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29 September 2002 If the events at the South Sydney club during the week have you confused, then join the club: you are not the only one. As you can well appreciate, this is a very difficult column for me to write. In fact, it is a column I would prefer not to have to write but I have never avoided the big issues before. I have campaigned strongly over the past seven years or so for the ARL to be saved and the traditional clubs to be protected. In particular, along with many others, I fought strongly for Souths' reinstatement into the NRL and, like most of you out there, felt great joy and a sense of justification when they rightfully won back their place. I have given such support because I believed in the cause, despite the fact I have been constantly targeted and ridiculed by those who opposed my opinions and done all they can to shut me up. To say I am disappointed, shocked and confused by the current situation at Souths is an understatement. Many of the headlines during the week concentrated on the departure of the club's CEO Paul Dunn and the reported breakdown in his relationship with president George Piggins. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/29/1032734374099.html There was no rabbit on the menu when former Souths CEO Paul Dunn lunched with the Lissing brothers, Jerry and Martin, last week, but the former Rabbitohs directors have roasted George Piggins in the aftermath of Dunn's resignation. The Lissings, whose meeting with Dunn was seen as an act of betrayal by Piggins, have broken their silence with a scathing attack on the Souths chairman and his management style. They said they had been threatened by people associated with the club and denied they discussed getting rid of Piggins at the lunch at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia last Monday. The brothers said Piggins was past his use-by date, ran the club like a chook raffle and attacked the character of anyone daring to question him. They said Souths had been ruled for some time by fear, and it had to stop. "We were reluctant to speak out but George Piggins' actions forced us," Jerry Lissing explained. "This is our chance to reply to all the things that have been said this week and the first thing we want to say is that we did not go to lunch that day to plan a coup ... it was a group of mates having lunch," he added. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/29/1032734374096.html A Sydney court has heard a 24-year-old rugby league player has been sentenced for selling what he thought was ecstasy to an undercover police woman he met at a club party. Former South Sydney winger Damian Mostyn has been sentenced in Downing Centre Local Court to six months jail on four charges of supplying an illegal drug and one count of having goods in custody. The court heard that on three occasions Mostyn met female undercover police at Penshurst public pool, taking money to buy 18 tablets which he said were ecstasy, but which turned out to be amphetamines. Mostyn has been freed on bail pending assessment as to whether he can serve his six-month sentence as home detention. His solicitor Peter Bugden says the case serves as a warning to others in Mostyn's position. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2002/09/item20020927135008_1.htm SOUTHS coach Craig Coleman said he will walk away from the coaching job if the big-spending Rabbitohs experience a disastrous season next year, but he is confident that won't be necessary. He said axing himself would save the man he respects most -- George Piggins -- from doing it for him. "I've never been a quitter in my life but, put is this way, I have a great deal of respect for George and I know he has the same respect for me," Coleman said yesterday. "George coached me for a long time and has had a lot to do with me since I was a kid and if we didn't do well next season, I wouldn't put him under the pressure. I wouldn't put him through the pain because deep down I know it would hurt him a lot to have to sack me. "But I know we're going to do well and I know I can do this job." Coleman also hit out at critics of Piggins' wife Nolene, who say she interferes in club matters. http://foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,5186890%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 28 September 2002 South Sydney coaching consultant Phil Blake will concentrate on building from within as he tries to turn the National Rugby League club into a force again. Blake, appointed to the role, said he would work hand-in-hand with first grade coach Craig Coleman to build a pathway for the club's junior players to senior football. The former Souths and Manly star said he was intent on making sure the club never again lost a generation of stars, as it did in the early 1990s. At that time the likes of Ian Roberts, Jim Dymock, Terry Hill and Jim Serdaris all left the club and went on to forge successful careers. The four were all Souths juniors, but played only 116 games for the Rabbitohs in total before leaving and embarking on international careers. http://sportswatch.com.au/news.php?id=81110 It's the sharp end of the football season but it is the Rabbitohs again hogging all the headlines, writes Brad Walter. South Sydney Leagues Club was a happening place on Thursday night. As Rabbitohs president George Piggins and his fellow directors gathered on the third floor for their marathon four-hour board meeting, the Souths faithful waited in the downstairs bar with a media contingent the four teams involved in this weekend's finals could only dream of attracting. "No other club can draw a crowd like this," one insider boasted. Then again, the Rabbitohs do soap opera better than Aaron Spelling. Before the dust had any chance to settle after chief executive Paul Dunn's resignation on Monday night, Piggins turned the spotlight on to coach Craig Coleman during a breakfast radio interview on Tuesday. A damning report by Nowra-based sports psychologist Paul Smith had Coleman's position under threat - along with just about everyone else involved in the club's football operations. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/27/1032734328605.html SOUTH Sydney coach Craig Coleman has lashed out at the psychologist's report which almost cost him his job at the National Rugby League club, claiming it gave a false impression of his coaching abilities. Coleman retained his position last night after a four-hour board meeting at the club's Redfern headquarters, but only after a nervous few days in which his coaching prowess was placed under the spotlight. Most of the speculation followed a sports psychologist's report into the club which was commissioned by chairman George Piggins. Piggins earlier this week described the report as "very damaging", but decided not to table it at last night's meeting where Coleman was retained following a split vote of seven board members. "I have come in for come severe criticism about that," Coleman said of the report today. "It was the First Division team that was questioned over it. The first team was in Bali. Out of the 15 or 16 of them, 12 of them were told on June 30 they weren't going to be here (next year). "At the end of the day when 12 guys who aren't going to be here get to say something bad, well that's wrong." "The criticism I have copped has not only hurt me, it's hurt my family. "Two days ago my two children were watching the TV and it came on that Craig Coleman was getting the sack. They didn't say anything, but they just looked at each other and dropped their heads." The club did make wholesale changes to its off-field structure last night, bringing in former Rabbitoh Phil Blake as coaching consultant and Paul Langmack as a defensive coach. The board also appointed ex-Wests conditioner Edgar Curtis to a similar post with the Rabbitohs. http://foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,5180610%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 27 September 2002 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman retained his position on Thursday night, but his power was significantly diluted after a marathon meeting of the National Rugby League club's board. Chairman George Piggins announced a raft of changes to the club's coaching structure after the four-hour meeting at their Redfern headquarters, including the appointment of former Souths and Manly utility Phil Blake as coaching co-ordinator. Coleman will also have a new defensive coach in ex-Wests Tigers assistant Paul Langmack, while former Tigers conditioner Edgar Curtis will take up a similar position with Souths. Piggins revealed Coleman held his position after a split vote of the club's nine-person board, however, he could not guarantee his future if the club started next season poorly. "We'll have to wait and see what happens," Piggins said on Thursday night. "Naturally if we were getting beaten by big scorelines we would have to look at the situation. "He had a year to go on his contract and we have put extra people with him to try and strengthen the situation so Souths will perform better next year. http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,134782-2-19,00.html Firstly let me say that when Souths were fighting for survival, you wrote some magnificent pieces supporting us, pieces which gladdened my heart and the hearts of thousands of fans. For that, I thank you and remain indebted. But I can't let your public call for me to move aside go without being answered because many of your assertions are premature and incorrect. Firstly, let me say that I have no intention of moving aside right now, unless the majority of voting members want me to. This is a democracy and won't be run by media commentators or a couple of disaffected former directors who wanted to merge us with Cronulla. I will move aside in time, when I am convinced that we have the right people and systems in place to secure our long-term future. If the very rich Souths Juniors ever accepted my offer for them to run our football club, I believe the board and I would resign within a minute. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/27/1032734282639.html Former Manly and Souths star Phil Blake has been installed as the new Rabbitohs coaching co-ordinator. Blake will oversee the coaching performance of Craig Coleman - who last night survived a split meeting of the South Sydney Board - and has been joined at the club by Paul Langmack (defensive co-ordinator) and Edgar Curtis (strength and conditioning). Last night’s board meeting went for more than four hours, with members split on whether Coleman should keep the Rabbitohs top job, but it was eventually decided that putting the new troika in place would be more beneficial to the club than sacking Coleman with a year to run on his contract. Langmack and Curtis come across from the Wests Tigers, after losing their positions when Tim Sheens was appointed as head coach for the 2003 NRL season, while Blake has been with the Rabbitohs in a sprint coaching role since mid-season. “These positions have been carefully considered by the Board and we fully believe that the changes made, together with the high quality of player coming to the club will give the Rabbitohs and its many fans the competitive team they so richly deserve,” said Chairman George Piggins. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=45723 CRAIG Coleman last night retained his job as South Sydney's first grade coach thanks to loyal support of club chairman George Piggins. Piggins fought off a bid to sack Coleman by a number of fellow directors during a marathon board meeting at the club's Redfern headquarters. Piggins emerged from the four-hour meeting to announce that Coleman would see out the final year of his contract. Coleman had been under pressure to retain his job after Souths won only five games in the comeback season. But while Coleman stayed as head coach, the board has appointed a number of helpers to get him through next season. Former Souths utility star Phil Blake has been appointed coaching co-ordinator and Paul Langmack, the former international who was Terry Lamb's assistant this year at Wests Tigers, is the new defensive co-ordinator. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5176642%255E2771,00.html 26 September 2002 Following a meeting by the Board of the South Sydney D.R.L.F.C tonight, the following appointments have been made for season 2003. . David Tapp, the current Sponsorship Manager, has been appointed interim C.E.O. . Craig Coleman remains the First Grade Coach . Former Souths star Phil Blake has been appointed Coaching Co-ordinator. . Former international Paul Langmack has been appointed Defensive Co-ordinator. . This season’s first division coach, Arthur Kitinas retains the First Division Coaching job for next year. . Sean Garlick retains the position of Football Operations Manager. . Edgar Curtis, the former Tigers and University of Texas conditioner has been appointed head conditioner at Souths. Directors are currently sifting through a number of applications for the position of a permanent Chief Executive and will make an announcement on this in the very near future. “These positions have been carefully considered by the Board and we fully believe that the changes made, together with the high quality of player coming to the club will give the Rabbitohs and its many fans the competitive team they so richly deserve,” says Chairman George Piggins. http://www.souths.com.au/news/news.php?ID=144 Craig Coleman should learn within the next 24 hours if he is to remain as South Sydney coach, with the embattled club due to hold a board meeting on Thursday night in which his position will be discussed. The Rabbitohs have been embroiled in a very public slanging match this week with chairman George Piggins battling with rebel board members who reportedly want to overthrow him while chief executive Paul Dunn resigned on Tuesday. Piggins hired a sports psychologist to assess Coleman and his performance as coach which resulted in quite a negative report. Piggins told Sydney radio that Coleman "has a big hurdle to jump". Coleman's assistant, Marty Gurr is also said to be one of those whose position at the club will be discussed at the meeting. While speculation of a coup to overthrow Piggins continues, the man that led Souths' reinstatement to the NRL, along with Coleman, continues to receive the backing of some of the clubs greatest players. "George might come across as a bit gruff at times but that's just George," said former grand final hero John Sattler. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=30805 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman is expected to survive a review of his performance at a meeting of the club's board tonight - but other members of the Rabbitohs' football operations will not be so fortunate. Souths chairman George Piggins gave little away last night as he prepared to table a report to his fellow directors on the club's comeback season but he insisted he had not spoken to any other candidates for the coaching position. "The only coach I've talked to is Craig Coleman," Piggins said. The pair spoke to each other yesterday but Piggins said he could not make any guarantees about Coleman's future until after the board meeting today. Some directors are known to favour a change. A series of interviews with Souths players, coaching staff and other officials by sports psychologist Paul Smith is believed to have been unfavourable to Coleman, with his communication skills called into question. However, there are few suitable alternatives if he was to be replaced at this late stage of the year and it is understood the board plans to retain Coleman at the expense of other members of his staff, possibly including football manager Sean Garlick and assistant coach Marty Gurr. Head trainer Tony Green has already left and the position of first division coach Arthur Kitinas will also be discussed, along with a replacement for chief executive Paul Dunn, whose resignation on Monday after a clash with Piggins has sent shockwaves through the club. Board member Anthony Albanese said he was extremely disappointed by the circumstances surrounding Dunn's departure and was very concerned about what had happened. "Paul and his staff had done a remarkable job revitalising the club from scratch and put us in a position to have a very successful year next season, and him leaving is a very big loss for the club," Albanese said. "I am extremely disappointed he resigned and very concerned. "But there is clear unanimous support for George [Piggins] as chairman - there are some difficulties and it is an understatement there have been problems, but the board is solid." Albanese, fellow parliamentarian Deirdre Grusovin and Randwick mayor Dominic Sullivan are the last remaining directors from Group 14 - a group of high-profile supporters set up before the Rabbitohs' expulsion from the competition in 1999 to help save the club - and there was speculation yesterday that they would resign tonight. But Albanese and Grusovin won't be at the board meeting because they are in Canberra, and Piggins said he had no plans to ask for any resignations. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/25/1032734226672.html The troubled South Sydney club will hold a board meeting tonight, where the resignation of chief executive Paul Dunn and the future of coach Craig Coleman will be discussed. Dunn resigned on Monday after a falling out between he and club chairman George Piggins. But it's believed that internal ructions at the National Rugby League club run deeper and heads are expected to roll tonight. The position of assistant coach Marty Gurr is one that has been called into question. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_4677.asp BESIEGED South Sydney coach Craig Coleman has appealed to the club board to save his job tonight. Coleman's future will be the main topic on the agenda as the Souths board sifts through the rubble of a disappointing return season to the NRL premiership. Speculation about Coleman's position has intensified since the resignation of chief executive Paul Dunn on Tuesday and a report from a sports psychologist critical of the club's coaching set-up. Yesterday Coleman spoke publicly for the first time about turmoil in the club and the tension behind the scenes from midway through the season. He admitted he was counting on the board to ratify his position tonight. "There are nine board members so there's always a chance I could get the sack, but I'm very confident I'll be there next year," Coleman said. "I would like to appeal to them not to sack me, I believe I deserve to stay in the job. "I've spoken to George Piggins and a couple of board members and they understand what's gone on over the past 12 months." Dunn's departure signalled a general shake-up in the club with others expected to be shown the door over the next couple of weeks. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5169750%255E2771,00.html 25 September 2002 South Sydney chairman George Piggins has admitted coach Craig Coleman’s position is far from secure after a dismal season. Speaking on Sydney radio station 2KY on Tuesday in the wake of chief executive Paul Dunn’s resignation on Monday night, Piggins was asked if Coleman still has his full support. “Not without changing,” Piggins began, weeks after the Rabbitohs ended their comeback season with just five wins from 24 games. “Craig Coleman has a big hurdle to jump. He’s aware of that. There’s got to be some changes there for me to support him.” Piggins also revealed that while Dunn had given three months notice when he faxed the president his decision - believed to be because of a falling out - he is likely to be paid out in order to bring in a replacement as soon as possible. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=30773 SOUTH SYDNEY coach Craig Coleman could be the next to go at the Rabbitohs with a damning report into his methods to be presented to the board tomorrow night. The growing threat to Coleman emerged yesterday as the club continued to implode following the shock resignation of chief executive Paul Dunn on Monday night. The report was commissioned by Dunn after the Rabbitohs' poor year, in which the club managed five wins and avoided the wooden spoon only after the Bulldogs were stripped of 37 competition points for salary cap breaches. Souths chairman George Piggins said yesterday the report, which was prepared by sports psychologist Paul Smith, was "very damaging" against Coleman and his coaching staff. Piggins, while surprised by the report, said he could not support Coleman if he did not "mend his ways". Coleman has been under enormous pressure for the latter half of the season and Piggins said he was stunned to be told at a meeting after round 24 that part of the problem for the side's poor performances was because the players were unfit. The news resulted in a member of the training staff being dismissed. "I more or less said to Paul and Craig it wasn't good enough, 'You're telling me that two games out from the end of the season our side weren't fit?' " Piggins said. "It prompted me to get a full inquiry into it." http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5164167%255E2722,00.html A mobile telephone message brought about the downfall of South Sydney chief executive Paul Dunn, and a psychologist's report may now hand coach Craig Coleman a similar fate tomorrow. There were strong suggestions last night of the Rabbitohs imploding at the end of their comeback season, chairman George Piggins saying club stalwart Coleman would have to "make changes" to win back his support. A day after the resignation of Dunn, Piggins said South Coast sports psychologist Paul Smith had interviewed players, coaching staff and other officials to compile a report on the club's operations this year. "This sports psychologist, his report has to go before the board," Piggins said last night. He said Coleman and Dunn were present at his first meeting with the Nowra-based Smith earlier this year. "That was probably the first meeting where I got to know we had a major problem. I spoke to Paul [Smith] and asked him to do certain things and get a report back to Paul [Dunn]." