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28 July 2001 Craig Wing has confirmed he will stay with the Sydney Roosters rather than return to South Sydney when the Rabbitohs come back to the National Rugby League next year. Wing has a clause in his three-year contract stating that if the Rabbitohs returned to the NRL, he could rejoin them. But Wing today announced he would be playing with the Roosters next year despite South Sydney being readmitted to the league after being axed at the end of 1999. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2001/news/static/article_1931.asp http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2447041%255E5927,00.html http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010727/aapleague/996210021-4027105286.html http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=15012&category=news http://www.smh.com.au/news/0107/28/sport/sport9.html http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=15012 http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=international_feed/01/07/27/RUGBYL_Aus-Sydney.html 26 July 2001 South Sydney has signed three potential halfbacks but the No.7 the Rabbitohs are most anxious to lay their hands on is Preston Campbell. Souths will be ready to pounce on 24-year-old Sharks halfback if the embattled Northern Eagles collapse and incoming Sharks coach Chris Anderson manages to lure his former Melbourne protege Brett Kimmorley to Cronulla. http://www.nrl.com.au/s2001/news/static/article_1920.asp SOUTH Sydney have revealed their list of "pioneers", the first group of players who will play with the reborn club in 2002. Led by skipper Adam Muir, the first of the Rabbitohs in the 21st century includes the Sharks trio of Damien Mostyn, Luke Stuart and Blaine Stanley. Other players who are confirmed as starters for next year are St George Illawarra's Jamie Fitzgerald, Brett Sheehan and Joel Penny from the Northern Eagles and Wade McKinnon from Parramatta. "We should sign the club agreement with the NRL by the end of next week and then we should be able to sign official contracts with the players," said chief executive Paul Dunn. Dunn also hopes to have finalised 18 of the top 25 players and half the first division squad by the end of next week. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2435780%255E5927,00.html 25 July 2001 South Sydney today announced that Sharks winger Damien Mostyn and Manly first division halfback Brett Sheen would join the club from next season. The pair join Northern Eagles forward Adam Muir who has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs and will be their captain. Souths CEO Paul Dunn today confirmed that the club is close to securing deals with Wade McKinnon from Parramatta along with Jamie Fitzgerald from the Dragons and Sharks pair Luke Stuart and Blaine Stanley. Joel Penny from the Northern Eagles is also likely to join the Rabbitohs. Dunn also confirmed that the club is in discussions with Newcastle prop Glenn Grief and Brisbane hooker Luke Priddis. Priddis was involved in an embaressing situation yesterday in which incorrect reports claimed he would only sign if several contract incentive demands were met. The Rabbitohs are likely to play St George-Illawarra in a first round blockbuster at the Sydney Showground next season. However, it's believed that the Dragons may approach the NRL about making the match a home game for them instead of the Rabbitohs. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#mostyn South Sydney today announced that Sharks winger Damien Mostyn and Manly first division halfback Brett Sheen would join the club from next season. The pair join Northern Eagles forward Adam Muir who has signed a two-year deal with the Rabbitohs and will be their captain. Souths CEO Paul Dunn today confirmed that the club is close to securing deals with Wade McKinnon from Parramatta along with Jamie Fitzgerald from the Dragons and Sharks pair Luke Stuart and Blaine Stanley. Joel Penny from the Northern Eagles is also likely to join the Rabbitohs. Dunn also confirmed that the club is in discussions with Newcastle prop Glenn Grief and Brisbane hooker Luke Priddis. Priddis was involved in an embaressing situation yesterday in which incorrect reports claimed he would only sign if several contract incentive demands were met. The Rabbitohs are likely to play St George-Illawarra in a first round blockbuster at the Sydney Showground next season. However, it's believed that the Dragons may approach the NRL about making the match a home game for them instead of the Rabbitohs. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#gould South Sydney will tomorrow unveil up to 16 players, starting with Northern Eagles second rower Adam Muir, who have agreed terms with the Rabbitohs ahead of their return to the NRL next season. Muir has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to skipper Souths while Newcastle winger Darren Albert has said he is waiting to see who his teammates might be before decided to join the club. Coach Craig Coleman will reveal a handful of other signings, with some "recognisable names" amongst the list, a club spokesman said. http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=14857&category=news South Sydney will tomorrow (Wednesday) unveil up to 16 players, starting with Northern Eagles second rower Adam Muir, who have agreed to terms with the Rabbitohs ahead of their return to the NRL next season. Muir has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal to skipper Souths while Newcastle winger Darren Albert has said he is waiting to see who his teammates might be before decided to join the club. Coach Craig Coleman will reveal a handful of other signings, with some "recognisable names" amongst the list, a club spokesman said. He said up to 16 players had agreed to play for the Rabbitohs next season while the club had been inundated with interest in the junior leagues. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=14857 South Sydney's comeback match against St George Illawarra at the Sydney Cricket Ground could be a Dragons home match if the joint venture has its way. With a 40,000 capacity crowd expected to witness the Rabbitohs' return to the National Rugby League, the gate for the opening-round clash of next year's competition will be worth up to $500,000. St George Illawarra chief executive Peter Doust last night confirmed that his club was seeking to have the fixture awarded as a home game - a move that has angered Souths. http://www.smh.com.au/news/0107/25/sport/sport12.html Souths have officially signed New South Wales' State of Origin player Adam Muir for two seasons. Muir will captain the side. He says he will get less money from Souths, but is excited by the opportunity. "The big thing here is it's going to be great to be part of the next couple of years," he said. "It's going to be a side going places, so it's just going to be a great thing to be a part of." The club has also signed Sharks' players Damien Mostyn, Luke Stuart and Blaine Stanley, Manly first division player Brett Sheehan, Northern Eagles' back Joel Penny, Saint George Illawarra's Jamie Fitzgerald and Parramatta's Wade McKinnon. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2001/07/item20010725175705_1.htm 24 July 2001 New South Wales State of Origin forward Adam Muir has agreed to sign with South Sydney in the first of many signings to be announced this week. Souths will officially confirm the signing tomorrow along with several other new players. Muir will lead the side in its return to the National Rugby League next season. The club is negotiating with Brisbane hooker Luke Priddis who also played Origin for the Blues this year. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2001/07/item20010724112157_1.htm South Sydney have begun recruiting for the 2002 National Rugby League season by signing Adam Muir on a two-year deal. Muir is currently playing with the Northern Eagles but doubts over the club's future has seen them become extremely inactive in the player market. Muir will captain the Rabbitohs next season and his signing is all but certain to attract other off-contract players to the club. Among the players targeted by the Rabbitohs was Brisbane hooker Luke Priddis, but it's believed that contract negotiations have broken down. Priddis is currently earning around $300,000 per season with the Broncos but will be forced to take a massive pay cut if he is to find a club next year. The Broncos have already confirmed that salary cap restrictions will mean they can not keep Priddis, who represented NSW in the State Of Origin this year. The Rabbitohs are believed to be close to signing Sydney Roosters fullback Luke Phillips. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#muir SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS is currently a football club without a football team. In recruiting for a return to the National Rugby League (NRL), the foundation club has decided on a common-sense approach - with problem children, old-timers, and high-rolling recruits absent from their recruitment wishlist. Although the player market is definitely a buyer's market, Souths will seek only a handful of big names, instead concentrating on junior talent. "We're in the process of rebuilding and everyone's got to give us that time," George Piggins, the Souths supremo, said. "We haven't got a lot of money to spend." http://i7sport.com.au/ SOUTH Sydney last night virtually laughed off an audacious wish list from Brisbane and NSW hooker Luke Priddis - including paying his wife's university fees. It appears the Rabbitohs may end negotiations with Priddis. http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2419548%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html 23 July 2001 The South Sydney rugby league club could announce its first signings as early as today as the club continues to prepare fro its return to the National Rugby League (NRL) next season. The club has targeted several leading players, including New South Wales State of Origin forwards Adam Muir and Luke Priddis. Souths cannot officially sign players to contracts until they receive legal documents from the NRL but they can get players to sign a letter of intent to play for Souths. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2001/07/item20010723124546_1.htm SOUTH SYDNEY are expected to kick off a wave of player signings today by securing NSW forward Adam Muir as captain for next season. Souths coach Craig Coleman said the club would announce player signings on a daily basis this week, and the chances of securing Muir as a prize recruit were "very high". "We are very confident with Adam Muir," Coleman said. "We will have some announcements (today) and the next day and the next day after that." While neither Coleman nor Muir's manager Wayne Beavis would confirm the parties had come to terms, the instability of Muir's current club the Northern Eagles has reportedly ensured his future is at Souths. