:South Sydney Rabbitohs

{{Main|History of the South Sydney Rabbitohs}}

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club was formed at a meeting on 17 January 1908 at Redfern Town Hall{{cite web |title=South Sydney Rabbitohs |url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |access-date=3 June 2007 |last=Fagan |first=Sean |website=RL1908.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615234902/http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |archive-date=15 June 2007 }} when administrator J. J. Giltinan, cricketer Victor Trumper and politician Henry Hoyle gathered together in front of a large crowd of supporters.Ian Heads, South Sydney, Pride of the League, Lothian, 2000. 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.[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1908.html 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 [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html 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 }} The team went on to win the inaugural premiership then successfully defended its title in the 1909 season, winning the Grand Final by default.[http://www.rl1908.com/articles/balmain-1909.htm "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 }} 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 50 years, only retiring a few years before his death in 1969.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

After further premiership success in 1914 and 1918, South Sydney won seven of the eight premierships from 1925 to 1932, missing out only in 1930. The 1925 side went through the season undefeated for 12 games.[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1925.html Season 1925] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417012749/http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1925.html |date=17 April 2011 }} from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html 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 }} 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".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: [http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs Sydney Olym hipic 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: [http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm 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 |title=South Sydney Rabbitohs |publisher=Sydney Olympic Park Authority |url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |access-date=2007-05-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716142740/http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}

South Sydney struggled between 1940–1948. South Sydney's longest losing streak of 22 games was during the period 1945–1947. In the 1945 season the club only managed to win one game while in 1946 it was unable to win a single game.

1949 would mark the beginning of almost a decade of great success for South Sydney, winning five of the six premierships from 1950 to 1955, and losing the 1949 Grand Final against St. George, and also the 1952 Grand Final against Western Suburbs in controversial circumstances. The 1951 side's point scoring feat in its 42–14 victory over Manly-Warringah[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1951.html Season 1951] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622174930/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1951.html |date=22 June 2013 }} [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables & Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html |date=21 August 2007 }} remains the highest score by a team in a Grand Final and "the miracle of '55"[http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive.html#Scene_1 1955 season summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194339/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive.html#Scene_1 |date=2 November 2013 }} South Sydney Rabbitohs.Glen Jackson (2002). "10 of the Best – 1955: The Miracle of '55". In Angus Fontaine (ed.). Souths: The People's Team, League Week, ACP Publishing. 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 run of poor form, failing to make the finals from 1958 to 1964, during this time receiving the 1962 wooden spoon.

In 1965 a talented young side made the Grand Final against St. George who were aiming to secure its tenth straight premiership. The young Rabbitohs were not overawed by the Dragons' formidable experience and in front of a record crowd of 78,056{{cite web |title=Record Crowds |url=http://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/history/facts/record-crowds/ |publisher=Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-date=9 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109025051/http://sydneycricketground.com.au/history/facts/record-crowds/ |url-status=dead }} at the Sydney Cricket Ground, it went down narrowly 12–8.[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1965.html Season 1965] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818174357/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1965.html |date=18 August 2013 }} from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html 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 }} 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 to 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.Mark Courtney (2000). "Premiers No More". Moving the Goalposts. Halstead Press. 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[http://www.eraofthebiff.com/memorable-matches-from-the-biff-era/m09-1970-grand-final-souths-v-manly-sattlers-courage "1970 Grand Final, Souths v Manly"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207194720/http://www.eraofthebiff.com/memorable-matches-from-the-biff-era/m09-1970-grand-final-souths-v-manly-sattlers-courage |date=7 February 2020 }}. History of Australian Rugby League – via Era of the Biff. in three places after being king hit by Manly prop John Bucknall.A full description of the famous incident is in Glenn Jackson (2002). "10 of the Best – 1970: The Jawdropper". In Angus Fontaine (ed.). Souths: The People's Team. League Week, ACP Publishing.See the reference to [http://soaringseaeagles.tripod.com/players/playersb.htm John Bucknall] from the Soaring Sea Eagles website players' page.

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"{{NoteTag|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 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=12 November 2011 }}}} Jack Gibson's arrival turned the club's form, winning the pre-season competition in 1978. The club captured victories in the mid-week Tooth Cup competition in 1981Glenn Jackson (2002). "10 of the Best – 1981: The Droughtbreaker". In Angus Fontaine (ed.). Souths: The People's Team. League Week, ACP Publishing. and in the pre-season "Sevens" competition in 1988. The Rabbitohs made the finals on five occasions in the 1980s, including a dominant season to finish as minor premiers in 1989. The 1989 season proved to be the club's most successful in years, but was also the last time the club reached 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 it won the pre-season competition, defeating the Brisbane Broncos 27–26 in the final. 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,{{NoteTag|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).}} and a planned merger with Cronulla-Sutherland that was met with staunch opposition from both clubs,{{Citation |title=The South Sydney Sharks {{!}} Tales of Reinstatement Ep 5 | date=20 October 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2MoJaX79U8 |access-date=2023-05-03 |language=en}} 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.

File:RussellCroweOct05.jpg.]]

File:Performance Chart NRL SOU.svg

In 2000 and 2001, South Sydney fought its way back into the competition following a string of high-profile legal battles{{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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215637/http://sydney.edu.au/law/slr/docs_pdfs/editions/slr_v24_n4_bhc.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2014 |url-status=dead }} against the National Rugby League and News Limited.See [https://books.google.com/books?id=Dt_XdDY-VbMC&dq=south+sydney+Rabbitohs&pg=PA227 "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 – via Google Books 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,See [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/federal_ct/2001/862.html 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. South Sydney won readmission into the premiership for the 2002 season.David Shilburu (2003). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_KSvEkUUNIC&dq=rabbitohs&pg=PA150 "The Souths' Revival"], page 150 of Strategic Sports Marketing by David Shilbury, Shayne Quick and Hans Westerbeek, Allen & Unwin, 2003

After being readmitted, South Sydney were initially unsuccessful in the premiership, finishing amongst the bottom three teams for five seasons straight including three wooden spoons. Following this, the club was taken over by actor Russell Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes à Court in 2006.[http://www.southsydneystory.com/Documentary/Episode-2.html "Episode 2 – What happened at the Handover Ceremony?"] South Sydney Story. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719143210/http://www.southsydneystory.com/Documentary/Episode-2.html |date=19 July 2008 }} In the 2007 season South Sydney played in its first finals campaign since 1989.{{Cite web |title=2007 NRL Premiership Round 25 - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters |url=http://www.ssralmanac.com/mobile/2007/news_20070901.htm |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=www.ssralmanac.com}}

