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17 February 2003 Talented but erratic Souths five-eighth Owen Craigie has sworn off the drink for the rest of the season and has begun training with three personal trainers, including coach Craig Coleman's father-in-law. And, in an amazing endorsement, Chris Walker, Souths' key recruit from Brisbane, has said Craigie is as naturally talented as Darren Lockyer and Andrew Johns. Craigie weighed 105.9 kilograms - six kilograms too much - when he arrived at Souths' training and found himself out of the first-grade squad. Now he has admitted for the first time that it was alcohol that pushed him over the weight limit, and said he is determined to stay off the drink until the season finishes. "To be honest, it was drink rather than food that put me over the weight," he said. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/22/1045638544849.html MELBOURNE Storm served notice they are on target for a solid start to the NRL season after thrashing South Sydney 44-24 in Ipswich last night. Playing in their first official trial, the Storm were primed for a stout performance. Whether they were trying to impress new coach Craig Bellamy or simply dust off the cobwebs, they definitely came north to play. Storm forwards, led by Rodney Howe and Robbie Kearns, took it to the brittle Rabbitohs defence. Their powerful runs helped Storm power to an 18-0 lead after 16 minutes. With halfback Matt Orford calling the shots the Storm were just too strong and classy for the Rabbitohs, who must be a concern for coach Craig Coleman. http://adserver.news.com.au/html.ng/site=dailytelegraph§ion=sport&adsize=120x240&pagepos=1 17 February 2003 RUGBY league can be a cruel game - with nearly a month to go before the NRL premiership kicks off there is a market on how long Craig Coleman will last as South Sydney coach this season. Mind you it's nothing official with SportsTAB but scuttlebutt suggests "Tugger" Coleman's hold on his job will be, at best, tenuous should early results go against him. Last year's John Monie-for-coach rumour has resurfaced along with the usual Phil Blake-Paul Langmack succession stories. Losing the Charity Shield trial game to St George Illawarra last weekend merely intensified the gossip. And it won't subside unless Coleman and his men give Rabbitohs supporters something to cheer about. During their long, bitter and eventually successful campaign for readmission to the NRL the "In George We Trust" slogan was a rallying cry for the red and green faithful. And so it goes with Coleman. Last year when a section of the club was calling for the coach's head, chairman George Piggins stood by his man and his word. Piggins promised Coleman would be given a go with quality players and has come good with that promise. A gaggle of prominent new faces headed by Bryan Fletcher, the Walker brothers, Lee Hookey, Ahmad Bajouri, Luke Branighan, Ashley Harrison and Justin Smith has been injected into the club like a blood transfusion. Coleman agrees he can now go into battle with the ammunition to match the premiership's genuine playoff contenders. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6018201%255E23214,00.html 17 February 2003 Injured South Sydney pair, Scott Geddes and Lee Hookey, have been given their respective prognoses and the news is both good and bad. Geddes has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and partial tear of the lateral meniscus (cartilage). He will miss the rest of the season, and will rehabilitate over the next 9-12 months. Hookey has a separated shoulder, where the cartilage has come away from the bone but won't require a shoulder reconstruction as first feared. "It’s a similar injury to that of Parramatta’s Adam Dykes, in that it will bother him throughout the season," said a Rabbitohs' spokesperson. "He will be back to play in 1-2 weeks, and will be consistently monitored by the doc[tor]." The news is a crushing blow for prop Geddes who had hopes of representing New South Wales in this year's State of Origin series after being named in the thirty-man preliminary squad. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46335 17 February 2003 Despite being on the losing end of the Charity Shield scoreline, Ashley Harrison was happy. The Rabbitohs prize recruit from the Brisbane Broncos had completed his first eighty minutes of rugby league in more than six months, and was happy to be back after rehabilitating the troublesome ankle that curtailed his 2002 NRL season. “It was definitely good to get there and play some footy, I got rid of a few cobwebs and nerves,” he said post match. Harrison showed solid defensive technique and flashes of an excellent kicking game, but can be forgiven for being a bit rusty at times against St George Illawarra. Brought to Souths to play lock, Harrison was happy to be given the start at five eighth, although he’ll switch to the number 13 for the Rabbitohs next trial against Melbourne in Ipswich. “I really enjoyed playing five eighth tonight, but I just couldn’t get my kicks away properly, he said. “I was over-kicking them a little. Once we get a little bit more structure, and I build up some good communication with the halfback, I think things will work a lot more smoothly. “I thought we defended pretty well. We were on the back foot from the very start, and we kept them out for a while. There were some definite good signs there – the defence isn’t far off at all. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=221 The Allight South Sydney Rabbitohs were unable to retain the Star City Charity Shield, but many positives can be taken out of the 28-10 loss to St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night. Souths, after being starved of the ball for much of the first half, played well either side of the break and looked dangerous in attack at times, particularly on the fringes of the ruck. While the Rabbitohs offensive breakdowns can be attributed to a lack of cohesion, there was a lot of stout, compact defence in the face of some excellent attack by the Dragons. “There were a lot of positives, especially in defence,” said Souths coach Craig Coleman post match. “There weren’t too many clean breaks through us – we were just a bit lost with the ball. We defended off our own line extremely well early. “Whatever happened tonight we are certain to improve upon with a bit of work. I’m quite pleased overall,” Coleman concluded. “It was a bit disappointing – we didn’t quite measure up,” said Rabbitohs captain Bryan Fletcher, who believes the return of Willie Peters will add some fluidity to the Souths attack. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=220 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman has ruled out trying to recruit another front-rower before the start of the premiership after losing boom prop Scott Geddes for the season. A shattered Geddes will undergo an MRI scan today but the 21-year-old NSW Origin prospect has been advised by Rabbitohs medical staff that he is likely to require a knee reconstruction. Despite having made just 20 NRL appearances, Geddes had been ear-marked by Blues coach Phil Gould for a place in his proposed 30-man train-on squad ahead of this year's series and had bulked up 10kg over the off-season. But in a cruel twist of fate, he suffered suspected posterior cruciate damage while serving out a suspension in an NSWRL-sanctioned premier league trial against his former club St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium before Saturday night's Charity Shield between St George Illawarra and South Sydney. "We're expecting the worst," Coleman said. "Scott's pretty upset about it." The news is a major setback for Souths, with the front-row pairing of Geddes and Paul Stringer being one of the few positives from a disappointing first season back in the NRL last year. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/16/1045330472807.html Chris Walker says the Rabbitohs are still learning to crawl. If that's the case, they have just four weeks to be on two legs and running before meeting the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League season opener. "You have to learn how to crawl before you walk. We're at the crawling stage at the moment with so many new players at the club," said Walker after his team lost 28-10 to St George Illawarra in Saturday night's annual Charity Shield clash at Aussie Stadium. The Rabbitohs had eight new faces and it showed as the club's big off-season buys failed to make an impact in the trial, watched by 20,834 people. But Coleman was positive after the 20th Charity Shield, saying he was happy with his team's defence and it would take time for the players to gel. "I said all along it's only a trial and there were a lot of positives to come out of the game, especially defensively," said Coleman, who needs a good start to the NRL season to retain his position. "There weren't too many clean breaks made on us, which was pleasing, but we were just a little lost with the ball." http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_5113.asp South Sydney has suffered a major blow in the lead-up to the start of the National Rugby League season, with promising young prop Scott Geddes ruled out for the season. Geddes, 22, will undergo MRI scans on his right knee today but club doctor Andrew McDonald said he was certain to require a season- ending knee reconstruction. The Moss Vale junior twisted the knee while being tackled after 25 minutes in a Premier Division match Saturday night in the curtain-raiser to the Charity Shield clash between Souths and St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium. Geddes was prevented from playing in the main game because he still had to serve out a two-match suspension incurred last season. Yesterday he said he felt shattered after being earmarked by NSW coach Phil Gould as a certainty for selection in the Blues' 30-man Origin squad, which will gather together on April 14. "I'm pretty devastated about it," Geddes told AAP. "It's funny how quick things turn around. One week everything's going good for you and the next week you get that (the injury). http://www.nrl.com.au/s2002/news/static/article_5112.asp SHATTERED South Sydney will today learn their club's emerging star forward, Scott Geddes, will not play again this season. Doctors are expected to confirm frontrower Geddes has torn a cruciate ligament. News of Geddes' knee injury leaked out yesterday following St George Illawarra's 28-10 Charity Shield win over Souths on Saturday night. The extent of the damage to Geddes' knee will be known after undergoing a scan this morning. Geddes was poised to win selection in a 30-man preliminary NSW State of Origin squad. "We fear the worst," said Souths coach Craig Coleman. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5996054%255E23209,00.html 11 February 2003 BIG name players. That's what South Sydney decided was paramount in their requirements if they are to be successful in one of the toughest domestic rugby league competitions in the world. This was apparent from the picture taken yesterday of the club's squad for this year. No longer can clubs be satisfied with a loss "as long as the players did their best". Teams and coaches must win to survive. And that is why there were only eight first-grade survivors from the Rabbitohs side that returned to the National Rugby League last year present at yesterday's pre-season team photo session. Coach Craig Coleman, who knows he must get results early in the season to keep his job, has recruited nine proven first-graders. Bryan Fletcher (Roosters), Ashley Harrison (Brisbane), Luke Branighan (Sharks), Chris and Shane Walker (Brisbane), and Ahmad Bajouri (Wests Tigers) will all have their first hit-out in the Charity Shield against St George at Aussie Stadium on Saturday night. Former Dragons Lee Hookey and Justin Smith will line up for the first time against their former club but another former Dragon, injured halfback Willie Peters, will miss the match. Coleman said he would field up to 22 of his top players against the Dragons. "We started out in the middle of October and the guys have done everything that's been asked of them," Coleman said. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,5966523%255E2722,00.html The Allight South Sydney Rabbitohs have named a 20 man team for Saturday night’s Star City Charity Shield clash against St George Illawarra at Aussie Stadium. All of South Sydney’s off-season buys – bar the injured Willie Peters – will turn out for the first trial of the Rabbitohs 2003 NRL season. “We’ve put all of the new guys in,” said Souths coach Craig Coleman after announcing the team today. “They’ve been training since October and are looking forward to their first major hit out of the year. “The guys can’t wait to get out in front of a big Souths crowd at Aussie Stadium. “Luke Branighan will play at halfback – he knows his footy and can guide us around the park in the absence of Willie Peters. "He’s had a couple of lean years in terms of injuries, and he’s raring to go. “So is Ashley Harrison, who will play in the number six for us. He’s shown a lot of promise in the past, but injuries have also ruined his last couple of seasons. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=217 Ash the Bunny six Former Brisbane Bronco Ashley Harrison will play five-eighth for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in this weekend's Charity Shield clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons. Harrison, who spent some of last season at the Broncos filling in at five-eighth, will play outside another Souths' new name, Luke Branighan. Branighan is playing halfback instead of the injured Willie Peters, who is suffering from a grade groin strain. Barring Peters, Souths' coach Craig Coleman has named all his new recruits. "We've put all of the new guys in," said Souths coach Craig Coleman after announcing the team today. "They've been training since October and are looking forward to their first major hit out of the year. "The guys can't wait to get out in front of a big Souths crowd at Aussie Stadium. "Luke Branighan will play at halfback – he knows his footy and can guide us around the park in the absence of Willie Peters. "He's had a couple of lean years in terms of injuries, and he's raring to go. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46264 16 February 2003 Souths Juniors have slashed their sponsorship of Souths by $1million a season. And they have now made their commitment to the Rabbitohs a year-to-year proposition. Under Henry Morris, Souths Juniors committed to a three-year deal worth $4.5million. Juniors boss Frank Cookson confirmed yesterday what The Sun-Herald revealed last year, that Souths would provide only $500,000 in funding for this season. "I think they knew what they were in for, so it is no big surprise to them," Cookson said. "We were not, and may not be in the future, in a position to provide Souths with anything more than that. "I really don't think that Souths can be upset with our commitment to them. We have spent $20million in re-doing the club and we didn't know this time last year that there would have to be changes to the hours we can stay open. "We are open three hours less a day and that is hurting us. "[Souths chairman] George [Piggins] and I will sit down at the football and discuss it, but he would know as well as anyone that it is not great out there in club land. "I think Souths would be happy that they are getting what they are getting. You never knock a gift horse in the mouth." Cookson said the decision to cut back on funding was not related to the form the Rabbitohs displayed last year or the players they chased in the off-season. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/15/1044927850856.html 15 February 2003 The St George Illawarra Dragons have reclaimed the Charity Shield with a 28-10 victory over South Sydney Rabbitohs in the twentieth version of the traditional preseason fixture. At the official launch of the 2003 Charity Shield last month two men who played in the very first Charity Shield match – St George legend Craig Young and another prop Peter Tunks, who played for Souths – were both there to paint the picture of the blood bath that ensued back in the early '80s. Modern football does not allow for a drawn out punch up but there was a nod to the days of old when Young's son Dean crossed for a try soon after coming on as a substitute with ten minutes to go in the first half. Dragons hooker Mark Riddell and Souths' Paul Stringer did take the time and make the effort to throw a few decent punch combinations at each other's heads in the second half in keeping with Shield folklore. Unlike a regular trial match, twenty years of tradition has given players in the colours of Souths and now St George Illawarra plenty of incentive to attack the preseason match with aggression and a desire to win. The two coaches – Nathan Brown (Dragons) and Craig Coleman (Souths) – had agreed that the match should be played with unlimited interchange so they could take the opportunity to test combinations and prospective players. The match also gave spectators and fans the opportunity a first glimpse at the likely first string line up for their respective teams. For Souths, it took a while to adjust to the sight of former Rooster Bryan Fletcher in the red and green, along with Brisbane trio Chris Walker, Shane Walker and Ashley Harrison. But – injuries allowing – there was plenty there to indicate that the Rabbitohs have the squad to fare better this season than in 2002. For the Dragons, the indications were all good, as, without injured captain Trent Barrett, they provided plenty of entertaining football. Souths were stern in defence in the opening quarter of an hour as the Dragons built up several repeat sets of six. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46297 7 February 2003 The South Sydney Rabbitohs would like to invite you to the famous club’s premier gala event for the year 2003…The official South Sydney Season launch. At this time every year, supporters and sponsors alike come together to enjoy great company and entertainment and we would dearly love you to be a part of it. The black tie season launch will be held at The Pavillion at the AJC Centre, Randwick, from 7pm on Friday night, March 7. Come along and enjoy the night to be hosted by our celebrity M.C with top line entertainment and the launch of the new South Sydney Anthem, which we are certain will impress you greatly. There will be a traditional and silent auction of valuable sporting memorabilia and you will be served a three course a la carte meal and beverages. http://www.souths.com.au/fanzone/viewnewsarticle.asp?ArticleID=204 Wille woe for Souths South Sydney's newly recruited halfback Willie Peters will spend another month on the sidelines and miss the Charity Shield against his old club. Peters, who moved to Souths from St George Illawarra, has been suffering from adductor (and abductor) strain in his upper leg. The injury effectively adds up to a grade two, groin strain, and means that he will be out for at least four weeks. Peters is seen as Souths' coach Craig Coleman's solution to the lack of top level halfbacks available to him last year. So the injury to Peters is setback for Coleman, who filled the number seven jersey himself at Souths in his playing days. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46253 2 February 2003 Walker a weighty issue for outpaced defenders "Milk guts" was still light enough on his feet to play a major role in the first big upset of the World Sevens, when South Sydney led all the way against Sydney Roosters yesterday. Most of us would be delighted to be as trim around the stomach as Chris Walker - but footballers are harsh judges and they love to serve it up to their own. Walker, one of a number of high-profile signings the Rabbitohs made for this season, saw his old Brisbane teammates on the way into the stadium yesterday. "They were calling me milk guts," Walker laughed after the 22-12 win over the Roosters. "I'm a couple of pounds overweight. I had a good Christmas break but I'll run that off in no time - probably this weekend." Walker used his trademark speed to come up with two big plays in the first half that had a huge bearing on the result. He got on the outside of the defence to score easily after just 42 seconds and right on half-time he made a try- saving tackle to leave Souths in front 12-6 at the break. The Roosters levelled at 12-12 early in the second half but it was false hope for the hot favourites. The Rabbitohs shut them out from there and scored two more tries themselves. Later, Souths qualified for the quarter-finals when they strolled home against Russia, 38-12. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/01/1043804576424.html And the team getting the cheers - Russia. The fledgling rugby league nation gave the new-look Rabbitohs a tremendous fright in the first round of the World Sevens tournament in Sydney, scoring three tries in an end-to-end opening seven minutes. The Rabbitohs clicked into gear in the second half, eventually winning 38-12 with centre Chris Walker helping himself to two tries as fatigue set in and the gulf in class began to take its toll. But there was a lot to like about the Russians performance, with Ralph Yakubov scoring a double and the tourists going to halftime trailing only 14-12 after Yakubov scored his second try on the stroke of halftime. "I think our boys took them a bit lightly early on, but they're big blokes and they're enthusiastic and they got a few off-loads on us which the crowd was pleased to see," Souths coach Craig Coleman said. Walker was a standout for the Rabbitohs in both their pool games, scoring Souths' opening try in their 22-12 win over premier, the Sydney Roosters. http://www.rabbitohs.com/burrows/forum/viewtopic.php?t=148 THE two favourites were eliminated and South Sydney emerged as genuine title contenders as the rugby league season opened in style at the World Sevens yesterday. With new buy Chris Walker scorching across the Aussie Stadium turf, scoring an incredible solo try with his very first touch of the football, the Rabbitohs stunned tournament favourites Sydney Roosters 22-12 and accounted for minnows Russia 38-12 in an encouraging start for Craig Coleman's new-look team. The Roosters, $5.50 favourites, were the major casualty, along with the Andrew Johns-led Newcastle ($7), who succumbed to Manly in extra-time. There was also controversy, with NASCA Aboriginals star and former first- grader Darrell Trindall bitten in a match against Tonga. Souths meet Cronulla in the cup quarter-finals today as the eight teams left in the main draw chase the $100,000 first prize. http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5923506%255E2771,00.html 1 February 2003 Hookey happy to lead Buns Centre Lee Hookey will captin the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Worlds Sevens, replacing the injured Willie Peters. Souths recruited Hookey from the St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the 2002 season, along with Peters. Hookey has been rewarded for a solid off-season effort by coach Craig Coleman. "Lee has been inspirational (since coming back)," Coleman said on the Souths' website. "He deserves the opportunity because he has trained so hard and led from the front. "Lee's a Souths boy born and bred, he's going to do an excellent job filling in for Fletch and Willie." Both Peters (abductor) and full team captain Bryan Fletcher (knee) are out of the sevens tournament to avoid further aggravation of their injuries. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=46197 |