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2407012%255E5927,00.html 22 July 2001 SOUTHS officials believe State of Origin forward Adam Muir will become the club's first official signing, and hope to make it official early this week. And Souths coach Craig Coleman hasn't given up hope of Craig Wing returning to Redfern next year after two seasons with the Roosters. With the Northern Eagles' future to be decided tomorrow night, Souths officials have been locked in talks with Muir's manager Wayne Beavis since the club won re-admittance to the NRL courtesy of a Federal Court ruling. Officially, Souths are saying nothing other than they are in heavy discussions with Muir and his manager. But sources at the club said yesterday the former Test forward was "virtually over the line". Souths coach Craig Coleman admits he has talked with Muir. And he is confident http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2399962%255E5927,00.html 21 July 2001 South Sydney expects to have its first signing wrapped up before the end of the weekend when Northern Eagles forward Adam Muir is announced as the Rabbitohs' 2002 captain. Muir would become the first Eagles player to officially quit the embattled club and the first to sign with the revived Rabbitohs. Souths coach Craig Coleman confirmed Muir would be offered the captaincy and said his NSW State of Origin team-mate, Brisbane hooker Luke Priddis, was next on the Rabbitohs' hit list. "We're seeing Priddis over the weekend," Coleman said. Muir, 29, will likely play out his career with the red and greens. "He's a leader and people enjoy playing with him," Coleman said. "He's an organised bloke and a good club man." http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010720/aapleague/995620790-3826098185.html http://news.ninemsn.com.au/sport/story_3241.asp 20 July 2001 I guess we would all like a dollar for every time in the last fortnight we have heard how good it is for rugby league to have South Sydney back in the competition. There's no doubt that is the case. It's been a long time since we've had such a "feel-good" situation in our game, which has been battered from pillar to post in recent years. The Rabbitohs' return to the fold is positive in many aspects, but one that I feel is especially appropriate is that in the coming months we are going to learn a lesson in how to put together a football team. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/20/league7.html Northern Eagles second-rower Adam Muir is set to captain South Sydney in the Rabbitohs' return season next year. Muir was one of about 30 players from rival sides to attend a "meet and greet" night at South Sydney Leagues Club on Wednesday, and is likely to be announced as the Rabbitohs' first big-name recruit. Souths coach Craig Coleman said last night he was hopeful Muir would sign within the next 48 hours. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/20/league4.html 19 July 2001 South Sydney chief executive Paul Dunn has warned the club against complacency as he sets about ensuring the Rabbitohs' long-term survival in the National Rugby League. Dunn has officially taken over as Souths supremo and said ensuring history didn't repeat itself was the club's top priority. While confirming Souths planned to operate under a full $3.25 million salary cap, Dunn said it was imperative the club was "fiscally responsible". http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010718/aapleague/995453297-2014158848.html Western Suburbs and Balmain are considering legal action over South Sydney's readmission to the National Rugby League. The overwhelming optimism surrounding the Rabbitohs' return to the NRL was interrupted when Wests Tigers issued a statement yesterday saying a 15-team competition could have a "negative financial effect" on teams. There were always fears that a loss to South Sydney in court would leave the NRL open to legal action from the three joint ventures formed on the understanding there would be only 14 teams for six years. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/19/league1.html http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010719/aapleague/995518846-2618056709.html http://i7sport.com.au/ http://www.2ue.com.au/news/index.cfm?group=News&name=Sport&title=Sporting%20News&s_type=aap&article_id=19563 South Sydney president George Piggins has thrown his weight behind a 16-team competition rather than the 15-team format the National Rugby League favours for next season. The current 14-team premiership will expand by one following Souths' readmission to next year's competition after they won a court appeal this month against their exclusion from the NRL at the end of the 1999 season. However, the Northern Eagles - a joint venture between Manly and Norths - are in severe financial difficulty. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/19/league3.html http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010719/aapleague/995492323-403349513.html http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=14569 http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=14569&category=news SOUTH SYDNEY will operate under a full $3.25 million salary cap for the 2002 NRL season. New chief executive Paul Dunn said money wouldn't be a concern for the Rabbitohs when they re-enter the premiership fold after two seasons on the outer. Dunn took up his new position today and said a lot of clubs would be envious of Souths' marketing opportunities after the club's successful battle with the league for reinstatement. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2374666%255E5927,00.html NEW South Sydney chief executive Paul Dunn has set his club a three-year deadline to reach the finals. Dunn said the Rabbitohs would start announcing their playing roster next week after the club finalises its licence with the NRL today. "We might not go sensational in the first year but I don't think people will think we've let them down," Dunn said. "You don't go from scratch to 100 miles per hour http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2380442%255E5927,00.html Don Smallgoods Wests Tigers continue full steam ahead with joint venture and issue charity challenge to Souths. Wests Tigers has received a resounding endorsement from its Balmain and Wests shareholders. A special Board meeting was held last night to discuss issues arising from the Souths Court Case. Also present were representatives of the three Leagues Clubs that provide financial support to the Joint Venture. Arising from these discussions there was unanimous affirmation of the commitment and absolute support of all stakeholders to the future of Wests Tigers in the NRL competition. However, there is concern about the commercial impact that a 15-team competition may have on the Joint Venture. http://www.rleague.com/newsarticle.php?articleID=2858 18 July 2001 South Sydney president George Piggins has supported a 16-team National Rugby League competition involving Norths and Manly. The NRL has told the Northern Eagles that the competition will be 15 teams next season and has urged the Eagles to overcome their financial problems. But Piggins says he favours a Norths side on the Central Coast and Manly operating out of Brookvale. http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/rugbyleague/2001/07/item20010718143126_1.htm Paul Dunn has been appointed as South Sydney's new chief executive. Dunn today said that the Rabbitohs major concern would be confirming their status in next year's competition. Despite being formally invited and accepted into the 2002 NRL competition, nothing has been put in writing and Dunn says that he won't start signing players until the Rabbitohs are 100% back. Dunn also confirmed today that the Rabbitohs would work under a $3.25 million salary cap, as the other 14 clubs do. There's still other appointments to be sorted out, but along with Dunn as the CEO comes Sean Garlick as the football manager, Craig Coleman as first grade coach and Phil Gould as an advisor. The club will be run at out of the South Sydney Seniors Leagues Club. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#dunn SOUTH Sydney chairman George Piggins' wish was granted last night � his club will play a grudge match against rivals St George Illawarra to open the 2002 season at the SCG. Piggins was hurt by St George Illawarra's stance when Souths was dumped from the NRL after the 1999 season. The Dragons were one of 13 clubs who signed affidivats as part of the NRL's case against Souths. "You only have to read what they said about us in their affidavit," Piggins said. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2368613%255E5927,00.html http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2368613%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html South Sydney coach Craig Coleman has named New South Wales and Northern Eagles second rower Adam Muir as one of his prime targets as the Rabbitohs recruitment drive kicks in ahead of their return to the NRL next season. While potential targets have been thrown around left, right and centre, Souths chairman George Piggins said the club was still a while off officially announcing its first signature. "Until we get some budgets in place I don't want to see anyone signed," Piggins said. "I want the talks to go ahead by all means but we've got to know exactly where we're going and how it's all going to be achieved." Coleman has been meeting with player managers and said he expects to make some announcements later this week. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=14476 It has been reported in this morning's papers that the Saint George Illawarra Dragons are almost certain to tackle South Sydney in their premiership debut next season. In line with David Moffett's desire to add passion to the opening round of matches through local derbies and traditional rivalries, the clash between the Dragons and the newly reinstated Rabbitohs will be a highlight of the league calendar for some. http://www.rleague.com/newsarticle.php?articleID=2848 South Sydney will operate under a full $3.25 million salary cap for the 2002 National Rugby League season. New chief executive Paul Dunn said money wouldn't be a concern for the Rabbitohs when they re-enter the premiership fold after two seasons on the outer. Dunn took up his new position today and said a lot of clubs would be envious of Souths' marketing opportunities after the club's successful battle with the league for reinstatement. But Dunn stressed the importance of the next 12 months, saying the club must take advantage of the public goodwill emanating from the Rabbitohs' popular legal victory. http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010718/aapleague/995426472-873005103.html http://i7sport.com.au/ South Sydney will not sign any new players until their entry into the 2002 National Rugby League competition is signed, sealed and delivered. While NRL boss David Moffett has publicly said Souths will be welcomed back into next year�s competition, Rabbitohs new chief executive Paul Dunn wants it in concrete. Dunn took up the new position today and is hopeful the club�s position will be confirmed legally on Friday. "We just want to get that in writing ... then we can start going and talking to players and talk dollars," Dunn said. "Given the situation with the players at the moment, obviously the market has come back from the Super League days. http://www.austarnet.com.au/feeds/sport_report.asp?display=4&story_id=14562&category=news 17 July 2001 South Sydney coach Craig Coleman hopes to make NSW forward Adam Muir his first signing and use him to lure more high profile players to the revived rugby league club. Coleman confirmed he would lead his 2002 recruitment