“South Sydney Rabbitohs”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

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The South Sydney Rabbitohs are a professional Australian rugby league team based in Redfern, a suburb of inner-southern Sydney, New South Wales.^[3] They participate in the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital. They are often called Souths and The Bunnies.

The club was formed in 1908 as one of the founding members of the New South Wales Rugby Football League, making them one of Australia's oldest rugby league teams. The Rabbitohs were formed, under their original 1908 articles of association with the NSWRL competition, to represent the Sydney municipalities of Redfern, Alexandria, Zetland, Waterloo, Mascot and Botany. They are one of only two foundation clubs still present in the NRL, the other being the Sydney Roosters.^[4] The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club is currently a subsidiary company 75% owned by Blackcourt League Investments which is, in turn, 50% owned by the actor Russell Crowe and 50% owned by James Packer's Consolidated Press Holdings; the other 25% is owned by the financial Members of the club.^[5]

The Rabbitohs' traditional heartland covers the once typically working-class suburbs of inner-south Sydney now generally occupied by factories. The club is based in Redfern, where the club's administration and training facilities are located, however they have long held a wide supporter base spread all over New South Wales. The team's home ground is currently Stadium Australia in Sydney Olympic Park. In the New South Wales Rugby League (1908–1994), Australian Rugby League (1995–1997), and National Rugby League (1998-1999, 2002–present) competitions South Sydney are the most successful professional team in the history of Australian rugby league in terms of total championships won, having claimed 21 first grade premierships. In addition to winning the most premierships, the Rabbitohs also hold the distinction of being the only club to win a premiership in their inaugural season.

History

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club was formed at a meeting on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall^[6] when administrator J J Giltinan, cricketer Victor Trumper and politician Henry Hoyle gathered together in front of a large crowd of supporters.^[7] The club played in the first round of the newly formed New South Wales Rugby League, defeating North Sydney 11–7 at Birchgrove Oval on 20 April 1908.^[7]^[8] The team went on to win the inaugural premiership then successfully defended their title in the 1909 season, winning the Grand Final by default.^[9] During these early years Arthur Hennessy was considered the "founding father" of the South Sydney rugby league club. A hooker and prop forward, Hennessy was Souths' first captain and coach. He was also New South Wales' first captain and Australia's first test captain in 1908. S. G. "George" Ball became Club Secretary in 1911 after Arthur Hennessy stood down from the position, and he remained in that capacity for over fifty years, only retiring a few years before his death in 1969.

After further premiership success in 1914 and 1918, South Sydney won seven of the eight premierships from 1925–1932, only missing out in 1930. The 1925 side went through the season undefeated^[10] and is only one of six Australian premiership sides in history to have achieved this feat. Such was Souths dominance in the early years of the rugby league competition that the Rabbitohs were labelled "The Pride of the League".^[6]^[11]

South Sydney struggled through most of the 1940s, only making the semifinals on two occasions (1944 and 1949). South Sydney's longest losing streak of 22 games was during the period 1945–1947. In the 1945 season they only managed to win one game while in 1946 they were unable to win a single game.

In the 1950s South Sydney again had great success, winning five of the six premierships from 1950–1955, and losing the 1952 Grand Final against Western Suburbs in controversial circumstances. The 1951 side's point scoring feat in their 42–14 victory over Manly-Warringah^[12] remains the highest score by a team in a Grand Final and "the miracle of '55"^[13]^[14] involved South Sydney winning 11 straight sudden death matches to win the premiership. Players that were involved in these years included Denis Donoghue, Jack Rayner, Les "Chicka" Cowie, Johnny Graves, Ian Moir, Greg Hawick, Ernie Hammerton, Bernie Purcell and Clive Churchill. Churchill, nicknamed "the Little Master" for his brilliant attacking fullback play, is universally regarded as one of the greatest ever Australian rugby league players.

In the late 1950s Souths began a poor run of form failing to make the finals from 1958–1964. However, in 1965 a talented young side made the Grand Final against St. George who were aiming to secure their 10th straight premiership. The young Rabbitohs weren't overawed by the Dragons formidable experience and in front of a record crowd of 78,056^[15] at the Sydney Cricket Ground, they went down narrowly 12–8.^[16] The nucleus of this side went on to feature in Australian representative teams for the next six years and ensured another golden period for South Sydney making five successive grand finals from 1967–1971, winning four. Bob McCarthy, John O'Neill, Eric Simms, Ron Coote, Mike Cleary and John Sattler from 1965 were later joined by Elwyn Walters, Ray Branighan, Paul Sait, Gary Stevens and coach Clive Churchill to form a fearsome combination before internal strife and poaching by other clubs from 1972 onwards unravelled the star studded pack.^[17] From this period comes part of South's and Australian Rugby League folklore when in the 1970 premiership decider against Manly, captain John Sattler inspired the side to victory playing out 70 minutes of the match with his jaw broken^[18] in three places after being king hit by Manly prop John Bucknall.^[19]^[20]

Financial problems started to hit Souths in the early 1970s, forcing some players to go to other clubs. The licensed Leagues Club, traditionally such an important revenue provider to all first grade league sides, was closed in 1973 but a "Save Our Souths" campaign ensured the club survived. "Super Coach" Jack Gibson's^[21] arrival turned the club's form, winning the pre-season competition in 1978.^[7] The club captured victories in the mid-week Tooth Cup competition in 1981^[22] and in the pre-season "Sevens" competition in 1988.^[7] The Rabbitohs were able to make the finals on five occasions in the 1980s, including a dominant season to finish as minor premiers in 1989.^[7] The 1989 season proved to be the club's most successful in years, but also marked the last time the club was able to reach the finals until 2007. The following season the Rabbitohs finished as wooden spooners.

