Who is Russell Crowe?
Russell Crowe is a globally acclaimed actor who was born in New Zealand but has lived in Australia since he was a child, calling South Sydney home.
Russell joined business partner Peter Holmes à Court in taking over 75% of the South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club on 7 June 2006.
Who is Peter Holmes à Court?
Peter Holmes à Court is the Chairman of White Bull Holdings, a private investment company, the Executive Chairman of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a director of Queensland Rail and a member of the Lord Mayor’s City of Sydney Business Forum.
In 1993 Mr Holmes à Court formed Back Row Productions, operating in New York, London and Sydney. Back Row produced over 20 live shows in 30 countries and 300 cities world wide. Live acts included the Australian show Tap Dogs, the UK’s Eddie Izzard and the US’s Jerry Seinfeld.
Peter returned to Australia in November 2000 and until January 2004 held the position as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Agricultural Company and was responsible for re-listing AACo on the Australian Stock Exchange. Founded in 1824, AACo is Australia’s oldest continuously operating company and today is the largest cattle company in the world managing over 600,000 head of cattle over 15 million acres.
Peter read law at Oxford University and received his BA in economics and theatre from Middlebury College, Vermont. He lives in Sydney and is a proud husband of Divonne Holmes à Court (the founder of Smart Population Foundation) and father to their two sets of twins, George & Robert and Elsa & Madison.
Who is David Alrich?
David Alrich is the Executive Producer and writer of South Side Story. David has been an Executive Producer at Beyond Productions for 5 years. His most recent production was Executive Producer of “Beyond Tomorrow” for the Seven Network in 2005/06, and Executive Producer of the climate change special “Cool Aid” which aired on the Channel 10 network in early 2007.
Also for Beyond, David was Executive Producer on the documentary series “The Once and Future City” on key US cities for Discovery Travel Channel US (2004), and “Wildtech” for Discovery Science Channel US (2003).
Prior to working at Beyond David was at Channel 9 Australia where he produced a range of programming, including news and current affairs (Today; ACA; Midday), lifestyle programs (Changing Rooms) and reality shows (Survivor Australia).
David lives in Sydney.
Who is Jonathon Summerhayes?
Jonathon Summerhayes is the Senior Producer of South Side Story. Jonathon is an experienced shooter producer with Beyond Productions. His most recent work was shooting in remote Papua New Guinea for Taboo (Beyond Productions for National Geographic Channel). Jonathon’s experience spans over 18 years and in that time he has made films for National Geographic and Discovery Channel plus reality TV shows including four US Survivor series and Australian Big Brother.
Who is Macario De Souza?
Macario De Souza was a Producer of South Side Story. Macario is a young filmmaker who was a co-director, editor & cinematographer on the successful Bra Boys film. Macario runs his own video production, web design and graphics business – Mac Media Creations and is hoping to pursue a fulltime career in both film and music with his band “3seven7.”
Who is Lindy Dobson?
Lindy Dobson is the Production Manager on South Side Story who has been involved in the television production of worldwide sports events for over 12 years, both in Australia and overseas. Some of her credits include three Olympic Games, two Commonwealth Games and Football World Cups, the Rugby World Cup, Doha Asian Games along with many of Australia’s major sporting events. Lindy has also worked on reality and live TV shows for various broadcast networks but sport is really her passion!
Who is Deborah Peart?
Deborah Peart is an Editor for South Side Story who has worked in television post production for over 10 years as an assistant editor and most notably as a post production supervisor. She has worked on many award winning and diverse series such as R.A.N, Marking Time, The Upside Down Show and the Jim Henson Company's, Farscape.
Now concentrating solely on editing her recent credits include The Surgeon, Dangerous, South Side Story and the ABC mini series East of Everything, which is currently in production.
Deb has enjoyed working on South Side Story so much she has now become a fully fledged member of the Rabbitohs.
Who is Gavin Douglas?
Gavin Douglas is the Editor on South Side Story and has been an editor for eleven years. He has cut a range of entertainment shows from 'What's Good For You', 'BBC Top Gear' and 'Beyond Tomorrow' to BAFTA nominated documentaries such as 'The Kumbh Mela in India', 'Gangsters' and 'Gods in the Sky'. He has also written and directed a number of award winning short films. After months of living in the world of the bunnies Gavin has also become a member of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and can be seen cheering on the mighty red and green from the stands of Telstra Stadium.
Who is Jamie Holt?
Jamie Holt is the Music Producer for South Side Story. Jamie is a 32-year-old musician and songwriter who lives in Redfern, Sydney. Jamie studied Law at ANU for three years before dropping out deciding to pursue a career in music. Jamie then formed a four-piece Sydney band called “The Camels”, with his younger brother Tim Holt, childhood friend Matt Smedley and buddy Dave Springer. The band quickly garnered praise in the music industry and developed a reputation as one of Sydney’s most active and hardest working indie bands. The Camels released their debut album All You Ever Needed in 2004 receiving critical acclaim and have supported some of the biggest musical acts including Grinspoon, Spiderbait, Hoodoo Gurus and Jet. The Camels spent parts of 2005 and 2006 recording several tracks specifically for the Bra Boys documentary.