program by targeting Muir, an incumbent NSW State of Origin second rower. Coleman met with player managers on Monday and while he said he expected to make some announcements later this week chairman George Piggins said no player would be signed within a few weeks. "Until we get some budgets in place I don't want to see anyone signed," Piggins said. "I want the talks to go ahead by all means but we've got to know exactly where we're going and how it's all going to be achieved." Souths have a board meeting on Tuesday when it's expected former Test prop Paul Dunn will be appointed chief executive. http://www.sportswatch.com.au/ http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010717/aapleague/995318626-3423436809.html 16 July 2001 Meanwhile, South Sydney president George Piggins has confirmed that former Test prop Paul Dunn is likely to be appointed the club's chief executive at a board meeting tomorrow. Souths coach Craig Coleman watched several matches on the weekend and said he was confident of recruiting State of Origin forward Adam Muir and several of his Northern Eagles teammates. "If the Eagles fall over, we might go after Brett Kimmorley, too," Coleman said. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/16/league1.html South Sydney chairman George Piggins came back to league at the weekend and the NRL hopes a few more fans follow suit. Piggins attended his first match since his club was ejected from the competition in 1999 and with some clubs suffering flagging attendances, it could be a signal for other disenfranchised fans to come out of the cold. Piggins accepted an invitation from the Canterbury Leagues Club to sit alongside News Limited representative and NRL chairman Malcolm Noad at the Bulldogs' game against the Sydney Roosters. In a welcome sight to all rugby league fans, Piggins delighted in watching his nephew, Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta, help his team to a 34-18 thumping of the Roosters. Piggins has only ever watched half an NRL game, one involving Anasta, on TV since the Rabbitohs were unceremoniously dumped from the premiership in October 1999. http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010716/aapleague/995232904-940392458.html http://www.2ue.com.au/news/index.cfm?group=News&name=Sport&title=Sporting%20News&s_type=aap&article_id=19488 For the first time in almost two years, it wasn't the thought of watching rugby league that George Piggins had to reconcile himself with yesterday - but the limousine ride to Sydney Showground and the red-carpet treatment laid on for the end of his self-imposed exile. Just 10 days after the Federal Court ordered South Sydney be readmitted to the National Rugby League competition, Piggins was feted like a returning hero as he watched his nephew, Braith Anasta, play for the Bulldogs against Sydney Roosters. "I don't know how there can be so much fuss about a bloke coming to watch a game of football," the Souths chairman said at a press conference afterwards. "If the court hadn't brought us back, I wouldn't be here today," Piggins said. "It's the first first-grade game I've seen Braith play live. I watched him [on television] when he played against Manly, the Northern Eagles ... "I probably sat there and watched him for 40 minutes and then I got a guilt complex that I was watching rugby league so I went away." So what did he think of the match? "It was a great game to watch - the Souths blokes [Anasta, Darrell Trindall and Craig Wing] played extremely well." http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/16/league2.html It was the first time Piggins has seen the South Sydney junior play first grade and he wasn't disappointed by what he saw - just by the fact that Anasta, Bulldogs halfback Darrell Trindall and Roosters utility Craig Wing won't be back at Redfern next season. "Braith's got some special talents," Piggins said. "He's very good and he's got his feet firmly on the ground so he's got a bright future in the game. But I think Souths fans might be a bit sad to see our trio going so good. "Hopefully one day, you never know, they might be back at home." http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/16/league2.html A COURT decision helped George Piggins take his first step to getting back into his "normal pattern" of going to the football each weekend and eating a pie on the hill. Yesterday he went back to his first rugby league game since the Rabbitohs played the Eels at Parramatta Stadium at the end of 1999, and found some of what he'd been missing. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2351500%255E5927,00.html 15 July 2001 Adam Muir is set to be South Sydney's first signing after confirmation that he will leave the Northern Eagles at the end of the year. Reports on 2UE's Talking League Team yesterday strongly suggested that the Rabbitohs would begin recruiting players as early as tomorrow with Muir all but certain to be among the first. Muir is said to be among several high profile players to leave the Eagles ranks at the end of the season with the club suffering serious financial problems. There's no guarentee that any players will be payed after August with the club all but certain to collapse according to ongoing reports. It's believed however that the possibility of a 16-team competition is still on the cards. Despite being knocked on the head by the clubs last week, it is now being favoured that Manly will stand alone next season with the Central Coast to get it's own team to be based at NorthPower Stadium. All shall be revealed in the coming weeks when we find out if the Eagles can in fact keep paying the bills and their