The club stayed afloat in the 1990s despite major financial problems. Souths' only success came in 1994 when they won the pre-season competition, defeating the Brisbane Broncos 27–26 in the final.^[7] The Super League War and the eventual formation of the National Rugby League affected the club greatly when it was determined in 1998 that the newly formed competition would be contracted to 14 teams for the 2000 season. Following a series of mergers by other teams,^[23] South Sydney failed to meet the National Rugby League's selection criteria to compete in the competition and were subsequently excluded from the premiership at the end of the 1999 season.

In 2000 and 2001, South Sydney fought their way back into the competition following a string of high-profile legal battles^[24] against the National Rugby League and News Limited.^[25] A number of well attended public rallies took place during this time, as supporters from many different clubs got behind South Sydney's case. Upon appeal to the Federal Court in 2001,^[26] South Sydney won readmission into the premiership for the 2002 season.^[27]

After being readmitted, the Rabbitohs were initially unsuccessful in the premiership, finishing amongst the bottom three teams for five seasons straight including three wooden spoons. However, following the club's takeover by actor Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes à Court in 2006,^[28] the club has had great success in securing a number of major national and international player signings such as the four Burgess Brothers and Greg Inglis. The club was also successful in recruiting several key managerial positions including Jason Taylor as head coach in 2007 and more recently Michael Maguire in 2012.

South Sydney was a party to one of the sponsorship deals promoted by the fraudulent company Firepower International.^[29]

South Sydney won their first three games of the 2007 season (marking their best start to a season since 1972) and being competitive in every game. On the back of one of the best defences in the competition, the Rabbitohs finished strongly making the semi-finals for the first time since 1989. They finished the season in 7th position, going down to Manly in the playoffs.

On 26 January 2008, the Rabbitohs lost 24–26 to the Leeds Rhinos in front of 12,000 fans at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, the first time first-grade professional rugby league teams from Australia and England have played each other in the United States.

May 2008 saw the sudden resignation of the then current Executive chairman and CEO, Peter Holmes à Court. He had been appointed to the role of CEO at the start of 2008.^[30]^[31] Reports suggested that Holmes à Court had been forced to stand down after his relationship with Russell Crowe had deteriorated beyond repair.^[32]^[33]^[34]^[35]^[36]

The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrated their centenary year during the 2008 National Rugby League season. That year they were named the National Trust's inaugural 'Community Icon', in recognition of the club's significant longstanding contribution to sport and sporting culture at both state and national levels.^[37] In April 2012 the South Sydney Rabbitohs became the second club to record 1000 wins in First Grade.^[38] That same year the Rabbitohs finished third at the end of the regular season, qualifying for the finals for the first time since 2007 and just the second time since 1989.^[39]

The South Sydney Rabbitohs finished third at the end of the regular season in 2014. They went on to win the Grand Final against the Canterbury Bulldogs 30-6 to claim their first premiership in 43 years, with Sam Burgess claiming the Clive Churchill Medal, South Sydney's first Clive Churchill Medallist in 43 years (taking into account the retrospective Clive Churchill medal awarded to Ron Coote in 1971). The 2014 Grand Final was the last match Burgess played for South Sydney, until an unexpected return to the club in 2016. On Thursday 9 October 2014, the Rabbitohs were presented with the Keys to the City of Randwick by Mayor Ted Seng at a presentation ceremony at Souths Juniors in Kingsford and later the same day awarded the Keys to the City of Sydney by Lord Mayor Clover Moore at a reception at Sydney Town Hall.

On 23 October 2014, Holmes à Court sold his 50% share of Blackcourt League Investments, and consequently his 37.5% stake in South Sydney, to James Packer's ScrumPac Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Packer's Consolidated Press Holdings.^[5]

South Sydney started The 2015 NRL Season in promising fashion before injuries to key players set in with the club finishing 7th on the table and qualifying for the finals. In week one of the finals they played against Cronulla in the elimination match and lost 28-12 ending their season.^[40]^[41]

The 2016 NRL season proved to be a disappointing one for Souths as they finished 12th on the table, missing the finals. The club managed to only win 9 games for the entire season.^[42] The 2017 NRL season seemed to mirror the previous year with the club again finishing 12th on the table and captain Greg Inglis missing the entire season through injury after an ACL injury acquired in the first game of the year. One of the highlights of the year for the club was seeing the emergence of young back-rower Angus Crichton who put in a number of good performances for the team. At seasons end, coach Michael Maguire was terminated and new coach Anthony Seibold was appointed.^[43]^[44]

