If you didn’t tune in tonight it is a bit late now but tune into the ABC on Tuesday at 8:00pm for the next 5 weeks to watch the compelling South Side Story. Even if not a South Sydney fan this is still a fascinating show. Tonight’s episode dealt with the lead up and the famous (or infamous) vote that gave Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court control of South Sydney.
There is still a lot of residual bitterness from the “No” vote camp. But the harsh fact was that if Souths was to survive it needed to change. What George Piggins did to get Souths back into the competition was admirable and deserved recognition. However, business wise the Bunnies were in a hole and on performances on the field reflected the financial situation.
During 2002, the year Souths returned to the comp, erudite Sidelined commentor, Bismarck O’Measles, convinced me to attend more than a few Souths games under the sufferance of beer. Oh, it was painful. The excitement of being back in the comp turned over the course of the season into that stoic acceptance of losing that the Bunnies supporters have. Still there was always the tinge of hope as in “there is always next year”. But for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 “next year’ never eventuated.
On the field in 2007, Souths have pushed every team hard and still have a chance of making the eight. A far cry from their seemingly perpetual hold on the wooden spoon. Jason Taylor is a great chance for Coach of the Year and deservedly so. Those that still believe the “No” vote should have carried the day need to start looking forward. They, with justification, look back on their era with pride but that is in the past. The game is different these days and Souths need move on.
The stoush over South Sydney’s future aside, South Side Story promises to be a fascinating look inside the running of an NRL club. Do yerself a favour and tune in.
5 responses so far ↓
Phil // Aug 8, 2007 at 6:42 am
It’s hard for me not to scathing of the old Souths supporters, the ones who refused to back change, and it’s not about hindsight. Piggins et al were a block on progress and horrible managers to boot, it’s time that their self serving attitudes were put under the spotlight, something this series is sure to do.
Despite their protests they didn’t give a rats about the team or their fans.
Their constant harping that the club was sold cheap at 3mil was a joke, the club was a worthless heap of merde, history or no history, and they would have preferred to see all that history go down the drain in order to squeeze a few pieces of sliver out of Holmes a Court and Crowe. Tells me that it was all about the money in the end for them not tradition or the team.
Good riddance I say and bring on the new….with history intact and a winning attitude.
Shaun // Aug 8, 2007 at 9:19 am
Agreed Phil.
I was interested to hear that they kept asking money from Crowe. Rightly, Crowe decided that if you want my money then I want some say in how the club is run.
I have heard that a certain influential Nine and SMH League critic had two internationals lined up to play for Souths in 2002. Their asking price was around 300K but the attitude was the players should want to play for Souths for a lot less. Stupid.
Bismark O'Measles // Aug 8, 2007 at 11:27 am
…. oh the pains of having four demanding children with active ‘after-school’ lifestyles. The cry goes up in the O’Measles household : “Turn that bloody thing off and get on with your [insert bassoon, euphonium,violin,piano,skating,dancing,etc here] practice!!”.
Whilst child-baiting like this is a thin of beauty to be encouraged, it does rather mean that I, as an adult with a life of my own (snigger), miss things – this docco is an excellent case in point. I was really looking forward to watching it but have failed.
My own personal involvement with the fightback and close proximity to both the YES (brother) and NO (Father in law “I’m Bobby McCarthey’s cousin you know”) camps have made me a seasoned sounding board for each side of the argument and I’ll certainly be blocking this time out in my diary next week and beyond – family be damned.
Shauns commentary is correct. Bunnies blood runs red and green during the good times and the bad. I haven’t been for a few weeks (looking forward to Leichhardt R24) but the passion is just as strong and a whole new generation of bunnies are picking it up. Beer-scooter aside, my final memories of my last victorious Souths game are staggering through Telstra stadium supporting (and being supported by) my wife’s uncle Ricky who lives up north somewhere singing the obvious song over and over at the top of our voices – this was about an hour after the game and every group of fans we passed (especially the kids) joined in – it was thunderous!
Well said about the 3mil Phil. This is a managhement that managed to squander 20mil they got in damages in 2001 on a team that didn’t get any better than 5 wins a season – thank god for passionate supporters like Russ and PHA + the decision to ditch Shaun (who had done well) for JT. These are not easy calls but had to be made for the future generation of players and supporters.
So… 2007 is looking gone. Big deal, they’ve had the best season since returning to the comp and are showing signs of being able to do it consistently (bloody injury!).
Pip Pip
Club Troppo » Friday’s Missing Link - on Friday! // Aug 10, 2007 at 8:46 pm
[...] Shaun generously continues to provide footy tips at sidelined along with an excellent write-up on a new doco about the Bionic Bunnies. [...]
Godfrey // Oct 16, 2008 at 10:16 am
All you know-alls got it wrong. Since taking over, Holmes a Court and Crowe have run the club in to the ground. It posted a $4.2 million loss last year -its biggest in the club’s 100 year history. And in 2008 the club came 3rd last. The club’s in desperate straights on and off the field through Holmes a Court’s mismanagement. Apart from bringing the football club to its knees, Crowe and Holmes a Court have the leagues club in a coma. The club closed in March 2007 under promises that it’d reopen in March 2008. Well, it’s now October 2008 and work hasn’t even started. Along the way the dynamic duo managed to break all their promises to leagues club members as to what would happen with the club. People were too besotted with stardom and Hollywood celebrity to see the roses for the weeds. And now weeds is all Souths have left…