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/25/1032734169928.html Craig Coleman’s position as coach of South Sydney is under threat. Reports continue to circulate that Coleman may be sacked by the Rabbitohs, after only managing five wins in NRL season 2003. Souths chairman George Piggins – a staunch supporter of Coleman in the past - has tempered his support of the former star halfback, who still has a year to run on his contract. Speaking on Sydney Radio station 2KY yesterday, Piggins said: "Craig Coleman has a big hurdle to jump. He's aware of that. "There's got to be some changes there for me to support him." http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=45712 THE South Sydney Rabbitohs are in turmoil after just one season back in the NRL. Chief executive Paul Dunn quit the club on Monday after less than a year in office because of irreconcilable differences with club chairman George Piggins. Piggins had questioned Dunn's loyalty after he lunched with two former South Sydney directors who oppose chairman George's leadership. Dunn also stood accused of failing to carry out the board's instructions in a number of areas, including the pursuit of Bulldogs players Willie Mason and Hazem El Masri. After Dunn handed in his resignation on Tuesday, Piggins made it clear his board was far from happy with other areas of the club's administration. Next in the line of fire is coach Craig Coleman, who Piggins says needs to perform to be assured of hanging on to his job past the first six rounds of next year's premiership. Piggins has spoken to a number of potential coaching assistants for Coleman. Among them is John Monie, the former premier coach with Parramatta and English club Wigan. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5163206%255E2771,00.html 24 September 2002 South Sydney chairman George Piggins has admitted coach Craig Coleman’s position is far from secure after a dismal season. Speaking on Sydney radio station 2KY on Tuesday in the wake of chief executive Paul Dunn’s resignation on Monday night, Piggins was asked if Coleman still has his full support. “Not without changing,” Piggins began, weeks after the Rabbitohs ended their comeback season with just five wins from 24 games. “Craig Coleman has a big hurdle to jump. He’s aware of that. There’s got to be some changes there for me to support him.” http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=30773 SOUTH SYDNEY president George Piggins last night welcomed the shock resignation of Paul Dunn, saying he was unsure whether he could trust his chief executive again. But the Rabbitohs boss also maintained Dunn's departure had nothing to do with the club missing out on signing Hazem El Masri. The Lebanese-born winger yesterday agreed to terms with the Bulldogs for another two years. In what has been a turbulent year for Souths since their readmission to the competition, Dunn faxed through his resignation to Piggins' home last night after the pair had exchanged angry words earlier in the day. Piggins would not reveal what caused the argument, saying: "You've got no chance in the wide world of getting it out of me. It was something that was done, I confronted him about it, he never lied, he told me the truth. I asked him about it, he told me about it, I said I won't be trusting you any more. "The trust I had was gone, simple as that. This is a job where you've got to trust one another a bit and under the circumstances I told him: 'I couldn't trust you again'. "But in saying that, Paul's got his side of the story and he can tell it to you." Dunn failed to return The Australian 's calls last night but he is understood to feel he has lost the support of the board. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5157371%255E2722,00.html As you are all by now aware, our CEO, Paul Dunn has resigned, citing differences with the Board for his decision. Football Club Chairman George Piggins has tentatively accepted the resignation pending the acceptance by the full Board on Thursday night. George Piggins has made it quite clear that Dunn resigned and was not sacked, but that after a number of decisions and actions without the knowledge or authority of the Board, it had become apparent Dunn’s position was untenable. Brandon Punter, the former financial controller of the club has been appointed interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. http://www.souths.com.au/news/news.php?ID=141 South Sydney chief executive Paul Dunn yesterday quit after a breakdown in relations with Rabbitohs president George Piggins came to a head over the club's failed attempt to sign Hazem El Masri. El Masri yesterday re-signed with the Bulldogs and there was speculation Dunn might also be headed to the Belmore-based club, although that stems largely from the fact he is a former Canterbury player. Piggins and Dunn last night described the CEO's position at the club as "untenable". Dunn was appointed 14 months ago to oversee Souths' return to the National Rugby League this season. "We had words today, he offered his resignation and I've accepted it," Piggins said. While it is understood the heated exchange was not specifically about El Masri, Piggins's role in negotiations with the goal-kicking winger appear to have been the final straw for Dunn, who had been considering his future for some time. Without Dunn's knowledge, Piggins and two of the club's other directors approached ElMasri more than a week ago when they learnt he had not re-signed with the Bulldogs. Only last Thursday, Dunn said on television that he believed the club would be better off pursuing former Brisbane and Northern Eagles five-eighth Ben Walker. He was unaware Piggins had again met El Masri that day. Yet despite it having been widely rumoured for months he was unhappy in his role at the Rabbitohs, Dunn said yesterday was the first time he had offered his resignation from the club. "I didn't want to leave," he said last night, "but if you can't do something properly, I don't want to do it at all. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/23/1032734116755.html George Piggins believes the Bulldogs' retention of Hazem El Masri will leave many fans wondering how the salary-cap breachers managed to keep their awesome squad intact without further rorting of National Rugby League rules. After much consternation, El Masri finally agreed to a two-year deal yesterday, becoming the last Bulldogs player to re-sign for 2003. "I am absolutely delighted that we've got all our family back now," said Bulldogs chief executive Steve Mortimer. But Piggins, unhappy that Souths' massive offer had not been sufficient to lure the premiership's leading pointscorer to the Rabbitohs, claimed supporters of rival clubs would not feel so delighted. The Bulldogs have shed veteran forwards Darren Smith (retired) and Paul Rauhihi (North Queensland) plus just four lower-grade players and added former State of Origin forward Andrew Ryan to their books for next year while staying under the $3.25 million cap. "We were just unlucky that Canterbury were able to come up with more money," Piggins said. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/23/1032734116758.html George Piggins believes the Bulldogs' retention of Hazem El Masri will leave many fans wondering how the salary-cap breachers managed to keep their awesome squad intact without further rorting of National Rugby League rules. After much consternation, El Masri finally agreed to a two-year deal on Monday, becoming the last Bulldogs player to re-sign for 2003. "I am absolutely delighted that we've got all our family back now," said Bulldogs chief executive Steve Mortimer. But Piggins, unhappy that Souths' massive offer had not been sufficient to lure the premiership's leading pointscorer to the Rabbitohs, claimed supporters of rival clubs would not feel so delighted. The Bulldogs have shed veteran forwards Darren Smith (retired) and Paul Rauhihi (North Queensland) plus just four lower-grade players and added former State of Origin forward Andrew Ryan to their books for next year while staying under the $3.25 million cap. "We were just unlucky that Canterbury were able to come up with more money," Piggins said. "It would have surprised a lot of people." http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_detail/0,1278,133936-2-19,00.html SOUTH Sydney coach Craig Coleman is again under pressure after comments from the NRL club's chairman George Piggins. Coleman, who has another year to run on his contract, led the Rabbitohs to only five wins this season on their return to the premiership. And Piggins today revealed the coach's position would come under the spotlight in the wake of chief executive Paul Dunn's shock resignation last night. Coleman was given a vote of confidence by Piggins last month after meetings between the pair and Dunn, who stood down after a falling out with the Souths chairman. When asked today if Coleman still had his support, Piggins said on Sydney radio station 2KY: "Not without changing. "Craig Coleman has a big hurdle to jump. He's aware of that. "There's got to be some changes there for me to support him." Piggins revealed the club had commissioned a report into its return season to the NRL which would be presented to the board on Thursday night. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5159345%255E5927,00.html SOUTH Sydney chief executive Paul Dunn resigned last night – claiming he had lost support of club directors. Dunn and club chairman George Piggins met yesterday before the CEO announced his resignation. The move follows a falling out between the two key Rabbitohs after Dunn agreed to a $150,000 payout to retiring Souths captain Adam Muir. An offer made by Souths to Bulldogs winger Hazem El Masri – without Dunn's knowledge – increased tensions within the club. The former Test front-rower believes he could be out of the club by the end of the week. This is despite the fact he has a clause in his contract that he must give three months notice. "I've resigned – I've lost support of the board," Dunn told The Daily Telegraph. "There are a number of issues. "Obviously I'm disappointed but life goes on. "I've given three months notice but I doubt whether I'll be here that long. "The job itself is great but it was made difficult by the constraints applied and rules I operated under. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5157042%255E2771,00.html 23 September 2002 Rugby League fraternity waited in awe for the return of the South Sydney juggernaught. Out of the wilderness they had emerged equipped with pride, anticipation and above all, the need for redemption. The bad blood of battles lost still lingered in the stands and desperately needed to be rectified. And as the “Rabbitohs” ran from their burrow for that first match against the age-old enemy Easts, 30,000 people in Sydney stood and applauded. You didn’t have to be a Souths supporter to feel the emotion that was pulsating through their Red and Green veins, and for just a moment every Rugby League supporter felt avenged; we felt a little bit better about our game. Surely a successful return for the club would be a benefit to Rugby League as a whole. Everyone hoped deep down, regardless of allegiances, that Souths would be a success. It only took 80 minutes to quell all hope and aspiration the “Bunnies” had of success in 2002. Thrashed by the Roosters 40 points to 6. The Souths supporters left in droves with spirits crushed. The fairytale return was becoming a horror. However, the first weeks failure was quickly forgotten as The “Rabbitohs” managed to grind out two victories in a row, one of which a win against eventual finalists Canberra away at Bruce Stadium, a veritable fortress for the “Green Machine”. But this purple patch was not to last. The coming weeks saw things go haywire for Souths as they crashed to five defeats in a row. And as the form of “Red and Green Army” went out the window, so did the crowds. The reality of life with the big guns had hit and the fans seemed to decide they’d had enough. It was a losing streak from which the “Bunnies” would never recover. The five match losing streak soon became just three wins from twelve starts in their returning season. South Sydney were languishing at the foot of the table. The season dragged on for the “Rabbitohs”, loss after loss after loss. Fans struggled to find any positives from what had been an atrocious season for the club and as South Sydney ran from their burrow for the final match against North Queensland, the atmosphere was astonishingly different to the one experienced some seven months earlier. Sombre fans sat down to watch their heroes run out for the last time in 2002. The result was characteristic of the South Sydney season, defeated by the second bottom side. The Bulldogs debacle saw the “Bunnies” escape the humiliation of finishing dead last and followers may look back at the final standings and say, “well, at least we didn’t get the wooden spoon”. The season definitely showed who deserved it. http://nrl.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=8928 GOALKICKING winger Hazem El Masri is set to announce his re-signing with the Bulldogs for another two National Rugby League seasons. El Masri will hold a media conference at the Belmore club at 1pm (AEST). The premiership's leading pointscorer went away for the weekend with his family to consider his future after being unhappy at having to take a greater pay cut than the rest of his Bulldogs teammates. But the club and El Masri have reached a compromise and the 26-year-old will become the last current player to sign with the salary-cap cheating Bulldogs for next year. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5151216%255E5927,00.html Willie Peters is heading home to South Sydney in 2003, but is sad to leave St George Illawarra after two seasons in the ‘Red V.’ The dimunitive halfback has played a leading role at times in the Dragons past two turbulent NRL campaigns, but says he’s learned a lot in his time under Andrew Farrar. Peters played well in the Dragons 40-24 loss to local rivals Cronulla last Saturday night, and said St George Illawarra finished their season in a positive fashion after threatening to drop out of finals contention. "It's very disappointing to go out that way but I've enjoyed every bit of my time here in the two years I've had and I'm certainly going to miss this place a lot," Peters said on the Dragons website. "I've had two very enjoyable years, I've learnt a lot and Andrew Farrar and Max Ninness are great coaches and you couldn't play with a nicer bunch of blokes. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=45666 20 September 2002 South Sydney has made a bid to snare Hazem El Masri, offering the Bulldogs flyer a three-year contract worth $700,000. According to The Daily Telegraph, El Masri, the NRL’s top pointscorer this year, was offered a contract last week after a meeting with Souths president George Piggins. Souths only avoided the wooden spoon this year after the Bulldogs were relegated to the bottom of the ladder for breaching the cap. The Rabbitohs have already secured a number of representative players for 2003, including Bryan Fletcher and Chris Walker. The Bulldogs have had to ask all players to take an eight percent pay cut for 2003 so they can fit under the salary cap. They have managed to sign 23 of their top 25 players with only El Masri and Test player Willie Mason yet to put pen to paper. Mason is being hotly pursued by the Sharks, who are coached by Australian coach Chris Anderson. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=30620 THE BULLDOGS snared cult hero Willie Mason for another three years yesterday but negotiations with fellow club favourite Hazem El Masri are locked in a stalemate over the winger's claims he has been asked to take a bigger pay cut than his team-mates. A "dejected" El Masri was last night considering a reported $700,000, three-year deal from Souths after becoming the only Bulldogs player yet to sign a reduced contract with the club's new management. "Hazem has been treated differently, with respect to the majority of the players," El Masri's lawyer, Adam Houda, said. "The other players have all taken an 8 per cent deferred cut, and we would be happy with that. Hazem was one of the first to stick up his hand to do that. We have been asked to take more of a pay cut . . . That is what upsets us. It is about principle of fairness here. Hazem is not chasing money." Interim Bulldogs chief executive Steve Mortimer was quick to respond to El Masri's assertions, saying he had made the player a "fair and reasonable offer". Although El Masri had agreed to upgrade his contract with the club before the salary cap debacle, Mortimer said the constraints of meeting next season's cap meant revised offers had to be based on existing contracts. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5131909%255E2722,00.html South Sydney's Queensland feeder club, the Ipswich Jets, play in the Grand Final of the QUeensland Cup tomorrow against arch rivals Redcliffe. Having reached an agreement with the club only recently, and with Chief Executive Paul Dunn in Ipswich today to sign a Heads of Agreement document, the affiliation could not get off to a better start then with a win by the Jets in the Grand Final. Under the terms of the agreement, South Sydney will be able to pick a player directly out of the Ipswich Queensland Cup team and put him in the NRL team. In effect, it is a like a second First Division side. Someone will be employed at South Sydney to watch video of all Ipswich matches to monitor the form of their players. To further cement the relatonship between the two clubs, a trial match will be played by the Rabbitohs against another NRL team at the Jets home ground early next season. On the undercard of this game will be a fixture between Ipswich and the South Sydney First Division side. This will be a great indicator as to the relative strengths of both teams. http://www.souths.com.au/news/news.php?ID=137 19 September 2002 Hazem El Masri is considering a three-year offer from South Sydney and may be the first Bulldogs player to leave the club as a result of the club's $1.6 million salary cap scandal. El Masri - the National Rugby League's leading points-scorer - met his manager, Adam Houda, last night and may make an announcement on his future as soon as today. The goalkicking winger and Test forward teammate Willie Mason are the only two members of the Bulldogs squad yet to accept restructured contracts for next season, and it is believed they have been given until tomorrow to sign. Both had verbally agreed to new deals with the previous Bulldogs administration but interim chief executive Steve Mortimer said the club was unable to honour those arrangements because of salary cap constraints. "When I came in I thought both had re-signed," Mortimer said. "But they hadn't, so we had to re-define a package for them and that's what we've done. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/18/1032054867286.html Hazem El Masri could leave the Bulldogs in favour of joining National Rugby League rivals South Sydney. The Rabbitohs have presented a lucrative three year deal to the NRL’s leading pointscorer, the offer tempting enough for El Masri to consider leaving Canterbury – who are trying to re-sign him for a cheaper price that conforms to the NRL salary cap. El Masri could make a decision as soon as today, and if signed by Souths he further strengthens an already blossoming backline that includes Lee Hookey (St George Illawarra), Chris Walker (Brisbane), Ashley Harrison (Brisbane), Ahamd Bajouri (Wests), and Wiliie Peters (St George Illawarra). The Lebanese international – along with star prop Willie Mason – are the only Bulldogs yet to re-sign after the club was forced to cut pay in order to keep the team together, and both could make considerably more money at other clubs. Newspaper reports suggest that both men would like to stay with Canterbury, but are seriously weighing up the offers from rival clubs – test forward Mason is being courted by the Cronulla Sharks. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=45631 SOUTH Sydney have offered Bulldog-on-the-loose Hazem El Masri $700,000 for three years. El Masri met with Rabbitohs president George Piggins last week. He is not the only Bulldog fielding offers from rival clubs with Willie Mason being chased by the Sharks. In response to the developments, Bulldogs management have set El Masri and Mason a deadline of 5pm tomorrow to decide their futures. Both appear undecided. Mason last night maintained he was seriously considering leaving the Dogs to link with Test coach Chris Anderson at the Sharks next season. "Playing under Chris Anderson would be great – he's a very good coach," Mason said. "Plus they're a strong side, they're in the finals this year and they've probably got a good chance of winning it. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5124695%255E2771,00.html 2 September 2002 South Sydney has ruled out becoming the latest home for wayward winger Nathan Blacklock, who is believed to have sounded out the club about a return to the National Rugby League. Blacklock, who walked out on St George Illawarra in June to sign a two-year deal with the NSW Rugby Union, is understood to have approached the Rabbitohs last week. But the club is unable to accommodate the try-hungry winger, who has been starved of possession since swapping codes and is understood to be growing frustrated with the 15-man game. "We'd struggled to fit him in and I don't know if he's fair dinkum anyway," Souths chief executive Paul Dunn said yesterday. The Rabbitohs' salary cap is bulging at the seams after a spending spree which has netted them St George Illawarra trio Willie Peters, Justin Smith and Lee Hookey, Brisbane pair Chris Walker and Ashley Harrison and Sydney Roosters forward Bryan Fletcher. Rabbitohs president George Piggins said he had heard a "whisper" Blacklock wanted to return to rugby league, but warned any club would be wary of signing the 26-year-old. "I just think somewhere along the line Nathan has to make up his mind what he's going to play, whether it's league or union," Piggins said. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_4437.asp |