File:Broncos vs Rabbitohs 01.jpg

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.{{cite news |agency=AAP |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=Richardson quits as Souths CEO |url=http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/richardson-quits-as-souths-ceo/2007/10/31/1193618941602.html |access-date=9 September 2008 |date=31 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424062351/http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/richardson-quits-as-souths-ceo/2007/10/31/1193618941602.html |archive-date=24 April 2008 }}{{cite news|publisher=South Sydney Rabbitohs|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 |access-date=26 May 2014|date=2 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225063516/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Rabbitohs-Elevate-Internal-Staff-in-Management-Restructure.html|archive-date=25 February 2012}} Reports suggested that Holmes à Court had been forced to stand down after his relationship with Russell Crowe had deteriorated beyond repair.{{cite news|author1=Phil Rothfield|author2=Rebecca Wilson|work=The Sunday Telegraph|title=Holmes a Court to quit Souths|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/holmes-a-court-to-quit-souths/story-e6frfkp9-1111116367302|access-date=26 May 2014|date=18 May 2008|archive-date=27 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527220036/http://www.news.com.au/national/holmes-a-court-to-quit-souths/story-e6frfkp9-1111116367302|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|author=Josh Massoud|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=How Souths drowned in latte and largesse |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/how-souths-drowned-in-latte-and-largesse/story-e6freuy9-1111116449716 |access-date=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008}}{{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 |access-date=26 May 2014|date=28 May 2008}}{{cite news|author=Josh Massoud|work=Courier Mail|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|access-date=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008|archive-date=27 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215633/http://www.news.com.au/news/crowe-dumps-holmes-a-court/story-fna7dq6e-1111116452894|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|author=Ray Chesterton|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Crowe's company ruined Souths|url=http://www.news.com.au/opinion/crowes-company-ruined-souths/story-e6frfs99-1111116453146|access-date=26 May 2014|date=27 May 2008|archive-date=27 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215529/http://www.news.com.au/opinion/crowes-company-ruined-souths/story-e6frfs99-1111116453146|url-status=dead}}

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The South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrated its centenary year during the 2008 National Rugby League season. That year the club 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.{{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|access-date=26 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403191336/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Pride-of-the-League-Honoured-by-the-National-Trust.html|archive-date=3 April 2012|date=3 September 2008}}

The arrival of Sam Burgess and Greg Inglis to the club in the early 2010s saw South Sydney qualify for the finals. In April 2011, Souths announced Michael Maguire would replace retiring coach John Lang for the 2012 season, signing as head coach on a three-year deal.{{Cite news|date=2011-04-15|title=Maguire announced as Rabbitohs coach|language=en-AU|publisher=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-16/maguire-announced-as-rabbitohs-coach/2612518|access-date=2021-10-13}}

Following consecutive preliminary final exits in 2012 and 2013, it defeated the Sydney Roosters in the 2014 preliminary final to advance to its first grand final since the successful 1971 campaign.

Following a slim 6–0 lead in the first half of the 2014 grand final, Souths scored four second half tries to defeat Canterbury 30–6. This was South Sydney's first premiership win in 43 years.{{Cite web |date=2014-10-05 |title=Rabbitohs break long drought with fairytale win |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2014/10/05/rabbitohs-break-long-drought-with-fairytale-win/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}} Sam Burgess received the Clive Churchill medal despite playing the entire match with a fractured cheekbone, suffered from a head clash during the first tackle of the match.{{Cite web |last=Chammas |first=Michael |date=2014-10-05 |title=Clive Churchill Medal 2014: Sam Burgess lost for words after galvanising display recognised |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/clive-churchill-medal-2014-sam-burgess-lost-for-words-after-galvanising-display-recognised-20141005-10qn3p.html |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Following the premiership victory, South Sydney 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 Consolidated Press Holdings.{{cite news|author=Dean Ritchie|date=24 October 2014|title=Peter Holmes a Court reveals his reasons for selling his South Sydney stake, while James Packer plans for a big future|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|publication-place=Sydney, New South Wales|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|access-date=31 October 2014}}

After elimination early in the 2015 finals series,{{cite news|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|newspaper=ABC News|date=13 September 2015|access-date=15 June 2018}} a nine-game winning streak in 2018 saw South Sydney return to premiership contention.{{Cite web |date=2018-11-17 |title=Rabbitohs: 2018 season by the numbers |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/11/17/south-sydney-rabbitohs-2018-season-by-the-numbers/ |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}} This season marked the start of five consecutive preliminary finals appearances in the late 2010s and early 2020s. After losses in consecutive years to the Sydney Roosters, Canberra,{{Cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=2019-09-27 |title=Canberra Raiders end 25-year wait to reach NRL grand final with victory over Rabbitohs |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/27/canberra-raiders-end-25-year-wait-to-reach-nrl-grand-final-with-victory-over-rabbitohs |access-date=2023-10-24 |issn=0261-3077}} and Penrith,{{Cite news |date=2020-10-17 |title=Penrith reach first NRL grand final since 2003 with thrilling win over South Sydney |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-17/nrl-preliminary-final-penrith-panthers-south-sydney-scorecentre/12774550 |access-date=2023-10-24}} Souths defeated Manly in 2021 to advance to the grand final against Penrith.

With the game poised at 8–8 in the second half, Cody Walker threw a pass that was intercepted by Panthers winger Stephen Crichton who scored untouched. Souths scored in the final five minutes of the match, but halfback Adam Reynolds missed the conversion from the sideline and a subsequent field-goal attempt, either of which would have seen the game tied. Penrith won the game 14–12.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-03 |title=2021 NRL Grand Final as it happened |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nrl/story/_/id/32316551/2021-nrl-grand-final-penrith-panthers-south-sydney-rabbitohs-happened |access-date=2023-10-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Penrith would also defeat South Sydney in the 2022 preliminary final, ending Souths' season for the third year in a row.{{Cite news |date=2022-09-24 |title=Panthers book date with Eels in NRL grand final |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-24/nrl-penrith-panthers-defeats-south-sydney-rabbitohs/101470088 |access-date=2023-10-24}}

Prior to the 2022 season, Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes became a partial owner of the Rabbitohs by buying one third of the management firm alongside Crowe and Packer. Together, these three own 75% of the Rabbitohs; the remaining 25% of the club is owned by fans.{{Cite news |date=2021-11-15 |title=Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes buys stake in Rabbitohs |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-15/mike-cannon-brookes-buys-rabbitohs-share/100620432 |access-date=2023-05-08}}

Despite sitting 2nd at the midway point of 2023, Souths only won four of their remaining thirteen fixtures to miss the finals series.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-south-sydney-rabbitohs-latrell-mitchell-changing-position-centres-halves-fullback-jack-wighton-sam-burgess-2024-jason-demetriou/news-story/d7c72c901f9e61a0b76b55f9162b64cd/|title='Absolute madness': Potential Latrell switch slammed as a 'band aid' for broken Bunnies|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=5 September 2023 }}

South Sydney started the 2024 NRL season poorly winning only one game from their opening seven matches. On 30 April 2024, head coach Jason Demetriou was sacked by the club with Ben Hornby replacing him as interim head coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/apr/30/jason-demetriou-oversaw-south-sydneys-steep-decline-his-sacking-can-start-the-reversal/|title=Jason Demetriou oversaw South Sydney’s steep decline. His sacking can start the reversal|website=www.theguardian.com}} South Sydney would finish the 2024 NRL season in 16th place on the table managing only eight wins all year.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-south-sydney-rabbitohs-season-review-latrell-mitchell-20240907-p5k8qx.html/|title=The Mole's end of season review: What went wrong at the South Sydney Rabbitohs?|website=www.nine.com.au}}

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,{{cite news|newspaper=Evening News|publication-place=Sydney, NSW|date=14 June 1904|page=4|title=Bunny}} so named because they would shout "rabbit-oh!" around the markets and suburbs 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.See the comments of ABC radio reporter Joe O'Brien from the transcript of the ABC PM radio program [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s324987.htm "Rabbitohs continue historic form"], broadcast on Friday, 6 July 2001. 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. 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".[http://www.rl1908.com/clubcomps/origins.htm "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 }}

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 its 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 the logo by removing the red and green oval from the emblem for a solid white rabbit with the words South Sydney Rabbitohs set in uppercase type.

