rabbitohs future in the competition. Even if the court decision is overturned, News Limited have assured the Rabbitohs that all costs from the federal court battle will be underwritten. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=0000042842 When the Rabbitohs run out to play for the Charity Shield, it will be solicitor Nick Pappas's reward for years of hard work, writes Sam North. With exquisite, albeit accidental, timing, today the High Court will rule on whether News Ltd can appeal against last year's Federal Court decision that led to South Sydney being allowed back into the National Rugby League. Tomorrow, in front of the first sell-out crowd in trial match history, Souths will make their long awaited return to the big time, taking on St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield at the Sydney Football Stadium, now named Aussie Stadium. The appeal, if allowed, won't affect Souths' future, regardless of the eventual result. News has underwritten all Souths' appeal costs and will not press the club for costs should the Federal Court decision be overturned. And, like all other NRL clubs, Souths now have a licence to play in the elite competition until 2005. But, whatever the verdict, today's decision will provide just another strand of emotion in what is already shaping as one of league's most highly charged starts to a season http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/15/sport/sport7.html FOR the past two years Craig Coleman has thought of himself as a foot soldier. A loyal member of the South Sydney army that fought behind club president George Piggins, who was the driving force being Souths' readmission to the National Rugby League. It was a battle that Souths won in July last year, when the full bench of the Federal Court ruled their exclusion from the competition was unlawful. That day marked the end of the road for Piggins but for Coleman, a new battle was looming on the horizon. The Rabbitohs coach, who had been unemployed since the club was kicked out in 1999, faced the prospect of becoming a leader himself. He had to mass a new army and come up with a suitable battle plan for 2002, a plan that will be unveiled tomorrow night when the Rabbitohs take on St George Illawarra at the Sydney Football Stadium for the traditional season opener, the Charity Shield. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3778348%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html SOUTH Sydney legend Mario Fenech last night appealed to the Rabbitohs' new breed not to let the emotion of the night derail their Charity Shield game plan. Fenech, known as "Test Match" in his heyday because of the intensity with which he played, said the Rabbitohs were capable of a winning comeback tomorrow night provided they are not overawed by the occasion. "I know a few times in my career the passion, energy, emotion and adrenalin got to me," Fenech admitted. "Each player must show discipline and use the emotion to his benefit. "It will be the biggest game in the careers of probably three-quarters of the Souths squad. "I have spoken to (coach) Craig Coleman and he has his team well prepared and looking forward to the contest. "Playing before 40,000 is what players play the game for. "A full stadium is what players want." http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,3778381%255E2771,00.html 14 Feb 2002 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman has called on the club’s supporters not to get too carried away about the team’s chances this season. The re-admission of the Rabbitohs to the NRL has many fans hoping for big things this year, but Coleman, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Charity Shield clash with St George Illawarra, says those expectations may be unrealistic. The Dragons have named Kangaroos Trent Barrett, Nathan Blacklock, Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles in their starting side, while captain Adam Muir and centre Russell Richardson are the only national representatives in the Souths team. With St George Illawarra already rated stronger on paper, Richardson may yet not play because of an ankle injury, with his place to be taken by former Northern Eagles back Andrew King if he fails to come up. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=23443 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman encouraged the National Rugby League club's supporters to remain realistic as his rag-tag collection of footballers prepared for their first hit-out together in Saturday night's Charity Shield. The Rabbitohs will meet a St George Illawarra outfit bristling with big names at Aussie Stadium this weekend, but could head into the match as favourites with the bookies after a groundswell of support from the club's long-suffering fans. On paper there's no doubt the Dragons deserve favouritism, with coach Andrew Farrar doing the Rabbitohs no favours by naming Kangaroo tourists Trent Barrett, Nathan Blacklock, Mark Gasnier and Jason Ryles in his starting side, In contrast, Souths have only two Test players in their ranks - captain Adam Muir and centre Russell Richardson - but neither has played for Australia in more than two years and Richardson could yet be ruled out of the match. http://www.sofcom.com.au/cgi-bin/news/getAAPPreview?keyword=leaguesouths BIG Paul McNicholas is Souths' link to a painful past. He's the only player to have survived the most tragic period in the Rabbitohs' proud history. When the Rabbitohs were booted out of the NRL in 1999 McNicholas was confident of playing for the club again one day. Not only will he achieve that dream on Saturday night when the resurgent Rabbitohs take on St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield match at Aussie Stadium, but he will carry the red and green flag for teammates who had their careers rudely interrupted – in some cases, ended – by rugby league bureaucracy. Of the 31 players in the Rabbitohs squad in 1999, only McNicholas has returned. The others have drifted on – moving to other clubs, playing in England, the bush, retiring or simply disappearing off the rugby league landscape. "It was a bit of a shock to the system when we started training a few months back and I realised I was the only bloke from '99 still around," McNicholas said. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3767493%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html BBC Sport Online's Phil Mercer reports on the remarkable revival of one of Australia's oldest rugby league clubs. It is the team that refused to die, whose story of survival is one of the most remarkable in the history of Australian sport. Thrown out of the National Rugby League two years ago, the South Sydney Rabbitohs are back and gearing up for a new season. And on Saturday, they will complete their return to the big-time when they take on St George Illawarra in the NRL's Charity Shield. Oscar winner Russell Crowe is a big Souths fan It's a game that Souths fans are looking forward to in a massive way. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/rugby_league/newsid_1811000/1811070.stm 12 Feb 2002 When Owen Craigie first spoke to the South Sydney management about being part of the club's revival this season, weight wasn't the only thing he had to drop - the Rabbitohs were also offering him a lot less money than the $250,000 per season Wests Tigers were paying him. Yet the former schoolboy star didn't hesitate, virtually agreeing to terms on the spot and then booking himself into a "fat" farm. Some four months later and 14kg lighter, Craigie has been given the honour of captaining Souths when skipper Adam Muir is off the field during Saturday night's Charity Shield. And Rabbitohs coach Craig Coleman is considering retaining Craigie as vice-captain even after former Test centre Russell Richardson recovers from a quadricep injury that is likely to rule him out of the club's comeback match against St George Illawarra. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/12/sport/sport11.html St George Illawarra have named a near full strength squad for the trial against South Sydney this Saturday night. This match will prove an unusual test for Saints - never before has such a spotlight been shone on a preseason trial. While most of the media interest is around the return of South Sydney all Dragons fans will enjoy the opportunity to see the team have its first run for 2002 and to see how they handle playing in front of 40000 fans. While victory is not important it would be nice to see the continuation of the Charity Shield tradition of Souths beginning with passion and niggle but eventually losing the match due to their inferior skill ;) Rest assured there will be plenty of Red and White in the crowd Saturday night to counter the Bunnie faithful. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5209 ST GEORGE Illawarra have been advised to keep their international stars Trent Barrett and Mark Gasnier in cotton wool for the explosive opening exchanges of Saturday night's Charity Shield match at Sydney Football Stadium. Dragons coach Andrew Farrar will this morning name Barrett and Gasnier in his starting team, but there were suggestions last night the pair may start from the interchange bench. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3756443%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html South Sydney five-eighth Owen Craigie's new-found appetite for training has resulted in him being named vice-captain of the Rabbitohs for their return to rugby league on Saturday night. Craigie, who almost ate his way out of football as his weight threatened to spiral out of control, will be Adam Muir's deputy for the Rabbitohs' Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra at the Sydney Football Stadium. The former Newcastle and Wests Tigers centre booked himself into a fitness centre and lived in a caravan in the off-season after being handed a lifeline by the Rabbitohs. He dropped 14kg from his hefty frame and was rewarded by coach Craig Coleman today when Souths side was named for Saturday night's sell-out game at the SFS. "It's a great honour," Craigie said today. "It's a bit of a shock and I feel proud and privileged. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2741.asp 10 Feb 2002 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman is like a kid waiting for Christmas. Only six more sleeps before the mighty Rabbitohs run out against St George Illawarra in their first game since winning reinstatement into the NRL competition. Craig was telling me during the week that when the Rabbitohs step on to the field at Aussie Stadium for the first time on Saturday night, he wants to be out on the field waiting for them. He wants the best seat in the house to witness his boys, proudly wearing the famous red and green colours, sprint out of the tunnel to greet the sell-out crowd of more than 40,000 people. Normally at such a time, a first-grade coach would be making his way up the stairs at the rear of the grandstand to find the coach's box. Not Tugger. He is going to leave the dressing-room early and take up a position in the middle of the pitch to soak up the atmosphere. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0202/10/sport/sport16.html What a week this is for fans of the mighty Red and Green. Next Saturday, Adam Muir will lead his side of new Bunnies on to Aussie Stadium for the first time. He will be greeted to the field by 40,000 screaming Rabbitohs, starved since 1999 of top grade football. Running on to a capacity SFS is not new for some of the Rabbitohs. Muir, Glenn Grief and Owen Craigie were members of Newcastle’s 1997 last minute triumph over Manly in the Optus Cup Grand Final. Hopefully the memories of that day can inspire them to high levels. Craigie is one player in particular that has something to prove. As a part of that 1997 premiership he was called the next big thing and a future international. Since then his career has been plagued by injuries and a lack of discipline that lead to weight problems, but 14kg lighter he is once again tipped for big things. He is now training the house down and getting involved in the advertising campaign to Prevent Domestic violence against Women. This new attitude will hopefully see him convert from potential star to a star. Fans that missed out on tickets to this Saturday’s game got a second chance when 1500 extra tickets were released last Friday. This news surely brought a smile to the face of the many fans that didn’t expect the sell out so early. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5177 UNREALISTIC expectations are being placed on Charity Shield combatants South Sydney and St George Illawarra, according to Dragons coach Andrew Farrar. With Souths' first game back in the NRL next Saturday night generating a build-up akin to a grand final, Farrar is warning fans that will pack the SFS and create near-record TV and radio ratings not to expect a classic encounter. "We are looking forward to it and it's good that Souths are back in, but at the end of the day it's a bit much to expect our players in the first hit-out of the season -- when they haven't played for over six months -- to come out and play a quality of football that some of the people in the media are writing about," Farrar said. "I'd like to think we can suit up and go out there and play close to our best possible football. "But, in saying that, you'd have to kid yourself because it will be the first game for most of our blokes. To expect the highest standard ... you are kidding yourself." http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3747943%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html IT'S just after 8.30am on Tuesday, the rain is tumbling down outside and leaking through the roof of the South Sydney Football Office at Souths Leagues Club. Buckets – emblazoned with South Sydney "fight for survival" stickers – sit on the floor and quickly fill with drops of water. George Piggins appears and makes his way upstairs into the roof to investigate the leaks. Is there anything this man won't do for Souths? Okay, so the football office might not be one of salubrious surrounds but do you think Piggins, coach Craig Coleman or the two elderly ladies who spend their day filling envelopes for the club's new junior members care? Spend a few days in the rejuvenated football office – like The Sunday Telegraph did last week – and you'll find the demeanour inside is a direct contradiction to the dreary weather outside. Forget the driving rain and dripping office . . . Souths are back. The place is full of energy and enthusiasm . . . drive and passion. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,3745762%255E2771,00.html 7 Feb 2002 South Sydney has edged closer to an eventual return to its spiritual home with the local council announcing it would set up a task force to investigate the redevelopment of Redfern Oval. The Rabbitohs are keen to return to their traditional base provided they can re-develop Redfern Oval into a 20,000 seat multi-purpose sports facility. The club would ideally split games between Redfern and the Sydney Football Stadium, where it is currently locked into a four year deal. Souths chairman George Piggins has been the driving force behind plans to redevelop the ground, which is adjacent to its leagues club. "The clubs that do well in rugby league are the clubs that play close to their leagues clubs," Piggins said today. "I just think somewhere along the line Redfern has been ignored too long...people are frightened to walk the streets at night." Piggins estimates it would cost up to $25 million to get Redfern Oval up to a standard capable of hosting an NRL game. The Rabbitohs shifted their base from Redfern to the Sydney Football Stadium at the end of the 1987 season and chief executive Paul Dunn said the club would ideally keep playing games at the SFS. "We would have a look at it," Dunn said. "The games we would have more than 20,000 we'd like to play them at the (Sydney) Football Stadium. "We're contracted there for the next four years. Long term I think (Redfern) is the best solution for us." http://i7sport.com.au/ The sold out Charity Shield clash between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons has received a boost with Star City Casino agreeing to terms on a naming rights sponsorship deal. The event will now be known as the Star City Charity Shield and will incorporate the 2003 Shield clash as well, with additional funds to be pledged to nominated charities The Children's Cancer Institute and the Westpac Helicopter Rescue service. "The Charity Shield has always been a great way of opening the Rugby League season," said Star City chief executive officer David Banks. "It gives the sporting public of Sydney a preview of two of the most popular teams in the competition and importantly raises funds for worthwhile charities at the same time. "Everyone involved in Rugby League is excited about the Charity Shield with Souths return to the competition and Star City is thrilled to be part of this unique