From News.com.au  13 November 2000


SOUTH SYDNEY said they will stage protests throughout next season's NRL competition unless they are reinstated.


The threat comes after the success of the "Save the Game" rally in Sydney yesterday that was attended by 80,000 fans.


Sources close to the club said plans are under way for more protests and Souths are prepared to have a presence at every NRL game next season.


It is believed the campaign could target such high profile events as the season-opener double-Header at Stadium Australia, traditionally a showpiece for the NRL.


NRL chief executive David Moffett is expected to meet Souths president George Piggins this week but said yesterday he hoped they would not go through with their plans for more protests.


"I can understand them being frustrated and angry and sad that the situation's over but it's not a situation that people didn't know was going to happen," Moffett said.


"We knew we were going to have 14 teams and other clubs took steps to ensure their survival."


The "Save the Game" rally was a heated affair in which the Rabbitohs continued to protest against the NRL and the code's major backers, News Limited (publishers of The Australian) for excluding them from the competition.


Souths lost a Federal Court case two weeks ago to be reinstated but have already announced they will appeal.


Rabbitohs president George Piggins said he was confident the appeal would be successful.


He added Souths were still not considering a joint venture and would not field a team in first division next season.


The speakers at the rally included such rugby league luminaries as super-coach Jack Gibson, former Parramatta legend Mick Cronin, former NSW coach Phil Gould and Souths legend John Sattler.


Souths Juniors president Henry Morris told the rally he would take his 3,500 members to rugby union if the Rabbitohs were not reinstated to the NRL competition.


This move would also impact on the junior teams at the Sydney Roosters as they play in the same competition.