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 its jerseys. 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.[http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/memorabilia.html#Scene_1 South Sydney traditional jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194340/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/memorabilia.html#Scene_1 |date=2 November 2013 }} from the official South Sydney website. 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"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. 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.[http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/Mens-Apparel/Jerseys/2009-Home-Jersey.html#Scene_1 South Sydney 2009 home jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194412/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/Mens-Apparel/Jerseys/2009-Home-Jersey.html#Scene_1 |date=2 November 2013 }} from the official South Sydney website. For season 2009, the rabbit emblem is black for home matches whilst the emblem is the original white for away matches.[http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/Mens-Apparel/Jerseys/2009-Away-Jersey-.html#Scene_1 South Sydney 2009 alternate (away) jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194418/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Shop/Mens-Apparel/Jerseys/2009-Away-Jersey-.html#Scene_1 |date=2 November 2013 }} from the official South Sydney website.

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 the 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 the jersey.

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1908.png|1908

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1930.png|1909–1944, 1947–1958

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1945.png|1945–1946

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1959.png|1959–1964

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1965.png|1965–1974

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1975.png|1975–1976

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1977.png|1977–1979

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1980.png|1980–1984

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1985.png|1985–1993

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1994.png|1994–1996

Image:South Sydney Jersey 1997.png|1997–1999

The South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club (precursor 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, Waterloo, Redfern and Darlington and the southern parts of the City of Sydney.

Souths have a proud history of Indigenous players from the local district clubs including La Perouse United, Redfern All Blacks and Indigenous recruits from Country NSW.

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 its 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.[https://www.angelfire.com/nb/coop/zSOUTH_SYDNEY.htm South Sydney] Co-op. In 1947 the club played its final season at the Sports Ground, before relocating to Redfern Oval in 1948.[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/redfern.html Redfern Oval] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016064538/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/redfern.html |date=16 October 2013 }} from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html 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 }} It was here that team played in the heart of the club's territory and played the vast majority of its allocated home matches.

File:Panorama-TelstraStadium-Oct2005.jpg, the Rabbitohs current home ground.]]

In 1988, the club began to play in the Sydney Football Stadium,[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/s.f.s..html Sydney Football Stadium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006191639/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/venues/s.f.s..html |date=6 October 2014 }} from the [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html 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 }} 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 Stadium Australia. Eventually the decision was made to relocate to Stadium Australia at Sydney Olympic Park. The move was generally not well received by the fans,{{cite news |author=Greg Prichard |newspaper=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}}{{cite news|work=One Sport|publisher=TVNZ |title=Rabbitohs secure new home ground |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/479780/2422021.html|date=16 March 2005|access-date=26 March 2014}} but provided considerably more income for the club, which was several million dollars in the red at the end of 2005.{{cite news |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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120111644/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/02/12/1568008.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2010}} In 2008, the club renewed its partnership with Stadium Australia to play NRL home games and home finals at the venue for the next 10 years.

File:Redfern Oval RTR 2009.jpg, Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers pre-season trial game, 8 February 2009.]]During 2008, the City of Sydney Council{{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 |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824011340/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/CityImprovements/RedfernParkUpgrade.asp |archive-date=24 August 2006}} completed a $19.5 million upgrade and renovation of Redfern Oval. From season 2009, the upgraded Redfern Oval provided the Rabbitohs with training facilities and a venue for hosting pre-season and exhibition matches.

In 2023, the Rabbitohs relocated its headquarters and first team training facilities from Redfern Oval to the Heffron Centre,{{cite news |author=Christian Nicolussi |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald (smh.com.au) |title=So long, old girl: Rabbitohs train at Redfern for last time |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/so-long-old-girl-rabbitohs-train-at-redfern-for-last-time-20230412-p5czuf.html |date=12 April 2023}} a $58M community sporting complex in Maroubra owned by Randwick City Council.{{cite web |url=https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/planning-and-building/council-works-and-upgrades/major-projects/the-heffron-centre |title=The Heffron Centre |publisher=Randwick City Council |date=18 April 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023}} The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ $26M Community and High Performance Centre provides training facilities for the NRL, Women’s and NSW Cup teams, as well as facilities for the administrative, commercial and Souths Cares staff members.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs continue to have a large supporter base in its 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.{{cite web|title=Supporter Groups|work=NRL CLUBS |url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/about/supporter-groups.html|publisher=South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club|access-date=26 May 2014}} The official South Sydney supporter group is known as "The Burrow".{{cite web|url=http://www.theburrow.com.au/about_us.html|title=About us|work=theburrow.com.au|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109060932/http://www.theburrow.com.au/about_us.html|archive-date=9 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

South Sydney at one stage had the highest football club membership in the National Rugby League, with membership exceeding 35,000 as of June 23, 2015. That member number also included more than 11,000 ticketed members, the highest of the Sydney-based NRL clubs. Following the conclusion of the 2021 NRL season, new figures showed South Sydney to have the second highest membership of Sydney NRL clubs behind Parramatta.{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2021/09/02/parramatta-eels-membership-breaks-all-time-record/#:~:text=The%20Parramatta%20Eels%20would%20like,league%20and%20in%20Western%20Sydney./|title=Eels membership breaks all time record|website=www.parraeels.com.au| date=2 September 2021 }}

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 had members from every state in Australia and international members in 22 countries. Football club membership peaked at some 22,000 when the club was re-admitted to the National Rugby League for season 2002.{{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 |access-date=12 November 2011}}

