Just a point to people saying 'Souths fans say the same thing every year' -
This thread was started by a Bulldogs fan.
The Rabbitohs are in a period of transition. There is no argument here that we go through 'false dawns' on nearly a yearly period. However now what we have is the set up and attitude and personel to create a dawn that is true.
Signing class players is great. But it's the smallest piece in the puzzle. We've signed decent players before (Harrison, Walker, Walker, Peters, Fletcher in one hit. They may not be Asotasi and Co. quality but they should be decent 1st graders at least). But what's the point in getting these players when you have the worst training facilities in footy, the smallest coaching staff in footy ETC?
The important things we have purchased are Jason Taylor, Errol Alcott, Vince Kelly, Grant Duthie and Michael Baker. In the past we had 3 Fulltime Coaching squad. Now we have at least 7. This new coaching squad has finally got the squad looking like athletes like the other 15 teams. They've also purchased Hundreds of thousands of dollars in new gym equipment, had the training ground resurfaced, completely overhauled training schedule doing things such as daily hydration tests before training to make sure they're training at optimum levels, daily weight tests, and other things that the other teams probably have done for years but Souths have never done.
It also helps having management who's response is to not jerk their knees out of their socket but to plan ahead to achieve long term and sustained success in every aspect of the club.
In response to the initial point, I dont know if Souths will make the finals. I think if they are competitive week to week and making teams turn up thinking they need to play at 100% to pull of a win against us then the season has been successful. With a few key purchases and the continued progression of our own young juniors we are seeing the club become something that MOST rugby league supporters want to see.
A strong South Sydney Rabbitohs.