For the 2018 NRL season, many experts predicted Souths to finish outside the top 8 but the club performed strongly throughout the year finishing 3rd on the table at the end of the regular season. In week one of the finals, South Sydney played against Melbourne and looked to have secured the victory until a late try and a field goal gave Melbourne the win 29-28. In week two, South Sydney played against St George for the first time in the finals series since 1984. Souths won the match 13-12 thanks to three field goals from Adam Reynolds including one in the final minute of the match. In the preliminary final, Souths faced off against arch rivals Eastern Suburbs in what would also be the final match played at the Sydney Football Stadium. In front of a ground record crowd of 44,380, Souths were defeated 12-4.^[45]^[46]

Emblem

The club mascot is the rabbitoh, a now-disused term that was commonly used in the early 20th century to describe hawkers who captured and skinned rabbits and then sold the meat at markets,^[47] so named because they would shout "rabbit-oh!" around the markets to attract buyers. The club is also informally referred to as the Rabbits, Bunnies or Souths.

Exactly how South Sydney came to be known as the Rabbitohs is unknown. According to one version of events, dating from pre-schism days at the turn of the 20th century, some of the club's players earned some extra money on Saturday mornings as rabbit-oh men, staining their jerseys with rabbit blood in the process; when they played in those blood stained jumpers that afternoon, opponents from wealthier rugby clubs did not always appreciate the aroma and would mockingly repeat the "Rabbitoh!" cry.^[48] Another version was that the term was a disparaging reference by opposing teams to South's home ground being plagued with "rabbit 'oles"; in those early days Redfern Oval was then known as Nathan's Cow Paddock.^[6] A third version claims the Rabbitoh name was adopted from that of the touring Australian rugby union teams of the early 1900s who were nicknamed "Rabbits" prior to discarding the name in 1908 in favour of the moniker "Wallabies".^[49]

The "Rabbitoh" emblem, a running white rabbit, first appeared on the team's jersey in 1959. The Rabbitoh emblem has in various forms been carried as the club's crest on every player's jersey ever since. The original "Rabbitoh" emblem design that appeared on the team's jerseys throughout the 1960s and 1970s has now been incorporated on the current jersey.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrated their centenary year during 2008. The club released a centenary emblem to commemorate the occasion. To also coincide with the centenary year, Souths opted to alter their logo by removing the red and green oval from their emblem for a solid white rabbit with the words South Sydney Rabbitohs set in uppercase type.

Colours

South Sydney has used cardinal red and myrtle green colours on its playing jerseys for the vast majority of the club's history. Prior to the establishment of the rugby league club in 1908, the South Sydney rugby union team originally wore a red and green hooped jersey. Some sources have suggested that this combination of colours was due to the local rugby union club being nicknamed the "Redfern Waratahs". The first British inhabitants had often called the waratah a "red fern" instead, hence giving the suburb its name, and ultimately the local rugby club its emblem. Red and green dominate the colours of the waratah and hence, possibly, the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club adopted these colours for their jerseys.^[49] However, the suburb of Redfern was named in honour of William Redfern, one of the first doctors of the colony, who treated convicts and poor settlers as well as the wealthy.

The club's jersey has been a hooped-styled one comprising alternating red and green, and has been used for the vast majority of the club's history.^[50] In 1945 and 1946 the club broke with this tradition and used a green design with a red "V" around the collar, before reverting to the original hoop style. From 1980 to 1984 the team played in a strip which saw the inclusion of white hoops within a predominately green design with a central red stripe and was affectionately known as the "Minties"^[51] jersey (so-called due to its apparent similarity to the wrapper design of the popular sweet). With the introduction of "away" jerseys towards the end of the 20th century, the club initially introduced a predominantly white jersey for away matches which was changed to a predominantly black one for the 2006 season.

Before the start of the 2007 season, the club announced that the away jersey would be styled identically to the traditional home jersey, with the exception of sponsorship and the rabbit emblem, which has been styled similarly to the one that initially featured on jerseys in the 1960s.^[52] For season 2009, the rabbit emblem is black for home matches whilst the emblem is the original white for away matches.^[53]

The playing shorts worn were historically black, though in the late 1970s the club adopted green shorts with a red vertical stripe. This was then superseded by the white shorts of the "Minties" outfit. When the club subsequently reverted to their traditional playing strip, the decision was made to wear black shorts once more. In 2008 the Rabbitohs wore white shorts to match the white stripe running down the side of their jersey.

Geographic area

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club (pre-curser to the current corporate entity) was formed, under the original 1908 articles of association with the NSWRL competition, to represent the Sydney municipalities of Alexandria, Botany, Mascot, Randwick, Waterloo, and Zetland.

Stadium

During the early years of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, "home games" were not assigned very often. However, South Sydney played most of their games at the Royal Agricultural Society Ground (Sydney Showground) from 1908 until the club's departure in 1920. From 1911 onwards, the Sydney Sports Ground was also used interchangeably with the Agricultural Ground over a decade for hosting matches.^[54] In 1947 the club played its final season at the Sports Ground, before relocating to Redfern Oval in 1948.^[55] It was here that team played in the heart of the club's territory and played the vast majority of its allocated home matches.