"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.[http://www.abc.net.au/austory/series4/9932text.htm "Mission Impossible"] 23 September 1999 Australian Story archives at abc.net.au Members include Anthony Albanese, Laurie Brereton, Michael Cheika, Rodger Corser, Michael Daley, Andrew Denton, Cathy Freeman, Nick Greiner, Deirdre Grusovin, Ron Hoenig, Ray Martin, Mikey Robins, and Mike Whitney.{{Cite news |author-link=Kip Gamblin

| last = Gamblin

| first = Kip

| title = Souths power bloc backs Crowe bid

| work = The Sydney Morning Herald

| 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

| access-date =5 October 2010}}{{Cite news

| last = Walter

| first = Brad

| title = Souths support group enters Crowe fray

| work = The Sydney Morning Herald

| place = Australia

| 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

| access-date =5 October 2010}} 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[http://www.api-network.com/main/index.php?apply=scholars&webpage=default&flexedit=&flex_password=&menu_label=&menuID=76&menubox=&scholar=131 Reclaiming the Game: Fandom, Community and Globalisation], by Michael Moller, from the APINetwork website. attend a rally in the Sydney CBD in support of South Sydney's cause.[https://web.archive.org/web/20011004131430/http://www.abc.net.au/austory/transcripts/s336534.htm In George We Trust], produced by Helen Grasswill, Australian Story transcript, 2 August 2001, from the ABC website.See the chapters Reclaim the Game and Taking it to the Streets in Mark Courtney's Moving the Goalposts, Halstead Press, 2000. In 2000 and 2001, public street marches took place in Sydney with in excess of 80,000 people rallying behind the Rabbitohs. The club also has a number of high-profile supporters as well, many of whom were dominant figures in Souths' battle to be readmitted into the premiership in 2000 and 2001.See [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Media/docs/Corporate-Brochure2009-FA-LR-cc110f55-0112-49bd-901c-50631bdfb578.pdf 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 }}{{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 |access-date=12 November 2011}} 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.{{cite press release|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)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403183357/http://rleague.com/content/article.php?id=29705|archive-date=3 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}

In 2023, 31st Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, a lifelong South Sydney supporter, was named the club’s number one ticket-holder.{{cite web | url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/cronulla-sharks-consider-revoking-scott-morrisons-no-1-ticketholder-status-amid-robodebt-scandal/news-story/59d25a6450701ae4cb517e99653cacfe# | title=Cronulla Sharks consider revoking Scott Morrison's No. 1 ticketholder status amid Robodebt scandal | date=10 July 2023 }}

Reggie the Rabbit is the Rabbitohs' mascot. The mascot first appeared in lifesize form in 1968 after celebrity fan Don Lane brought back a suit from the US in time for the 1968 grand final against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, won by the Rabbitohs 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 New Zealander from a touring production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, the same troupe that had yielded the second Reggie, Roscoe Bova, killed in a car accident in the early 1970s. Most teams in the National Rugby League maintain mascots. 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.{{Cite web |title=Time Out | Best Things to do and Events in Cities Worldwide |url=http://www.au.timeout.com/Sydney/the-bridge/features/1377/19-reggie-the-rabbit}}{{Cite web |date=30 September 2013 |title=Reggie the Rabbit: The Rabbitohs 18th Man and the Most Famous Bunny in Australia! |url=http://www.travelingwithjared.com/2013/09/30/reggie-the-rabbit-the-rabbitohs-18th-man-and-the-most-famous-bunny-in-australia/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150204121300/http://www.travelingwithjared.com/2013/09/30/reggie-the-rabbit-the-rabbitohs-18th-man-and-the-most-famous-bunny-in-australia/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 February 2015}}{{Cite web |date=26 September 2013 |title=Masked or not, he's a devoted Rabbitoh |url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/masked-or-not-hes-a-devoted-rabbitoh-20130926-2ugzx.html}}{{cite web |title=Sport in Sydney - Sydney Outdoor activities |url=http://www.au.timeout.com/Sydney/the-bridge/features/1377/19-reggie-the-rabbit |url-status=dead |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 |access-date=14 May 2015 |work=Time Out Sydney |df=dmy-all}}

Charlie Gallico has been South Sydney's Reggie Rabbit since 2002,{{cite web | url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/charlie-rabbit-the-movie#:~:text=The%20man%2C%20the%20Rabbit%20and,will%20always%20last%20a%20lifetime | title=Charlie Rabbit - the Movie – South Sydney Rabbitohs }}

File:1 Souths Juniors Sydney1.JPG in Kingsford|207x207px]]

The Juniors aka Souths Juniors on Anzac Parade in Kingsford, New South Wales has been the club's leagues club since the old Souths Leagues closed in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.thejuniors.com.au/|title=The Juniors|work=thejuniors.com.au|access-date=14 May 2015}}{{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 |access-date=14 May 2015}}{{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 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118215129/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/promises-come-to-nought-as-souths-leagues-shuts-with-debts-of-55m/story-e6frexqr-1226605802512?nk=7c249bf49ac3d4fddd8af453efa2d14e |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2015 |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 |access-date=14 May 2015 }} The club is owned by the South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League.

Juniors @ The Junction (Since 2009) – The result of a merger with South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club (Kingsford) and the struggling Maroubra Returned and Services League (RSL) Club. The club is on the site of the former Maroubra RSL club on Anzac Parade and Haig Street.{{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}}

The Juniors on Hawkesbury (Since 2008) – in the Hawkesbury River{{cite web|url=https://www.thejuniors.com.au/shop/item/juniors-on-hawkesbury|title=Juniors On Hawkesbury|website=Thejuniors.com.au|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=17 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317072156/http://www.thejuniors.com.au/shop/item/juniors-on-hawkesbury|url-status=dead}}

The South Sydney Leagues Club, colloquially known as Souths Leagues, was the club's official leagues club. The club closed in 2013 after being placed into administration with large debts.

In 1999 Russell Crowe bought the foundation bell at the Red and Green Ball for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/fifteen-years-after-russell-crowe-paid-42000-the-foundation-bell-will-be-rung-again-at-the-grand-final/news-story/4445efc705c4e4ca4859a9921318830b|title=Finally, foundation bell will ring again|website=Daily Telegraph |first=David|last=Riccio|date=4 October 2014|access-date=27 November 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/you-re-still-the-prince-of-redfern-crowe-anoints-luke-as-grand-final-bell-ringer-20210929-p58vsq.html |title=You're still the prince of Redfern: Crowe anoints Luke as grand final bell ringer |date=29 September 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/29/mccarthy-rings-foundation-bell-before-2014-grand-final/ |title=McCarthy rings foundation bell before 2014 grand final|date=29 September 2021 }}

The club's most well known song is played when the team runs out for home games and after victories at home. Originally recorded in 1967 by the Will Dower Sounds as "South's Victory Song" [sic], "Glory, Glory to South Sydney" is one of the best-known NRL team songs, prominently featuring in promotional materials, merchandise and even the #GGTSS hashtag.

The original version was written when there were 10 clubs in the NSWRFL premiership, and predates the admission of Penrith and Cronulla-Sutherland for the 1967 season, despite its release date.

The song is likely to have been inspired by Glory Glory (football chant), sharing Battle Hymn of the Republic's tune and coincided with the club's most recent "golden era". While the NSWRFL premiership had been won for 11 consecutive seasons by the St. George Dragons, the Rabbitohs had a strong team and won the 1967 NSWRFL premiership, going back-to-back in 1968 and winning all but one Grand Final between then and 1971.