Who is Jeremy Peek?
Jeremy Peek is the Production Coordinator on South Side Story. Jeremy joined Beyond Productions late in 2006 working on various shows.
Before his time at Beyond he graduated from The Australian Film Television and Radio School. Working on South Side Story has been the most interesting series he has worked on and hopes that the good times will keep on rolling!
Who is Mark Courtney?
Mark Courtney is a 46 year old IT Manager who, despite growing up in Lane Cove, has been a Souths tragic since the age of eight. He began attending matches regularly in 1976 but was no more than a passionate fan until Souths were excluded from the NRL in October, 1999. His search to understand the gaping hole this left in his life led to him writing Moving The Goalposts, which was published by Halstead Press in 2000 and it has become the definitive story of a Souths fan's life.
Mark was actively involved in the campaign to have the Rabbitohs reinstated to the NRL and, since the Club's return in 2002, he has resumed his life as a fanatical supporter. He has continued a minor involvement with the Club, writing occasional articles for various publications.
Mark lives at Coogee with his wife Cindy and three daughters Anya, Bronte and Freya. He counts among his life's ambitions the wish to see Souths win their 21st Premiership. The girls are exhibiting worrying signs of following in his red and green footsteps.
Who is Mario Fenech?
One of the most whole-hearted players to play Rugby League, Mario Fenech is regarded by South Sydney fans as one of the most passionate players to ever pull on a Rabbitohs jersey.
‘Test Match’ played in 167 first grade games for South Sydney having progressed through the ranks from his junior Club of Mascot. He captained the Rabbitohs to a minor premiership in 1989, leading from the front with his fiery brand of football. Fenech was chosen in two President’s XIII sides (against Papua New Guinea in 1985 and Great Britain in 1988) and represented NSW on two occasions.
Mario now works in the Sales Department at the National Rugby League and is an integral part of Channel Nine’s Rugby League coverage as part of their commentary team for Friday night and Sunday football, The Footy Show and the Sunday Footy Show.
South Sydney 1981-90 – 167 first grade games plus 14 replacements. 18 tries, 1 field goal for 72 points.
North Sydney 1991-94 - 77 first grade games plus 5 replacements. 4 tries for 16 points.
South Queensland 1995 - 5 first grade games plus 6 replacements.
NSW 1989 - 2 games.
Who is Larry Agius?
Larry Aguis is a former South Sydney Leagues Club Board Member and former sponsor of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Larry is a life-long Rabbitohs supporter that has supported the Club financially as a sponsor through his automotive business from 2002 to 2005, and was the Manager of the Club’s Premier League team in 2005.
Larry has been one of the more vocal supporters against the privatisation of the Football Club.
Who is Alan Jones?
Alan Jones is a respected and highly influential member of the Australian media.
Alan is a graduate of Queensland and Oxford Universities, with majors in English and French language and literature, politics and education. He has University Blues from both Queensland and Oxford in tennis.
For three years, Alan was speech writer and senior adviser to the then Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser, and was elected Australian Rugby Union Coach in 1984, coaching Australia until early 1988, winning 102 matches including the Grand Slam in 1984 and a Bledisloe Cup victory in 1986. In December 1989, Alan Jones was elected to the Confederation of Australian Sports' Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to Australian Sport as the Australian Rugby Coach.
From August 1990 to August 1993, Alan Jones coached the Balmain Tigers Rugby League side, before he was appointed as Director of Football for the South Sydney Rugby League Football Club. He performed both roles without payment.
In March 1985, Alan Jones was recruited to join Radio 2UE as their morning radio host and quickly established himself in the competitive world of Sydney radio. In March 1988, he moved to the breakfast shift and achieved the largest breakfast audience and also the largest radio audience in Australia. In 2002, Alan Jones joined 2GB as Breakfast announcer, along with his 2GB commitments, Alan Jones appears daily making editorial comment on the Channel 9 Today Show.
In 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997 Alan was awarded by the radio industry, the prestigious award of Australian Radio Talk Personality of the Year.
Who is Nicholas Pappas?
Nicholas Pappas is the Principal of Nicholas G Pappas & Company, Lawyers, in Sydney, Australia.
Nicholas was the lawyer for the Rabbitohs during their successful legal battle for reinstatement into the National Rugby League from 1999 to 2002. He assumed the Chairmanship of the Football Club after mounting a high-profile Board challenge to long-standing chairman, George Piggins, in April 2003, and then led a majority of the Football Club’s Board of Directors in supporting and recommending the ‘Yes’ vote to Members. Nicholas chaired the Extraordinary General Meeting of Members at Telstra Stadium on Sunday 19 March 2006 and oversaw the eventual handover to Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court in June 2006.