In 1988, the club began to play in the Sydney Football Stadium,^[56] just built upon the former Sydney Sports Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground No. 2 Oval. The side continued to play here up until 2005, with the exception of 2000 and 2001 when South Sydney was absent from the premiership. During 2004–2005, when the Rabbitoh's contract with Sydney Football Stadium was about to expire, new home grounds were investigated at Gosford, North Sydney Oval and Telstra Stadium (now ANZ Stadium). Eventually the decision was made to relocate to Telstra Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park. The move was not well received by some of the fans,^[57]^[58] but provided more money for the club that was several million dollars in the red at the end of 2005.^[59]

In 2006 the club relocated home games to ANZ Stadium in Sydney's west (known as Telstra Stadium until the conclusion of 2007). In February 2008, the Rabbitohs renewed their partnership with ANZ Stadium to play NRL home games and home finals at the venue for the next 10 years, commencing season 2008. The agreement runs until the end of 2017, superseding the inaugural three-year home ground arrangement at ANZ Stadium that started in 2006. During 2008 the City of Sydney Council^[60] completed a $19.5 million upgrade and renovation of Redfern Oval. From season 2009, the upgraded Redfern Oval will provide the Rabbitohs with training facilities and a venue for hosting pre-season and exhibition matches.^[60]

As well as their main home ground, South Sydney also play home games at Barlow Park in Cairns, the Sydney Football Stadium and at Perth Oval during the year.

As well as hosting Rabbitohs games, the stadium is also home to SEDA College NSW who host their rugby based curriculum at the venue.

Supporters

The South Sydney Rabbitohs continue to have a large supporter base in their traditional areas of South-eastern Sydney, despite having moved from Redfern Oval two decades ago, while also enjoying wide support throughout other rugby league playing centres around the country.^[61] The official South Sydney supporter group is known as "The Burrow."^[62] While their active supporter group is known as "Gate38" which is made up of young men who were involved in the "scumgate" scandal in 2013.^[63]

The Rabbitohs have the highest football club membership in the National Rugby League, with membership exceeding 35,000 as of June 23, 2015. That member number also includes more than 11,000 ticketed members, the highest of the Sydney-based NRL clubs. It was announced during the 2010 Charity Shield game that both St George Illawarra and Souths had exceeded the 10,000 milestone, making the 2010 season the first time two Sydney clubs had entered the season with 10,000 ticketed members each. The club has members from every state in Australia and international members in 22 countries. Football club membership had peaked at some 22,000 when the club was re-admitted to the National Rugby League for season 2002.^[64]

"Group 14", a collection of club backers including businessmen, politicians, musicians and media personalities, was formed before the Rabbitohs' exclusion from the NRL in 1999.^[65] Members include Andrew Denton, Anthony Albanese, Deirdre Grusovin, Mike Whitney, Laurie Brereton, Rodger Corser, Michael Daley, Mikey Robins, Ron Hoenig, Nick Greiner, Ray Martin, Cathy Freeman, Candice Warner and former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally.^[66]^[67] They contributed to South Sydney's bid for reinstatement, following the club's exclusion from the competition at the end of the 1999 season. A sustained campaign of public support that year, unprecedented in Australian sporting history, saw 40,000 people^[68] attended a rally in the Sydney CBD in support of South Sydney's cause.^[69]^[70] In 2000 and 2001, public street marches took place in Sydney with in excess of 80,000 people rallying behind the Rabbitohs.^[27] The club also has a number of high-profile supporters as well, many of whom were dominant figures in their battle to be readmitted into the premiership in 2000 and 2001.^[71]^[72] In 2007, supporters set a new club record for attendance with an average home crowd figure of 15,702 being the highest ever since the introduction of the home and away system in 1974.^[73]

Reggie the Rabbit

Reggie the Rabbit is the Rabbitohs mascot. Founders by Kip Gambilin. The rabbit took lifesize form in 1968 when celebrity fan Kip Gamblin brought back a suit from the US in time for the 1968 grand final against Manly, won by the Bunnies 13–9. Perhaps the most notable of the early Reggies was the club's groundsman Reg Fridd. Standing just over four feet tall, the Rabbitohs lured the diminutive Kiwi from a touring production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the same troupe that had yielded the second Reggie, Roscoe Bova, tragically killed in a car accident in the early 70s. Most teams in the National Rugby League maintain mascots. But none do the sort of [https://web.archive.org/web/20150204073617/http://www.au.timeout.com/Sydney/the-bridge/features/1377/19-reggie-the-rabbit charity] work as Reggie and none dare venture to opposition grounds as he does. Yet for the current Reggie, Charlie Gallico – a sub-five footer who runs a panelbeating shop on the side – it's all part of the job. For five years little Charlie has been quietly and anonymously volunteering his services to his club and community to maintain a sideline alter-ego as one of sport's most enduring symbols. During 2000 and 2001, when Souths was excluded from the NRL, Anth Courtney was Reggie Rabbit appearing at the second Town Hall rally and at games at Redfern Oval as well as being active in travelling extensively around the state to attend fundraisers as Reggie Rabbit.^[74]

South Sydney Leagues Club

The Juniors

Juniors at the Junction

The Juniors on Hawkesbury

Kit sponsors and manufacturers

Rivalries

A book, The Book of Feuds, chronicling the rivalries of the Rabbitohs with their NRL competitors was written by Mark Courtney at the instigation of Russell Crowe. It has been used as a motivational tool before Souths matches and was later released on sale to the public.^[80]

Major

Minor

The rivalry with Balmain began in 1909 when the Tigers failed to appear for the grand final and thereby forfeited to Souths.^[6]^[9] In the 1969 NSWRFL season enmity was again fueled between the clubs with Balmain's controversial^[87] victory against the Rabbitohs in the grand final that year.^[88]

Statistics and records

South Sydney are the most successful club in terms of honours and individual player achievements in the history of NSW rugby league.

