You are here: Home / Media / Souths back but are the fans?

Souths back but are the fans?

The South Sydney Rabbitohs, one of the founding clubs of rugby league, remains the most successful team in the 100-year history of the annual NRL competition with 20 priemiership titles to their name reports Emily Laurence in Precinct South Sydney Edition Issue 4/2007 in November 2007.

In 1999, when News Limited's Pay TV viewing plans for NRL games did not include the Rabbitohs, Shannon Kolster, like many fans was shattered.

"My jaw dropped and I basically cried," says Mr Kolster, a supporter of the Rabbitohs for 35 years.

With this decision, loyalty for the traditionally 'working class club', was tested.

Many stuck by Souths and fought to have the team reinstated. In 2002, their prayers were answered.

"Once we were reinstated, our team changed week in, week out," Mr Kolster says.

"There was no commitment from fans to go to games. They didn't like the way the club was being run."

Then last year, although the decision was not unanimous, actor Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court won a vote among Souths members which allowed the duo to buy the club. And things began to change.

Red and green Armani pin stripe suits for players, trendy team merchandise and new sponsors were just some of the differences that could be seen shortly after the purchase.

Not everyone was convinced.

"At first I thought it was a gee-up!" Souths co-captain Peter Cusack laughs.

"I mean, most of us can't even afford a pair of Armani undies let alone a whole suit!"

But Cusack says the suits worked. They gave Rabbitohs players "a more professional look".

Iain Spruce, president of hard-core South Sydney Rabbitohs fan group The Burrow says he was worried the new image was too chic.

"But I think it's just a case of progressing to the next generation. We've got to look at where we are going and not we're we've been".

Don Wheeler, a Souths' fan for 40 years says he wasn't thrilled when he heard about the new 'drummer squad' replacing the cheer leaders, but changed his mind once he saw how they involved the crowd in the game.

"I thought, `Oh no! They're gonna have a marching band!"' Mr Wheeler says.

But now he says "...it's better than watching the girlies bounce around in a mini skirt!"

The changes have not stopped there. The club is set to spend around $25 million on a Return to Redfern 2008 project.

The project will see the Souths home ground Redfern Oval redeveloped into a training facility for players and possibly a venue for early season matches.

Bobby Lamb, a Rabbitohs supporter for 50 years says he used to watch games at Redfern up until the oval fell into a state of disrepair in 1987.

"Redfern Oval has a different atmosphere," says Mr Lamb. "They often said that going to Redfern was worth a certain amount of points to Souths because of the home ground advantage and boisterous fans."

 Redevelopment of the oval will also coincide with refurbishments to the South Sydney Leagues Club.

Iain Spruce whole-heartedly supports the club refurbishments saying that South Sydney Leagues "had become a glorified club and a place for old footballers and mates to go after they had finished their careers.

"These days, it's different. They've made it more professional. There's a different culture being developed."

With the Rabbitohs last month playing their first semi-final since 1986 it seems that the fresh approach of Crowe and Holmes a Court has paid off,.

Although the game did not go their way afterwards Rabbitohs co-captain Roy Asotasi thanked fans.

"Hopefully we gave something back to them," Asotasi said.

Although they lost the match, Kolster certainly thinks the Rabbitohs have given something back.

"Souths are a big family and with family you are always going to argue but at the end of the day everything gets solved and you move on," he says.

"I will be there 100 per cent through thick and thin. That's what supporting a club is about. Hey, and there's always next year!"

Photo: An enthusiastic Rabbitohs' fan rates his team with a thumbs up.

Photo: Loyal Souths fans don red and green to show their support

Source: University of Technology Precinct South Sydney Edition Issue 4/2007 page 31

Publications from the UTS School of Journalism can be found online at www.journalism.uts.edu.au/future_students/student_publications.html and at www.reportage.uts.edu.au/