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/