The club's players have also achieved some notable individual game and point scoring milestones:

Players

Current squad

2019 Squad

Notable players

In 2002 on the Rabbitohs readmission to the competition, The Magnificent XIII,^[92] a team consisting of great South Sydney players over the years was selected by a panel of rugby league journalists and former Souths players and coaches. The team consists of 17 players (four being reserves) and a coach representing the South Sydney Rabbitohs Football Club from 1908 through to 2002.

Season summaries

Foundation (1901) to Exclusion (1999)

Since 2002 readmission

Honours

Club

Individual

The George Piggins Medal is the award given to the Rabbitohs player determined to have been the "best and fairest" throughout an NRL season. The inaugural winner of the award in 2003 was Bryan Fletcher. In 2013, John Sutton & Greg Inglis became the first joint winners of the award.^[94]^[95]

See also

References

1. ^{{cite news|last1=Heards|first1=Ian|title=Longest march back to the top for the Pride of the League|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/longest-march-back-to-the-top-for-the-pride-of-the-league-20141004-10qdz9.html|accessdate=5 October 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=4 October 2014}}
2. ^{{cite news|last1=Ritchie|first1=Dean|title=History of success from Manly Sea Eagles gives them claims to South Sydney's pride of the league tag|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/history-of-success-from-manly-sea-eagles-gives-them-claims-to-south-sydneys-pride-of-the-league-tag/story-fni3gnk1-1226727132621|accessdate=5 October 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=News Ltd|date=26 September 2013}}
3. ^{{cite web|title=Contact Us|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/about/contact-us.html|publisher=South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club|accessdate=9 October 2014}}
4. ^In Australia, a foundation club is one that played in the first season of a competition. South Sydney played in the first season of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, the predecessor to the National Rugby League competition.
5. ^¹{{cite news|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|publication-place=Sydney, NSW|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/peter-holmes-a-court-reveals-his-reasons-for-selling-his-south-sydney-stake-while-james-packer-plans-for-a-big-future/story-fnp0lyn3-1227100197425|title=Peter Holmes a Court reveals his reasons for selling his South Sydney stake, while James Packer plans for a big future|author=Dean Ritchie|date=24 October 2014|accessdate=31 October 2014}}
6. ^¹²³{{cite web|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs |url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |accessdate=3 June 2007 |author=Fagan, Sean |publisher=RL1908.com |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615234902/http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |archivedate=15 June 2007 }}
7. ^¹²³⁴⁵Ian Heads, South Sydney, Pride of the League, Lothian, 2000.
8. ^Season 1908 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306095527/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1908.html |date=6 March 2008 }} from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
9. ^¹"The Balmainiacs of 1909" RL1908.com by Sean Fagan. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213212011/http://www.rl1908.com/articles/balmain-1909.htm |date=13 February 2007 }}
10. ^¹Season 1925 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417012749/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1925.html |date=17 April 2011 }} from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
11. ^In 1925 rugby league journalist Claude Corbett nicknamed the club the "Pride of the League" – see page 3 of Ian Heads' book South Sydney, Pride of the League, Lothian, 2000. On the internet Souths are referred to as the Pride of the League on the Sydney Olympic Park website: Sydney Olympic Park. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716142740/http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |date=16 July 2011 }}Reference is also made in the official history of the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club by Tom Brock titled South Sydney, Pride of the League, published in 1994. This is mentioned in Mr Brocks' biography: Tom Brock Biography {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515203210/http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm |date=15 May 2007 }} at the Australian Society for Sports History website. {{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-05-05 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716142740/http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |archivedate=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
12. ^¹Season 1951 from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
13. ^See the 1955 season summary (select the year 1955 from the dropdown box at the top of the page and then click the Search button) from the official South Sydney website.
14. ^See the article 10 of the Best – 1955: The Miracle of '55 by Glenn Jackson in Souths The People's Team, edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.
15. ^{{cite web|title=Record Crowds|url=http://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/history/facts/record-crowds/|publisher=Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust|accessdate=26 May 2014}}
16. ^Season 1965 from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
17. ^See the chapter Premiers No More in Mark Courtney's Moving the Goalposts, Halstead Press, 2000.
18. ^1970 Grand Final, Souths v Manly from the History of Australian Rugby League reproduced on the Era of the Biff website.
19. ^A full description of the famous incident is in the article 10 of the Best – 1970: The Jawdropper by Glenn Jackson in Souths The People's Team, edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.
20. ^See reference to John Bucknall from the Soaring Sea Eagles website players page.
