80,000 voices speak
 

13nov00

AN estimated 80,000 people marched on Sydney's streets yesterday to lend support to South Sydney rugby league club in a compelling display of people power.

One year and a drawn out Federal Court defeat had passed since Souths had last rallied the masses to protest against their exclusion from the National Rugby League competition, yet the turnout was far bigger.

A human sea of red and green flooded three blocks of George Street in the inner-city, from the Town Hall rallying point down to Goulburn Street and heard speeches which included a supportive message from Prime Minister John Howard.

The rally sent a loud message of fans' unrest to the NRL and its backer News Limited.

However, last night NRL chief executive David Moffett offered little hope for Souths' bid to return to the competition.

Moffett is to meet Souths president George Piggins this week but he reconfirmed the NRL position that the only way the competition would prosper was to maintain a 14-team competition and again ruled out inviting Souths back in.

Asked what it would take for the NRL to take notice, Moffett replied: "I'm not going to respond to that other than to say that hopefully we'll be sitting down with Souths officials next week and we'll have a talk to them then."

The Rabbitohs supporters, and thousands from other clubs, had marched from Redfern Oval to the Town Hall, supporting Piggins' call to "Reclaim the Game".

The host of celebrity speakers included former Test cricketer Mike Whitney, media personalities Alan Jones and Andrew Denton and league greats.

Denton told the crowd the club must be ready to rejoin the competition in 2002.

"Somewhere in the next year, one of these clubs - Canberra, North Queensland, Auckland, Cronulla - one of these clubs that is only hanging on because they (News Ltd) feed them money, is going to fall over and they are not going to want to support them any more," Denton said.

Denton also read the message from Howard, a St George Illawarra supporter.

"Like many other followers of rugby league I have been saddened by the division which has occurred in the game in recent years," Howard wrote.

"I understand fully the sense of loss and exclusion which members and supporters of South Sydney ... feel at the present time.

"Ultimately this matter has to resolved between the club and its supporters and the current administration.

"You have my personal good wishes. Many Australians would hope that South Sydney continues as a strong and independent club within rugby league."

Piggins urged those at the rally to boycott News Ltd papers today, believing economic action was the only way to make their point felt.

"They care about profits, they don't care about human beings," Piggins said.

Australia's military ordinate Geoffrey Maine, the head of Catholicism in the national defence forces, wrote: "Rugby league without Souths is like saying my church can exist without the Pope.

"Truth and the will of the people will always triumph over business and greed, ignorance and stupidity, blinded by power."