The song was heavily played and featured in the club's "fightback" effort when Souths were excluded from the 14-team NRL seasons in 2000 and 2001. In 2004, Allan Caswell wrote an updated and modernised version, referencing the 15 teams in the NRL Telstra Premiership at the time, which was played at home games for several years before being replaced by the original.

Somewhat controversially, whilst sponsored by Real Insurance in 2005 and 2006, the club made its entrance to a version of The Real Thing as a tie-in. Upon the expiration of the deal, the club reverted to "Glory Glory", but this time a modernised pop version incorporating only the chorus and "South Sydney" chant sung by a female vocalist.

As of 2023, the original 1967 version is used officially by the club and featured at the club's 2014 and 2021 Grand Final appearances.

The Rabbitohs' victory song (also known as the "player's song") appears to be of pre-WWII origin, but awareness has grown over the years and especially around the passing of club legend John Sattler, whose performances of the song around the club's 2014 and 2021 NRL Grand Final in various media have become somewhat iconic within the South Sydney community and were played after the club's win the week after his passing.

The lyrics have varied over the year in a form of Oral tradition - the current version sung by the players after a win only features the first verse/stanza, preceded recently (in 2023) by a player or special guest calling out "If You're Happy and You Know It", responded en masse with claps.

The tune of the song differs by segment - the main part as still sung, according to John Sattler's version, is based on the melody of The Stars and Stripes Forever.

The Burrow (supporters' group) began singing a chant to the tune of Take Me Home, Country Roads during the club's resurgence in the 2010s, generally reserving this chant for when victory was assured within 5 minutes of full time.

Flags, banners and scarves bearing Botany Road are found throughout South Sydney's supporters at games, referencing the eponymous road that runs through the heart of the South Sydney geographical area.

The song is now an iconic part of the Rabbitohs fan experience, especially during rivalry and Finals Series games. The early repetitions are normally sung at a slow and deliberate pace a capella, with the pace increasing closer to full time and supporters clapping along as the time runs down.

The Burrow have numerous Football chants, both in support of the club and its players as well as against rivals. Some of the most prominent songs and chants, as found in their songbooks, include "South Sydney 'Til I Die", "Rabbitohs", the aforementioned "Botany Road" and several player-based songs, including a version of Whole Again in appreciation of Damien Cook.

The Burrow also gather in their bay to sing their own version of Under the Southern Cross I Stand after Rabbitohs victories, adapted from the Australian national cricket team.

During the club's exile, numerous supporters of the club contributed songs to raise awareness of their plight and to serve as a fundraiser through the sale of "The Glory of South Sydney"[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMT3hORCYjLL1ce46gnq9J90uQt_XIv0R] CD and VHS.

Allan Caswell and Mark Egan penned "Souths Can Stand Alone", which was performed at several fundraisers and protests. The song claims "if they dump South Sydney, they're dumping Rugby League" and thanks George Piggins for his efforts. A music video featuring a montage of South Sydney moments and heroes was included on the VHS version.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2XCQdziVA]

Caswell himself became a prominent figure in the campaign, creating several satirical or parody versions of well-known songs, including the club's own "Glory Glory", in protest of News Corp Australia and the National Rugby League's decision to exclude South Sydney from the 2000 and future seasons.

Other contributions included "Glory in their Eyes", a song by John Maclean that touches on the long period since Souths' last premiership and the struggle of long-time Souths supporters having to accept the loss of their club, "Rabbitohs" by Daniel Lissing which concludes with the line "South Sydney marches on" in defiance of the club's exclusion, as well as "Calling All Rabbits" which was constructed from commentary and news soundbytes relating to famous moments on-field, the fight to remain in and return to NRL competition and the like.

One of the more famous South Sydney inspired songs in recent years is "The Day John Sattler Broke His Jaw"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6OuMgCQpQI] by Perry Keyes and later covered by The Whitlams and the Black Stump Band, referencing not only the famous heroics of John Sattler in the 1970 Grand Final, but also life in 1970s Australia and inner-city Sydney. The song's chorus incorporates Frank Hyde's famous "if it's high enough, if it's long enough, it's straight between the posts" commentary.

A Rabbitohs fan covered Eddie Vedder's song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emc9ZClofL8 All the Way], adapting the original's references to the Chicago Cubs' century-long struggle to win its next World Series to South Sydney's exclusion and long premiership drought, and the ending of that drought in 2014. The Cubs would win its first World Series since 1908 (also the year Souths participated and won in the inaugural NSWRFL competition) in 2016.

Several supporters have written songs of their own, occasionally garnering some interest within the community.

Pre-game, Souths often have a hype package put together as well as team lineups presented to music. Previous choices for these have included Cochise, Kryptonite and Hail to the King, often interpolated with the "South Sydney" chant just prior to the entrance of the players.

A book, The Book of Feuds, chronicling the rivalries of the Rabbitohs with its 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.[http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/bitter-feud-to-get-public-airing/2007/09/01/1188067436982.html "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 }}

15px Sydney Roosters – South Sydney and its fans have built up rivalries with other clubs, particularly the Sydney Roosters (Eastern Suburbs), the only other remaining foundation club.{{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 |access-date=12 November 2011}} While South Sydney were historically strongly working class, the Roosters were viewed by South’s supporters as ‘Silvertails’ - supported by upper class folk from Sydney’s Eastern suburbs.

South Sydney and the Roosters share inner-Sydney territory, resulting in a strong rivalry since 1908 when Souths beat Eastern Suburbs in the first grand final 14–12. Games between the neighbouring foundation clubs have since formed part of the oldest "local derby" in the competition.{{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 |access-date=12 November 2011}}

The rivalry increased further after 1950 due to conflict between junior territories and since the 1970s escalated once more as both clubs drew key players away from each other (Souths lost internationals Ron Coote, Elwyn Walters and Jim Morgan to Eastern Suburbs from its last era of premiership winning teams, whilst more recently Souths lured key forwards Bryan Fletcher, Peter Cusack and centre Shannon Hegarty away from the Roosters 2002 premiership winning side) and later Michael Crocker. Other players to run out for both clubs include Ashley Harrison, Luke Keary, Angus Crichton, Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Latrell Mitchell. In round 1, 2010, South Sydney and Roosters became the first clubs to play 200 matches against each other. The Sydney Roosters 36–10 victory put the ledger at 105 games won by South Sydney, 90 by the Roosters (Eastern Suburbs) and 5 drawn.[http://www.theburrow.net.au/burrow-songs-burrowinfo-61/2009/02title=Rabbitohs Sign Craig Wing for Four Years]{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Burrow, 25 June 2007

In 2014, Souths defeated the Sydney Roosters in the preliminary final to reach its first grand final in 43 years. In 2018, the Sydney Roosters defeated Souths 12–4 in the preliminary final at Allianz Stadium which was the last game to be played at the venue. The crowd of 44,380 was also a ground record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/22/nrl-roosters-beat-rabbitohs-to-reach-the-grand-final-against-melbourne|title=NRL: Roosters beat Rabbitohs to reach the grand final against Melbourne|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=2018-09-22|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-09-29}} In 2019, the two clubs met in the qualifying final which was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. South Sydney had beaten the Sydney Roosters only a week prior in the final game of the regular season but in the qualifying final, the Sydney Roosters won the match 30–6 in a dominant display.