event.” http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=42682&ngref=http%3A%2F%2Ffootyshow%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2Eau%2Fnrl%2Fdefault%2Easp Emotion-charged South Sydney fans have launched an assault against bookmakers, backing the re-born Rabbits to spring a shock NRL premiership win this year. Alice Springs-base operators Centrebet have been the main target of the pre-season plunge, with rank and file red and green fans snapping up the 80-1 odds on offer to win the title. They've also tossed another $15,000 on Souths at 7-4 to make the final eight. "We've been swamped," said surprised Centrebet manager Gerard Daffy. "They've been backed to win the most of any team ever pre-season." A 1908 foundation club, Souths were re-admitted to the national competition after winning a costly and bitter 18 month court battle last July. Coach Craig Coleman has since recruited several top quality players to spearhead their 2002 comeback, headed by Adam Muir, Russell Richardson, Owen Craigie, Brad Watts, Jason Death and highly rated young prop Paul Stringer. Souths make their first public appearance since being flogged 34-16 by Parramatta in the final round of 1999 in Saturday week's Charity Shield showdown with St George Illawarra. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_2722.asp 4 Feb 2002 The South Sydney Rabbitohs are undertaking four days of road safety and public presentation training, as part of their association with the Motor Accident Authority's (MAA) Arrive Alive campaign. The MAA will also bring Collingwood Magpies AFL player Paul Licuria to Sydney to speak to the Rabbitohs players about his role with the Arrive Alive program. Souths players will then be dispersed into the community to spread road safety messages, particularly to young people, who are at the greatest risk of car accidents. Rabbitohs players are being looked at as great ambassadors for the program because the majority of the squad is under the age of 26, and can relate well to other young people. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5123 Two and a half years is a long wait, but for South Sydney supporters, it's almost over. On February 16, the club's famous red and green jersey makes a comeback to top flight rugby league when Souths takes on St George Illawarra in the Charity Shield at Aussie Stadium in Sydney. The Rabbitohs have not faced a first grade opponent since the National Rugby League (NRL) excluded the foundation club from the competition on October 15, 1999. This led to well publicised court battles, massive street marches and legal fighting funds topped up by auctions and celebrity donations. Finally on July 6 last year the Federal Court upheld Souths' appeal against its exclusion and the NRL re-instated it soon after. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2001/news/static/article_2700.asp TWO Souths juniors were in a boxing gym talking about the Charity Shield the other day when their fight trainer, simply and clearly as he does, remarked the games were always willing. This year even more so, one kid said. "Saints didn't stand by us in the court case." Truth is, you never needed a reason to fire up for the Charity Shield. The game took on its own life from its very first year, 1982, when South Sydney's Gary Hambly had a contact lense ripped out in an all-in-brawl. Nobody seems to quite be able to remember what happened next. Most likely and more than reasonably it's thought that the Rabbitohs, aware of the greater scrutiny they would come under during the premiership rounds, waited a year to take their revenge. They knew there was another Charity Shield in another year, where they took their revenge and a tradition was born. Saints promised never to be ambushed again. What will happen in a fortnight is anybody's guess. But it is worth noting that for the first time - ven given the chequered history - one team is going into the Charity Shield with a legitimate reason to be genuinely sore. The Dragons turned their back on Souths when they needed them. And while the politically correct apologists will be singing a chorus of "no bad blood" and "playing in the spirit of the game", what is clear from what the kid says above is that recent history has got a mention out South Sydney way. Maybe not in official circles, but at some level at least. Remember George Piggins in 1999? "What I will never forget is that attitude of St George and Balmain when we asked them for help to allow us to stand alone," he said. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3710986%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html With the Charity Shield only 2 weeks away the anticipation in Sydney for this game is like none seen before for a trial match. Reports have stated scalpers are expecting to cash in on the match, asking $100 - $200 per ticket. http://www.rleague.com/article.php?id=5116 1 Feb 2002 SOUTH Sydney recruit Owen Craigie spent six weeks living in an old caravan to shed a staggering 14kg and save his rugby league career. Craigie walked into the Academy of Sport, Narrabeen, weighing 111kg. He walked out weighing 97kg. While attending his daily weight loss program, Craigie lived at the Lakeside Caravan Park in North Narrabeen. The caravan had only a black and white television and fridge. Craigie, 23, used the public toilets, public showers and a public telephone booth to exist. He rode his bike the 6km between the caravan park and the academy. It was an extraordinary sacrifice for a player desperate to play exceptional football this season. "It came down to how bad I want to play good football again and I want it bad," said Craigie. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,3691036%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html |