21. ^Reference to Jack Gibson as a "Super Coach" is common terminology in Australian rugby league circles given Gibson's outstanding coaching record – see: {{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/14/1060588510800.html?from=storyrhs |title=Super coach Gibson salutes his favourite players |date=14 August 2003 |agency=AAP |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
22. ^See the article 10 of the Best – 1981: The Droughtbreaker by Glenn Jackson in Souths The People's Team, edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.
23. ^The St George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers merged into the St George Illawarra Dragons in 1998, the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies merged to form the Wests Tigers in 1999 whilst also in the same year the Manly Sea Eagles and North Sydney Bears (who were excluded from the competition on failing to meet solvency criteria) merged into the Northern Eagles (the merger was subsequently dissolved with Manly re-entering the competition in 2003).
24. ^{{cite journal|last=Fridman|first=Saul|url=http://sydney.edu.au/law/slr/docs_pdfs/editions/slr_v24_n4_bhc.pdf|title=Before the High Court: sport and the law: The South Sydney appeal|journal=Sydney Law Review|date=December 2002|volume=24|number=4|pages=558–68|issn=0082-0512}}
25. ^See [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521534275&id=Dt_XdDY-VbMC&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&ots=NtnPyY50gG&dq=south+sydney+Rabbitohs&sig=IZrsqyQ3wNtujSROFxFVmKs-LVs#PPA227,M1 "Grassroots Ethics: The Case of Souths versus News Corporation"], pages 216–229 of Remote Control: New Media, New Ethics by Michael Moller, edited by Catharine Lumby and Elspeth Probyn, Cambridge University Press, 2003 at [https://books.google.com/ Google Books]
26. ^See South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Ltd v News Limited FCA 862 (6 July 2001), decision of the Full Bench of the Federal Court of Australia.
27. ^¹See [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1865089184&id=Y_KSvEkUUNIC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&ots=N183KHJT2w&dq=rabbitohs&sig=VND-p2NDomWFLlcBM-6_YW0uCBM#PPA150,M1 "The Souths Revival"], page 150 of Strategic Sports Marketing by David Shilbury, Shayne Quick and Hans Westerbeek, Allen & Unwin, 2003 at Google Books
28. ^Episode 2 – What happened at the Handover Ceremony? from the "South Sydney Story" website (www.southsydneystory.com). {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719143210/http://www.southsydneystory.com/Documentary/Episode-2.html |date=19 July 2008 }}
29. ^Ryle, G. Where there's smoke, it's a job for Firepower Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 2007
30. ^{{cite news|author=AAP |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) |title=Richardson quits as Souths CEO |url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/richardson-quits-as-souths-ceo/2007/10/31/1193618941602.html |accessdate=9 September 2008 |date=31 October 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424062351/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/richardson-quits-as-souths-ceo/2007/10/31/1193618941602.html |archivedate=24 April 2008 }}
31. ^{{cite news|author=South Sydney Rabbitohs|publisher=South Sydney Rabbitohs (rabbitohs.com.au)|title=Rabbitohs Elevate Internal Staff in Management Restructure |url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Rabbitohs-Elevate-Internal-Staff-in-Management-Restructure.html |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=2 February 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225063516/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Rabbitohs-Elevate-Internal-Staff-in-Management-Restructure.html|archivedate=25 February 2012}}
32. ^{{cite news|author=Phil Rothfield and Rebecca Wilson|work=The Sunday Telegraph|publisher=news.com.au|title=Holmes a Court to quit Souths |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/holmes-a-court-to-quit-souths/story-e6frfkp9-1111116367302 |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=18 May 2008}}
33. ^{{cite news|author=Josh Massoud|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=News Ltd|title=How Souths drowned in latte and largesse |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/how-souths-drowned-in-latte-and-largesse/story-e6freuy9-1111116449716 |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008}}
34. ^{{cite news|author=Patrick Smith|work=The Australian|publisher=News Corp Australia|title=A Court in the crossfire: the syndrome threatening to derail Souths |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/the-syndrome-that-may-derail-souths/story-e6frg7hf-1111116461056 |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=28 May 2008}}
35. ^{{cite news|author=Josh Massoud|publisher=Courier Mail (news.com.au)|title=Russell Crowe dumps Holmes a Court as Rabbitohs chairman|url=http://www.news.com.au/news/crowe-dumps-holmes-a-court/story-fna7dq6e-1111116452894 |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008}}
36. ^{{cite news|author=Ray Chesterton|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=news.com.au|title=Crowe's company ruined Souths|url=http://www.news.com.au/opinion/crowes-company-ruined-souths/story-e6frfs99-1111116453146 |accessdate=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008}}
37. ^{{cite web|title=‘Pride of the League’ Honoured by the National Trust|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Pride-of-the-League-Honoured-by-the-National-Trust.html|publisher=South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club|accessdate=26 May 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403191336/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Pride-of-the-League-Honoured-by-the-National-Trust.html|archivedate=3 April 2012|date=3 September 2008}}
38. ^{{cite web|title=South Sydney register 1000th win against gallant Cowboys|author=Justin Davies|date=28 April 2012|url=http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=22627}}
39. ^{{cite news|title=Week one finals preview: Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs, second qualifying final, AAMI Park|author=Trent Hile|publisher=FOX SPORTS|date=6 September 2012|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/week-one-finals-preview-melbourne-storm-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-second-qualifying-final-aami-park/story-e6frf3xu-1226465804725#ixzz2Dtdpg1jf}}
40. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/rabbitohs-2015-season-review/tabid/10874/newsid/89800/default.aspx|title=Rabbitohs 2015 season review|date=14 September 2015|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2018}}
41. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-13/sharks-crush-rabbitohs-to-eliminate-defending-premiers/6772102|title=Sharks beat Rabbitohs 28-12 to eliminate defending premiers|date=13 September 2015|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2018}}
42. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/rabbitohs-2016-season-review/tabid/10874/newsid/101031/default.aspx|title=Rabbitohs 2016 season review|date=6 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2018}}
43. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/rabbitohs-2017-season-review/tabid/10874/newsid/111847/default.aspx|title=Rabbitohs 2017 season review|date=6 September 2017|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2018}}
44. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/rabbitohs/michael-maguire-leaves-south-sydney-effective-immediatley-by-mutual-consent/news-story/20b834695f214c9ffd35b5200a101895 |title=We’re for Sydney |publisher=Daily Telegraph |date=2017-10-05 |accessdate=2018-06-15}}
45. ^https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/22/nrl-roosters-beat-rabbitohs-to-reach-the-grand-final-against-melbourne
46. ^https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/live-nrl-finals-2018-melbourne-storm-vs-south-sydney-at-aami-park/news-story/e3c95590e87bed07e1c1fada0818eb6f
47. ^{{cite news|newspaper=Evening News|publication-place=Sydney, NSW|date=14 June 1904|page=4|title=Bunny}}
48. ^See the comments of ABC radio reporter Joe O'Brien from the transcript of the ABC PM radio program "Rabbitohs continue historic form", broadcast on Friday, 6 July 2001.
49. ^¹"Club Histories – New Speculations" RL1908.com by Sean Fagan. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021080342/http://www.rl1908.com/clubcomps/origins.htm |date=21 October 2006 }}
50. ^South Sydney traditional jersey from the official South Sydney website.
51. ^See the article Having a "Mintie wrapper" in your wardrobe by Mark Courtney in Souths The People's Team, edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.
52. ^South Sydney 2009 home jersey from the official South Sydney website.
53. ^South Sydney 2009 alternate (away) jersey from the official South Sydney website.
54. ^South Sydney Co-op.
55. ^Redfern Oval from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
56. ^Sydney Football Stadium from the Rugby League Tables & Statistics website {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }}
57. ^{{cite news|author=Greg Prichard|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au)|title=Rabbitohs in shock move to Sydney Olympic Park |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Rabbitohs-in-shock-move-to-SOP/2005/02/26/1109180167664.html | date=27 February 2005}}
58. ^{{cite news|work=One Sport|publisher=tvnz.co.nz|title=Rabbitohs secure new home ground |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/479780/2422021.html|date=16 March 2005|accessdate=26 March 2014}}
59. ^{{cite news|author=ABC|publisher=ABC (abc.net.au)|title=Bunnies facing extinction, Crowe tells fans |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/02/12/1568008.htm}}
60. ^¹{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityImprovements/RedfernParkUpgrade.asp | title=Proposed Redfern Park Upgrade | publisher=City of Sydney | date=28 July 2006 | accessdate=26 May 2014 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824011340/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityImprovements/RedfernParkUpgrade.asp | archivedate=24 August 2006}}
61. ^{{cite web|title=Supporter Groups|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/about/supporter-groups.html|publisher=South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club|accessdate=26 May 2014}}
62. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.theburrow.com.au/about_us.html|title=About us |work=theburrow.com.au |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
63. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2013/9/rabbitohs-fan-chris-dounis-has-membership-revoked-for-offensive-scum-sign |title=Fans Banned For Scum Sign |date=13 September 2013 |work=Triple M |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
64. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/pride-in-the-rabbitohs-jersey--and-dollars-too/2006/12/19/1166290546793.html |title=Pride in the Rabbitohs jersey – and dollars, too |author=Jackson, Glenn |date=20 December 2006 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
65. ^"Mission Impossible" 23 September 1999 Australian Story archives at abc.net.au
66. ^{{Cite news |authorlink=Kip Gamblin | last = Gamblin | first = Kip | title = Souths power bloc backs Crowe bid | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | place = | pages = | language = | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 5 March 2006| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/souths-power-bloc-backs-crowe-bid/2006/03/04/1141191887305.html | accessdate =5 October 2010}}
67. ^{{Cite news | last = Walter | first = Brad | title = Souths support group enters Crowe fray | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | place = Australia | pages = | language = | publisher = Fairfax Media | date = 18 February 2006| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/souths-support-group-enters-crowe-fray/2006/02/17/1140151817221.html | accessdate =5 October 2010}}
68. ^Reclaiming the Game: Fandom, Community and Globalisation, by Michael Moller, from the APINetwork website.
69. ^In George We Trust, produced by Helen Grasswill, Australian Story transcript, 2 August 2001, from the ABC website.
70. ^See the chapters Reclaim the Game and Taking it to the Streets in Mark Courtney's Moving the Goalposts, Halstead Press, 2000.
71. ^See South's 2009 Corporate Partnership Brochure. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915134941/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Media/docs/Corporate-Brochure2009-FA-LR-cc110f55-0112-49bd-901c-50631bdfb578.pdf |date=15 September 2009 }}
72. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Warnes-new-job-being-Shane-Warne/2007/01/07/1168104863495.html |title=Warne's new job: being Shane Warne |date=7 January 2007 |agency=AAP |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
73. ^{{cite news|title=Rabbitohs make ANZ Stadium home for next 10 years|date=8 Feb 2008|url=http://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=29705|publisher=rleague (from a South Sydney press release)|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403183357/http://rleague.com/content/article.php?id=29705|archivedate=3 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}
74. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.au.timeout.com/Sydney/the-bridge/features/1377/19-reggie-the-rabbit |title=Sport in Sydney - Sydney Outdoor activities |author=Time Out Sydney |work=Time Out Sydney |accessdate=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204073617/http://www.au.timeout.com/Sydney/the-bridge/features/1377/19-reggie-the-rabbit |archive-date=4 February 2015 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}
75. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.thejuniors.com.au/|title=The Juniors|work=thejuniors.com.au|accessdate=14 May 2015}}
76. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/south-sydney-leagues-club-in-administration-20130307-2fnny.html |first=Tim |last=Barlass |date=7 March 2013 |title=South Sydney Leagues Club in administration |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
77. ^{{cite news |url= http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/promises-come-to-nought-as-souths-leagues-shuts-with-debts-of-55m/story-e6frexqr-1226605802512?nk=7c249bf49ac3d4fddd8af453efa2d14e |title=Promises come to nought as Souths Leagues shuts with debts of $5.5m |first=Paul |last=Kent |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=26 March 2013 |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
78. ^{{cite news |url=http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/news/story/clubs-fight-to-survive/ |title=Clubs fight to survive |newspaper=Southern Courier |date=14 April 2009}}
79. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.thejuniors.com.au/shop/item/juniors-on-hawkesbury|title=Juniors On Hawkesbury|work=thejuniors.com.au|accessdate=14 May 2015}}
80. ^"Bitter feud to get public airing", Adrian Proszenko, League HQ, 2 September 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907034256/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/bitter-feud-to-get-public-airing/2007/09/01/1188067436982.html |date=7 September 2007 }}
81. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/shove-thy-neighbour-souths-rule-the-roost/2005/08/20/1124435184478.html |title=Shove thy neighbour: Souths rule the roost |author=Swanton, Will |date=21 August 2005 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
82. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/souths-bitter-blast-at-roosters/story-e6freuzi-1111113156647 |title=Souths' bitter blast at Roosters |author=Payten, Iain |date=15 March 2007 |work=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
83. ^Sign Craig Wing for Four Years from The Burrow website (www.theburrow.net.au), 25 June 2007
84. ^{{cite news | last = Monahan | first = Jeremy | title = The rivalry between South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters is legendary | work = Southern Courier | place =Australia | pages = | language = | publisher = News Community Media | date = 10 March 2010| url = http://southern-courier.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/the-rivalry-between-south-sydney-rabbitohs-and-the-sydney-roosters-is-legen/ | accessdate =11 March 2010}}
85. ^Key Souths players purchased by Manly included internationals John O'Neill, Ray Branighan, Elwyn Walters, Mark Carroll, Terry Hill, Jim Serdaris and Ian Roberts and other stars such as Bob Moses, Tom Mooney and Craig Field.
86. ^{{cite web |url= http://www.nrl.com/manly-sign-luke-burgess/tabid/10874/newsid/83473/default.aspx |title=Manly sign Luke Burgess |work=National Rugby League |date=21 January 2015 |accessdate=14 May 2015}}
87. ^Balmain players feigned injury in order to slow down the game, disrupt Souths attacking momentum and run-down the clock to full-time – see the 1969 season summary (select the year 1969 from the dropdown box at the top of the page and then click the Search button) from the official South Sydney website.
88. ^{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/30/1096527870183.html |title=Five of the best: grand final controversies |date=1 October 2004 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=12 November 2011}}
89. ^List of Australian Rugby League Premiership Winners from the Sports Australia website.
90. ^¹Up until 2002, the second division of rugby league in New South Wales was Reserve Grade/Presidents Cup/First Division Premiers; since then, it has been the NSWRL Premier League.
91. ^¹²³⁴⁵⁶Rabbitohs Club Records {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319204248/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Club-Records.html |date=19 March 2012 }} from the official South Sydney Rabbitohs website.
92. ^See "The Magnificent XIII" in the article Hall of Fame in Souths The People's Team, edited by Angus Fontaine, League Week, ACP Publishing, 2002.
93. ^Up until 1994, the top division of the premiership in New South Wales was the New South Wales Rugby League premiership; since then, it has been the Australian Rugby League (1995–1997) and the National Rugby League.
94. ^{{cite web|title=Inglis and Sutton Crowned as First Joint Winners of the George Piggins Medal in 2013|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/content/rabbitohs/club/news/2013/10/10/inglis-and-sutton-crowned-as-first-joint-winners-of-the-george-piggins-medal-in-2013.html|publisher=South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club|accessdate=26 May 2014|date=10 October 2013}}
95. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2014/10/10/greg_inglis_claims_best_try_award.html|title=Greg Inglis Claims Best Try Award|date=10 October 2014|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2018}}