In 2020, the Sydney Roosters managed to record a victory over South Sydney 28–12 in round 3. In the final round of the 2020 NRL season, Souths defeated the Sydney Roosters 60–8. This was the biggest win South Sydney had ever recorded over its rivals eclipsing the previous score set in 1952 when Souths defeated Eastern Suburbs 52–0.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-13/nrl-qualifying-final-roosters-beat-rabbitohs/11505010/|title=Sydney Roosters thrash Rabbitohs 30-6 in NRL qualifying final at SCG|newspaper=ABC News|date=13 September 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/09/25/high-five-johnston-and-walker-demolish-out-of-sorts-roosters/|title=Johnston and Walker combine to demolish Roosters|website=www.nrl.com|date=25 September 2020 }}

In 2022, South Sydney had declared the club wanted to leave Stadium Australia and make the new Sydney Football Stadium as their home ground. Roosters CEO Nick Politis said to Fox Sports “I’ve heard other people say they want to play there because it’s their home, The point is we’ve been there since 1928. We started with the old sports ground and then 30 years with the old [Sydney Football] Stadium, Nobody else has played there. For another club to say we want to go there because it’s our home, it’s not their home. The Roosters are the only people that belong there. It’s our true home and it’s very sacred". Despite Politis' claims, the South Sydney club had used the Sydney Sports Ground as a home ground before Eastern Suburbs and the two clubs often ground shared for the first 30 years of its existence at the venue.{{cite web|url= |title='It's our home': Roosters supremo's blunt message to cross-town rivals ahead of blockbuster clash|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}

In the 2022 elimination final between the South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters, seven players were sin binned, setting a record for the most in an NRL-era game.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-sin-bin-punch-sydney-roosters-victor-radley-south-sydney-rabbitohs-taane-milne-thomas-burgess-ashley-klein-video-high-tackle/news-story/769cf6e583f605ae656c0617f5064469/|title=SEVEN players binned in historic first after Roosters-Rabbitohs clash explodes|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=13 September 2022 }}

In the last round of the 2023 NRL season, the Sydney Roosters defeated South Sydney 26–12 to end their season and deny them a finals spot. Before the match started both sides knew whoever lost the game would miss out on the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/09/01/roosters-keep-finals-hopes-alive-with-big-win-over-bunnies/|title=Roosters keep finals hopes alive with big win over Bunnies|website=www.nrl.com|date=September 2023 }}

In round 3 of the 2024 NRL season, the Sydney Roosters recorded their second biggest win over South Sydney since 1908 beating them 48-6.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/news/nrl-2024-sydney-roosters-v-south-sydney-rabbitohs-live-blog-teams-video-jason-demetriou-lachlan-ilias-dean-hawkins/news-story/c45c44656145dd4aa519f97de60f713a/|title=Souths set for serious 'soul-searching' as Roosters stars run riot in 'total domination': Big hits|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=22 March 2024 }}

To celebrate the rivalry, South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters play for the Ron Coote Cup annually.{{cite news

| last = Monahan

| first = Jeremy

| title = The rivalry between South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters is legendary

| work = Southern Courier

| place =Australia

| 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/

| access-date =11 March 2010}}

15px St George Dragons and St George Illawarra Dragons – The long-standing rivalry against St. George results in the annual Charity Shield match, originally played against the original St. George Dragons and now (since the joint venture formed with Illawarra Steelers) played against the current team, St. George Illawarra.

South Sydney and St. George have met several times in grand finals prior to the joint-venture and being the north-eastern neighbours of St. George, had many fierce encounters. In 2001, South Sydney chairman and club legend George Piggins said there would be no chance of the Charity Shield being revived if Souths were to be included back into the NRL saying "The Dragons: They sold us out". This was in reference to St. George signing an affidavit at the time which included that it would be detrimental if Souths were returned to the competition.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-14 |title=January 14: Birth of the Bluebags; Widdop becomes Dragons skipper |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/14/january-14-birth-of-the-bluebags-widdop-becomes-dragons-skipper/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225142842/https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/01/14/january-14-birth-of-the-bluebags-widdop-becomes-dragons-skipper/ |archive-date=2021-02-25 |access-date=2021-07-15 |publisher=National Rugby League}}

15px Balmain Tigers – From 1908–1999, South Sydney had a fierce rivalry with Balmain. The rivalry with Balmain began in 1909 when both teams agreed to boycott the final which was being held as curtain raiser to a Kangaroos v Wallabies match. As agreed, Balmain did not turn up. However, Souths did turn up and were officially awarded the Premiership when it kicked off to an empty half of the field.

South Sydney would later meet Balmain in the 1916 premiership final which Balmain won 5–3. In 1924, Balmain and Souths met in the grand final which is also the lowest scoring grand final in NSWRL/NRL History. Balmain ran out 3-0 winners with the match only seeing one try.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/29/july-29-gerard-first-to-300-joey-smashes-record-taylor-passes-halligan/|title=Gerard first to 300; Joey smashes record; Taylor passes Halligan|website=NRL|date=28 July 2021 }}

In 1939, Balmain and Souths met once more in the grand final with Balmain winning 33–4. In the 1969 NSWRFL season enmity was again fueled between the clubs with Balmain's controversial{{NoteTag|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 [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive.html#Scene_1 1969 season summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102194339/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Season-Archive.html#Scene_1 |date=2 November 2013 }} from the official South Sydney website.}} victory against South Sydney in the grand final that year.{{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 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=12 November 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-have-century-old-axe-to-grind-20090510-gdtiup.html/|title=Tigers have century-old axe to grind|website=www.smh.com.au|date=10 May 2009 }}

15px Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – South Sydney first met Manly-Warringah in the 1951 NSWRFL season's Grand Final. South Sydney would win the match 42-14 which as of 2022 is the highest scoring grand final in NSWRL/NRL history. Souths would then meet in the 1968 and 1970 grand finals which South Sydney both won.

Manly have, since 1970, purchased many of Souths' star players including John O'Neill, Ray Branighan, Ian Roberts,{{NoteTag|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.}} and more recently Dylan Walker.{{cite web |url=http://www.nrl.com/manly-sign-luke-burgess/tabid/10874/newsid/83473/default.aspx |title=Manly sign Luke Burgess |publisher=National Rugby League |date=21 January 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015 }}

15px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs – A more recent feud that primarily developed in the years 2014 and 2015, following the 2014 NRL Grand Final and a controversial Good Friday match. Canterbury were also Grand Finalists in 1967 with South Sydney prevailing 12−10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-and-south-sydney-rabbitohs-rivalry-now-biggest-in-nrl-20150820-gj3afl.html|title=Canterbury Bulldogs and South Sydney Rabbitohs rivalry now biggest in NRL|last=Chammas|first=Michael|date=2015-08-20|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-08-25}} Annually, South Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown compete in the Good Friday game, competing for the Good Friday Cup.