players. http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/sdodds/news.html#muir Paul Dunn, who has been head-hunted to take South Sydney into the 21st century, says running a successful football club "isn't rocket science". And he says the Rabbitohs have "a glorious opportunity to realise enormous potential because they are starting from scratch". Dunn, a former star player who has gone on to a successful career in business, has been interviewed by Souths for the job as chief executive. He deeply impressed a committee representing the Souths board and was asked to put his ideas for the club's future in writing. http://www.leaguehq.com.au/league/news/200107/15/league2.html WORLD-ranked boxer Anthony Mundine today admitted he was tempted to return to rugby league with South Sydney, perhaps on a part-time basis. In a hectic week which included his overseas debut and the birth of his second child, his son Rahime on Thursday night, Mundine was believed to be among the players sought by Souths coach Craig Coleman for the Rabbitohs' NRL re-entry next season. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2346760%255E5927,00.html South Sydney's court victory last week was a resounding defeat for the NRL and its major backers News Limited. An unconditional triumph for the campaign led by Rabbitohs legend George Piggins, sustained in the face of a series of previous court defeats. NRL chiefs have been negotiating the restoration of the Rabbitohs for the 2002 season this week. There is little doubt they would rather not be doing this, particularly with the cash-strapped Northern Eagles venture between Manly and North Sydney apparently on the verge of collapse. But their ready acceptance of the inevitable this week suggests they recognise that the two federal judges who voted to restore Souths last week have done them a favour they scarcely deserve. Amid the disgruntlement hanging over the game after the Super League-induced civil war, the return of the Rabbitohs offers an undiluted feelgood story. The game needs it. Australian league may be master of its own universe, but in the wider competition to be top game in its home market, it is running a poor second to Australian football. The comparison between the codes is particularly striking in Brisbane, which as home to the Broncos and the triumphant State of Origin squad, has a fair claim to be the current capital of world rugby league. The Broncos, pulling in average crowds of over 18,000, are the best-supported league club in the world. Yet they are being outdrawn in their own city by Australian Football's Brisbane Bears. The Bears are less than a decade old and have never challenged seriously for a championship. Yet when they played Hawthorn 10 days ago, they attracted more than 30,000. The court decision should also lead the NRL to think hard about allowing its development to be dictated by marketing men, with their tendency to think of a magic number and shape the league to conform to it. Axing Souths - winners of 20 premierships and more matches than any other club, home to a succession of immortals like Clive Churchill - was like throwing out a Wigan, Liverpool or Real Madrid. http://cnn.sportal.com/vipa/0,8464,cnnhome^2Fartdisplay|AR_337898^7CCB_4^7CSP_937,00.html 14 July 2001 WHILE Souths supporters everywhere are dancing in the streets over last week's court decision that has seen them rejoin the NRL competition planning for 2002, surely league is going to be the great beneficiary. The way I see it, if only half of the 80,000 people who marched for Souths during the protests attend games on a weekly basis, the league's crowd figures will be boosted by about one million next season! That is really something to look forward to for all of us who love the game but have watched it struggle in recent seasons. The sport is set to boom if all those supporters can be wooed back to Souths and the other clubs they deserted in sympathy for the Rabbitohs. http://sport.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,2342272%255E5927,00.html A five-year broadcast deal between the National Rugby League and New Zealand's Sky TV has assured each of the 15 NRL clubs of a $2.5 million grant next year, chief executive David Moffett said. The NRL refused to reveal the worth of the deal but Moffett said the extra money in the league's coffers guaranteed the clubs of their funding. "The deal that we've done today enables the NRL to now say to all of the clubs that they have a $2.5 million grant next year," Moffett said. "That also includes the reintroduction of South Sydney." http://au.sports.yahoo.com/sports/20010713/aapleague/995021354-2551103510.html THE NRL signed off on a $40 million television deal for the New Zealand broadcasting rights yesterday which will cover the funding for South Sydney's re-entry into the competition next year. Chief executive David Moffett announced the new five-year deal with existing carrier Sky TV, which reaches a third of homes in New Zealand. The deal was previously valued at $6.5 million a year but has now jumped to $8 million annually and lays the final piece down for Souths return. "This is one that's going to benefit the NRL and all 14 clubs, soon to be 15 clubs. The arrangements that we have put in place now for the next five years are going to enable us to take this game forward with a much greater degree of certainty than has been the case in the last few years," Moffett said. "The deal that we have done enables the NRL to say to all of the clubs that they have a $2.5 million grant next year and that also includes the reintroduction of South Sydney." http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/story_page/0,5000,2342299%255E5927%255E%255Enbv,00.html |
