News Articles
5 Nov 2000
From News.com.au 5 Nov 2000
Court ruling divides tourists
By STEVE RICKETTS
05nov00
LONDON: The failure of South Sydney on Friday brought two different reactions from the Australian squad here for the World Cup.
Team manager and former Rabbitoh chief executive Darryl Bampton heard the news at midnight and went to bed for a restless night's sleep.
Straight-talking prop Shane Webcke had sympathy for the Rabbitohs but said Souths had become a "popular cause", with people jumping on the bandwagon in the fight against the NRL.
He said it was sad in many ways Souths would not be part of the NRL in 2001 and he felt many people, not just Rabbitoh supporters, were disheartened about the way things had turned out.
"I'm a traditionalist when it comes to the clubs and Souths have such a glorious history I don't think it's a step forward for the game (to see Souths go)," he said.
"But I guess when those decisions were made a lot of effort went into it, not just emotion. On the ground level people don't know all the ins and outs.
"Obviously there's all this groundswell of support for Souths but where were they when the poor buggers were struggling to get 2000 people to a game?
"That's the other side of it for me. Everyone loves Souths and wants them in and wants to talk about them . . . but no one goes to their games."
Bampton said: "It's really frustrating when you have been involved with a club for so long to finally see it go down.
"But I know (chairman) George Piggins he'll go again. He'll try and appeal and do some rallies and things like that."
Bampton urged Souths supporters not to turn their backs on rugby league but he felt frustrated for the fans who had always been loyal to the Rabbitohs' cause.
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