{{South Sydney Rabbitohs current squad}}

{{further|South Sydney Rabbitohs players}}

In 2002 on the Rabbitohs' readmission to the competition, The Magnificent XIII,"The Magnificent XIII" in the article Hall of Fame. In Angus Fontaine (ed.). Souths: The People's Team. ACP Publishing, 2002. 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.

{{Rls

|squadname={{color|white|South Sydney Rabbitohs}} – The Magnificent XIII

|BC1=green

|FC1=white

|BC2=#B50000

|FC2=white

|source=

|date={{date|{{REVISIONTIMESTAMP}}|DMY}}

|column1_title=Starting XIII

|list1a= {{Rls player| no= 1| nat=Australia| pos=FB| name=Clive Churchill|captain=y}}

|list1b= {{Rls player| no= 2| nat=Australia| pos=WG| name=Harold Horder}}

|list1c= {{Rls player| no= 3| nat=Australia| pos=CE| name=Ray Branighan}}

|list1d= {{Rls player| no= 4| nat=Australia| pos=CE| name=Paul Sait}}

|list1e= {{Rls player| no= 5| nat=Australia| pos=WG| name=Ian Moir}}

|list1f= {{Rls player| no= 6| nat=Australia| pos=FE| name=Alf Blair}}

|list1g= {{Rls player| no= 7| nat=Australia| pos=HB| name=Bob Grant}}

|list1h= {{Rls player| no= 8| nat=Australia| pos=PR| name=John Sattler}}

|list1i= {{Rls player| no= 9| nat=Australia| pos=HK| name=George Piggins}}

|list1j= {{Rls player| no=10| nat=Australia| pos=PR| name=John O'Neill}}

|list1k= {{Rls player| no=11| nat=Australia| pos=SR| name=Jack Rayner}}

|list1l= {{Rls player| no=12| nat=Australia| pos=SR| name=Bob McCarthy}}

|list1m= {{Rls player| no=13| nat=Australia| pos=LK| name=Ron Coote}}

|column2_title=Reserves

|list4a= {{Rls player| no=14| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Terry Fahey}}

|list4b= {{Rls player| no=15| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Ziggy Niszczot}}

|list4c= {{Rls player| no=16| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Elwyn Walters}}

|list4d= {{Rls player| no=17| nat=Australia| pos= | name=George Treweek}}

|column3_title=Coaching staff

|coach= Bernie Purcell

}}

The Rabbitohs announced the South Sydney Dream Team at a gala dinner held on 29 July 2004, at the Westin Hotel in Sydney. 17 players were selected in position as well as a coach to represent the South Sydney Football Club from 1908 through to 2004. The team was selected by a group of rugby league experts, historians and by Rabbitohs fans through a public vote.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-23 |title=Dream Team – South Sydney Rabbitohs |url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/dream-team |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Site Name, i.e. Moz |language=en}}

{{Rls

|squadname={{color|white|South Sydney Rabbitohs}} – Dream Team 2004

|BC1=green

|FC1=white

|BC2=#B50000

|FC2=white

|source=

|date=29 July 2004

|column1_title=Starting XIII

|list1a= {{Rls player| no= 1| nat=Australia| pos=FB| name=Clive Churchill}}

|list1b= {{Rls player| no= 2| nat=Australia| pos=WG| name=Harold Horder}}

|list1c= {{Rls player| no= 3| nat=Australia| pos=CE| name=Herb Gilbert}}

|list1d= {{Rls player| no= 4| nat=Australia| pos=CE| name=Paul Sait}}

|list1e= {{Rls player| no= 5| nat=Australia| pos=WG| name=Ian Moir}}

|list1f= {{Rls player| no= 6| nat=Australia| pos=FE| name=Jimmy Lisle}}

|list1g= {{Rls player| no= 7| nat=Australia| pos=HB| name=Bob Grant}}

|list1h= {{Rls player| no= 8| nat=Australia| pos=PR| name=John Sattler|captain=y}}

|list1i= {{Rls player| no= 9| nat=Australia| pos=HK| name=Elwyn Walters}}

|list1j= {{Rls player| no=10| nat=Australia| pos=PR| name=John O'Neill}}

|list1k= {{Rls player| no=11| nat=Australia| pos=SR| name=George Treweek}}

|list1l= {{Rls player| no=12| nat=Australia| pos=SR| name=Bob McCarthy}}

|list1m= {{Rls player| no=13| nat=Australia| pos=LK| name=Ron Coote}}

|column2_title=Reserves

|list4a= {{Rls player| no=14| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Greg Hawick}}

|list4b= {{Rls player| no=15| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Ray Branighan}}

|list4c= {{Rls player| no=16| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Ian Roberts}}

|list4d= {{Rls player| no=17| nat=Australia| pos= | name=Les Cowie}}

|column3_title=Coaching staff

|coach= Jack Rayner

}}

{{further|South Sydney Rabbitohs competition honours}}

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 and Greg Inglis became the first joint winners of the award.{{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|access-date=26 May 2014|date=10 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924083951/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|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}{{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|access-date=15 June 2018}}

{{main|George Piggins Medal}}

The Clive Churchill medal is awarded annually to the player adjudged best on ground in the grand final.

• Clive Churchill (1954)*
• Jack Rayner (1955)*
• Eric Simms (1968)*
• Bob Grant (1970)*
• Ron Coote (1971)*
• Sam Burgess (2014)

* Retrospective medals

Awarded annually to the player of the year over the course of the first grade regular season.

• Robert Laurie (1980)

• Jim Sedaris (1989)
• Chris Sandow (2008)
• Adam Reynolds (2012)
• George Burgess (2013)

• Anthony Seibold (2018)

• Robert Laurie (Five-eighth, 1980)
• Nathan Gibbs (Second row, 1980)
• Mick Pattison (Five-eighth, 1981)
• Ian Roberts (Prop, 1987)
• Phil Blake (Five-eighth, 1989)
• Matt Parsons (Prop, 1999)
• Greg Inglis (Fullback, 2013)
• Sam Burgess (Lock, 2014)
• Damien Cook (Hooker, 2018)
• Cameron Murray (Lock, 2019)
• Cody Walker (Five-eighth, 2021)
• Alex Johnston (Wing, 2022)

• Clive Churchill (1981)
• Ron Coote (2024)

The NRL Hall of Fame recognises the contribution to rugby league in Australia since 1908.

