South Sydney Rabbitohs

[Druzik]

All news related to South Sydney here.

[Druzik]

www.leaguehq.com.au/news/lhqmatchreport/its-a-demolition-derby/2009/03/15/1237054637937.html

It's a demolition derby
Andrew Stevenson | March 16, 2009

Roosters 12 Rabbitohs 52

ON A sweltering Sydney Sunday better suited to summer sports, South Sydney smacked their neighbourhood rivals out of the park, virtually untroubled in posting a half century that will go some way towards settling some old scores while giving their supporters cause to approach the onset of winter with optimism.

Last year, Souths had disappeared down the burrow of no return well before a chill had even reached the air, losing seven games straight. But the rot began in the season opener when the Rabbitohs talked a good pre-match only to find themselves in a mismatch against the Roosters.

This week the silence from Redfern was deafening. Souths weren't lost, just laying in wait to pulverise their more-fancied neighbours.

After little more than a quarter of the game, Souths co-owner Russell Crowe faced the auditorium, raised his thumb in honour of a fourth Souths try, then turned it down to direct his charges to show no mercy.

Nor did they, and "more-fancied for how long?" was the question occupying spectators of both persuasions in the wash-up of an affair so one-sided Roosters coach Brad Fittler had trouble talking about Souths' tries. "Which one was that … they're all a blur now," he admitted.

With the arrival of Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court, Souths fashioned a side that was hard to beat, one that would throw numbers into every tackle and work the ball around like a football team ought. Realistically, it was never enough; more like a one-paced racehorse, they kept trailing in honestly, no matter the imprecations directed their way.

Now they're capable of making Fittler's head spin.

Souths have found enough zip and spark to make opponents stand and watch and check what's coming next. And if they do - and Roosters five-eighth and captain Braith Anasta wasn't alone in doing this yesterday - their heads will be spinning, too.

The only thing dour about Souths was their response to victory, with coach Jason Taylor hiding the red cordial and green snakes and telling his charges the score that mattered wasn't the 52-12 just past but the nil-all that will greet them when they run on to ANZ Stadium next Friday night against Parramatta.

So Taylor faced the press conference with his smile tucked in behind a pair of lips spread tight and straight, and opined it wasn't the start of anything: "It's just one game, a good performance."

Go tell that to the fans. Fittler reckoned his mob couldn't complain if only 8000 came to their next game; Souths will already be counting the gate - if not the score - from the Eels match.

In half Chris Sandow, Taylor the coach has a player created from all the pieces of the puzzle Taylor the half never had. They are a pair of polar opposites, and Sandow's future will likely be determined by how well the coach inculcates his work ethic and steadying hand, while allowing the irrepressible kid to have his head.

The Roosters went into the match with the star halves pairing of Anasta and Mitchell Pearce, whose new $1.2 million three-year deal defied the global slowdown. But it was Sandow and his five-eighth, John Sutton, who made the plays that produced returns that would have done Bernie Madoff proud.

Sutton, his left hand of similar dimensions to an aged T-bone steak, twice extended an arm from a three-man tackle to gift a try to a teammate, confirmation he can hold his ground in the tackle and then capitalise. To top it off, he twice managed to land his kicks on a coin to pass on a try for both wingers, Nathan Merritt and Fetuli Talanoa.

Sandow has an even better kicking game, plus the speed and step to keep defences shuffling in retreat. He's also, one suspects, the sort of X-factor player who's never quite sure what he's planning himself. Opposition defences will worry with good reason. Yet both are also ready to mix it in the trenches. In the second half, Sutton twice sent players 10m back in the tackle while Sandow creamed Shaun Kenny-Dowall (giving away 18 kilograms and 16 centimetres) under a bomb - and then piled into the prostrate fullback for good measure.

Throw in star hooker Issac Luke, an able deputy in Jamie Simpson and returning utility Craig Wing and Souths have the jockeys to make sure the Rabbitohs are one-paced no more - no matter what Taylor says or does.

SOUTH SYDNEY 52 (N Merritt 3 F Talanoa 2 C Best E Pettybourne C Sandow R Wesser tries C Sandow 5 I Luke 3 goals) bt SYDNEY ROOSTERS 12 (B Anasta J Friend tries C Fitzgibbon 2 goals) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: T De Las Heras, Steve Lyons. Crowd: 24,486.

[England 3 Lions]

The South-Sydney Rabbitohs' spiritual home is located in Redfern, which is a suburb of the City of Sydney.

The closest elite stadium, the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS), is located around 3 to 8 kilometres from Redfern.

The Rabbitohs are playing their games out at Homebush's Olympic Stadium, which is 16 or so kilometres away from Redfern.

Wouldn't it be better for the Rabbitohs to use the SFS as its stadium?

[Druzik]

Mar 31, 2009 23:36:14 GMT 10 England 3 Lions said:

The South-Sydney Rabbitohs' spiritual home is located in Redfern, which is a suburb of the City of Sydney.

The closest elite stadium, the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS), is located around 3 to 8 kilometres from Redfern.

The Rabbitohs are playing their games out at Homebush's Olympic Stadium, which is 16 or so kilometres away from Redfern.

Wouldn't it be better for the Rabbitohs to use the SFS as its stadium?

Yeah they used to but basically ANZ came in with a better offer, basically souths get about $100,000 per macth staged at ANZ where as I think they only got a third of that at the SFS.

I am sure that is the SFS would be able to match such an offer Souths would take it.

Currently its the Rooters home ground and the Tigers play a few games out fo there as well. Not sure what their deals are to be there.

[England 3 Lions]

Mar 31, 2009 23:44:54 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Mar 31, 2009 23:36:14 GMT 10 England 3 Lions said:

The South-Sydney Rabbitohs' spiritual home is located in Redfern, which is a suburb of the City of Sydney.

The closest elite stadium, the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS), is located around 3 to 8 kilometres from Redfern.

The Rabbitohs are playing their games out at Homebush's Olympic Stadium, which is 16 or so kilometres away from Redfern.

Wouldn't it be better for the Rabbitohs to use the SFS as its stadium?

Yeah they used to but basically ANZ came in with a better offer, basically souths get about $100,000 per macth staged at ANZ where as I think they only got a third of that at the SFS.

I am sure that is the SFS would be able to match such an offer Souths would take it.

Currently its the Rooters home ground and the Tigers play a few games out fo there as well. Not sure what their deals are to be there.

Interesting. I suppose the money is too good to turn down.

[Druzik]

Apr 3, 2009 23:07:15 GMT 10 England 3 Lions said:

Mar 31, 2009 23:44:54 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Yeah they used to but basically ANZ came in with a better offer, basically souths get about $100,000 per macth staged at ANZ where as I think they only got a third of that at the SFS.

I am sure that is the SFS would be able to match such an offer Souths would take it.

Currently its the Rooters home ground and the Tigers play a few games out fo there as well. Not sure what their deals are to be there.

Interesting. I suppose the money is too good to turn down.

Yep, basically thats what it comes down to... $$$$ the clubs need it and will take it where they can.

[Druzik]

nrl.com/live_audio.htm?mediaurl=rtsp://wm9.streaming.telstra.com/ucs-wh_nrl0live1

That was onr of the best games of RL I have listened to.

Souths beat wests 23-22... crowd 30k at the SCG (46k is capacity)

But the great thing is afterwards the kids were allowed to run onto the field and mucj around kicking the balls etc. that is great!