• Clive Churchill (2002)
• Harold Horder (2004)
• Ron Coote (2005)
• George Treweek (2006)
• Harry Wells (2007)
• Cec Blinkhorn (2018)
• Billy Cann (2018)
• Herb Gilbert (2018)
• Howard Hallett (2018)
• Brian Hambly (2018)
• Bob McCarthy (2018)
• John O'Neill (2018)
• John Sattler (2018)
• Benny Wearing (2018)
• Sam Burgess (2024)
• Greg Inglis (2024)
• Benji Marshall (2024)
• Wayne Bennett (2024, coach)

• Nathan Merritt (2006, Ken Irvine Medal)
• Nathan Merritt (2011, Ken Irvine Medal)
• Chris Sandow (2011, top point scorer)
• Greg Inglis (2013, Provan-Summons Medal)
• Damien Cook (2018, Provan-Summons Medal)
• Adam Reynolds (2020, top point scorer)
• Alex Johnston (2020, Ken Irvine Medal)
• Alex Johnston (2021, Ken Irvine Medal)
• Alex Johnston (2022, Ken Irvine Medal)

{{Main list|List of South Sydney Rabbitohs 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 achievements include:

• The Rabbitohs have won the most first grade premierships (21) during the history of elite rugby league competition in Australia,[http://sportsaustralia.com/league/premiers.html List of Australian Rugby League Premiership Winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104055143/http://sportsaustralia.com/league/premiers.html |date=4 November 2013 }} from the Sports Australia website. in addition to the most reserve grade{{NoteTag|name="Premier League"|Up 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.}} premierships (21).
• The club has the distinction of being the only team to win a premiership in its inaugural season (1908).
• The club also has the distinction of scoring the most points (42), most tries (8) and most goals (9) in a grand final, all achieved against Manly in 1951.
• South Sydney's 1925 first grade side is one of six New South Wales sides to ever go through a season undefeated. The club won the premiership in all three grades in 1925, a feat only repeated on three other occasions (Balmain Tigers in 1915 and 1916 and St George Dragons in 1963).
• In 2008, the Rabbitohs equalled the second biggest comeback in Australian Rugby League history. After being down 28–4 after 53 minutes against the North Queensland Cowboys, the Rabbitohs won the match 29–28.

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

• John Sutton holds the record for the most first grade games for the club, having played 336 matches between 2004 and 2019.
• Jack Rayner holds the individual record of the most grand final successes as a captain (5) and coach (5) achieved between 1950 and 1955.
• Adam Reynolds holds the club record for the most points, tallying 1896 points between 2012 and 2021.[http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Club-Records.html Rabbitohs 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.
• Eric Simms scored 265 points on his own for South Sydney in 1969 and this tally remains unsurpassed by any other player at the club.
• Eric Simms still holds a club and competition record for the most goals (112 goals and 19 field goals) in a season, most career field goals (86) and most field goals in a game (5).
• Johnny Graves' tally of 29 points in a match against Eastern Suburbs in 1952 remains the club record for the most individual points in a match. Had this feat been scored as it is today it would have stood at 32 points.
• Alex Johnston is the only player to score 30 tries in a single season in the NRL era. He achieved the feat in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the only player in Australian rugby league history to complete the feat twice.
• During his career Bob McCarthy scored 100 tries for the club, the most by a forward.
• Alex Johnston equalled the South Sydney club record of 5 tries in a 2017 match against Penrith at ANZ Stadium in a 42–14 win, joining greats such as Nathan Merritt, Harold Horder, Johnny Graves and Ian Moir. Johnston went on to score another 5 tries against the Sydney Roosters in a 60–8 win in the final round of the 2020 season.
• Alex Johnston passed Nathan Merritt's all-time try scoring record in Souths win 44–18 against Wests Tigers in round 12 of the 2022 season, with 166 tries as of the end of the 2022 season.

{{Portal bar|New South Wales|Sports}}

• List of teams in the NSWRL/ARL/SL/NRL
• List of rugby league clubs in Australia

{{NoteFoot}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Andrews

| first = Malcolm

| title = The ABC of Rugby League

| year = 2006

| publisher = ABC Books

| location = Australia

| isbn = 978-0-7333-1946-4

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Courtney

| first = Mark

| title = Moving the Goalposts (Out of print)

| year = 2000

| publisher = Halstead Press

| isbn = 1-875684-49-2

}}

• {{cite book

| editor-last = Fontaine

| editor-first = Angus

| author = League Week

| title = Souths The People's Team

| year = 2002

| publisher = ACP Publishing

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Heads

| first = Ian

| title = South Sydney, Pride of the League

| year = 2000

| publisher = Lothian

| isbn = 0-7344-0152-3

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Little

| first = Charles

| title = Through Thick and Thin, The South Sydney Rabbitohs and their Community

| year = 2009

| publisher = Walla Walla Press

| isbn = 978-1-876718-07-7

}}

• {{cite book

| last1 = Piggins

| first1 = George

| last2 = Heads

| first2 = Ian

| title = Never Say Die – The Fight to Save the Rabbitohs (Out of print)

| year = 2002

| publisher = Macmillan

| isbn = 978-0-7329-1105-8

}}

• {{cite book

| last = Ryder

| first = Brad

| title = They Wear the Read and Green

| year = 2009

| publisher = Longueville Books

| isbn = 978-1-920681-47-0

}}

• {{cite book

| last1 = Whiticker

| first1 = Alan

| last2 = Hudson

| first2 = Glen

| title = The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players – South Sydney Rabbitohs

| year = 2005

| publisher = Bas Publishing

| isbn = 1-920910-58-1

}}

• {{cite web

| title = Rabbitohs Club Records

| publisher = South Sydney Rabbitohs

| url = http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Club-Records.html

| access-date = 10 June 2009

}}

• {{cite web

| title=Rugby League Tables and Statistics

| work=The World of Rugby League

| url=http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html

| access-date=5 May 2007

| archive-date=21 August 2007

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821095436/http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html

| url-status=dead

}}

• {{cite web

| title=South Sydney Rabbitohs

| work=South Sydney Rabbitohs Official Website

| url=http://www.rabbitohs.com.au

| access-date=26 May 2014

}}

• {{cite web |title=Sean Fagan's Rugby League History |website=RL1908.com |url=http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |access-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615234902/http://rl1908.com/Clubs/South-Sydney-Rabbitohs.htm |archive-date=15 June 2007 }}
• {{cite web |title=Sydney Olympic Park |website=Sydney Olympic Park Website |url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |access-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716142740/http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/Home_of_sport/home_teams/south_sydney_rabbitohs |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}
• {{cite web

| title = Tom Brock Biography

| publisher = Australian Society for Sports History

| url = http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm

| access-date = 5 May 2007

| archive-date = 15 May 2007

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070515203210/http://www.sporthistory.org/TomBrockbio.htm

| url-status = dead

}}

{{refend}}

• {{Official website|https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/}}

{{South Sydney Rabbitohs}}

{{South Sydney Rabbitohs squad}}

{{NRL}}

{{NSW Cup}}

{{Sydney Sports Teams}}

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1908

Category:National Rugby League clubs

Category:Rugby league teams in Sydney

Category:1908 establishments in Australia

Category:Redfern, New South Wales

Category:Fan-owned football clubs

Category:Russell Crowe