Nicholas is currently a Director of South Sydney Football Club and is the Chairman of South Sydney Members Rugby League Football Club.
Other positions that Nicholas holds include President of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences (the Powerhouse Museum), Chairman of Laiki Bank Australia Limited and Governor of the Steve Waugh Foundation – Australia.
Who is John Sattler?
John Sattler is widely regarded as one of the toughest players to have ever played the game of Rugby League and proved himself to be one of the greatest captains in the history of the South Sydney club.
The fiery frontrower came to Sydney from Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley, representing Newcastle against Great Britain in 1962 before joining South Sydney.
He played in the young Rabbitohs side that lost to St George in the 1965 grand final and he was selected as captain in 1967.
Souths played in five straight grand finals under his leadership, winning four of them in 1967, ‘68, ’70 and ‘71). Sattler toured with the 1967-68 Kangaroos, captained NSW and led Australia to NZ in 1969, captained Australia in the against Great Britain in 1970. Sattler’s most memorable moment was playing out the majority of the 1970 grand final against Manly-Warringah with a badly broken jaw. The image of Sattler being carried on the shoulders of his team mates from the field with his jaw hanging limp is an enduring image of the toughness of the game of Rugby league.
In 1972, Sattler moved to Brisbane and captained QLD in 1973.
Sattler was named captain of the South Sydney Dream Team in 2004, and has been integral in getting the Gold Coast NRL franchise on its feet.
South Sydney 1963-72 - 197 first grade games. 12 tries for 36 points.
NSW 1969 - 4 games.
QLD 1973 - 3 games.
Australia 1967-71 - 4 tests.
Who is Bob McCarthy?
Bob McCarthy is recognised as not only a legend of the South Sydney Club but as one of the most damaging ball runners Rugby League has ever seen, having revolutionised the role of the second row forward by running wide of the ruck.
McCarthy holds the record for the most first grade games for South Sydney with 217 and has scored over 100 tries for the Club.
Bob was a member of the young Rabbitohs side that was beaten by St George in the 1965 grand final and was a key player in the Club’s four premierships in 1967, ’68, ’70 and ‘71.
MacCarthy made his test debut against NZ in 1969 and was a member of Australia’s World Cup squads in 1970 and 1972, as well as touring with the 1973 Kangaroos and captained Australia against Great Britain.
McCarthy captained the Rabbitohs in the 1970’s and took over as caretaker coach in 1975.
He reluctantly left South Sydney to sign with Canterbury the following year, but returned to South Sydney in 1978 under coach Jack Gibson. He also coached Gold Coast from 1988-90 and Souths at the start of the 1994 season. He has also held a position on the NRL Judiciary and NSW and Australian Selection Panels.
McCarthy was selected in the South Sydney Dream Team in 2004.
South Sydney 1963-75 and 1978 - 217 first grade games. 101 tries, 1 field goal for 304 points.
Canterbury 1976-77 - 40 games. 19 tries for 57 points.
NSW 1969-73 - 10 games plus 1 replacement. 7 tries for 21 points.
Australia 1969-74 - 10 tests. 6 tries for 18 points.
Who is Ian Roberts?
Ian Roberts is regarded as one of the most talented players to emerge from the South Sydney Juniors.
Roberts played in the punishing 1989 minor premiership-winning Rabbitohs side, before being poached by Manly in 1990. Roberts went on to play for NSW and Australia.
After being courted by the ARL, Roberts signed with Super League in 1995. He sat out Manly’s premiership winning season in 1996 because of injury and the Super League dispute, and during this time he became the first Rugby League player to open up and declare his homosexuality.
Roberts moved north to the North QLD Cowboys for 1997’s Super League season, before retiring in 1998.
Roberts joined NIDA to pursue an acting career and served on the NRL Judiciary in 2001. He produced an autobiography called Finding Out in 1997. He has appeared in a number of feature films including Superman Returns in 2006 and Little Fish in 2005.
Playing Record:
Souths 1986-89 / 60 games (5 repl) / 5t (20pts)
Manly 1990-95 / 99 games (1 repl) / 5t (20pts)
North QLD 1997-98 / 27 games (2 repl) / 3t (12pts)
NSW 1990-91 & 1993-94 / 9 games / 0pts
NSW Tri Series 1997 / 2 games / 0pts
Australia 1990-91 & 93-94 / 13 tests / 3t (12pts)
Film and Television Roles:
1. Kiss Me Deadly (2008) – Frederick
2. Superman Returns (2006) – Riley
3. “Blue Heelers” – Wayne Rhodes (1 episode, 2006)
4. Little Fish (2005) – Marty
5. “Dancing with the Stars” – Himself (3 episodes, 2005)
6. Crooked Mick of the Speewah (2005) – Crooked Mick
7. Transient (2005) – Narrator
8. “White Collar Blue” – Frank Gambino (1 episode, 2003)
Who is George Piggins?
George Piggins will be remembered by many as not only the tough little hooker from the Rabbitohs, but also as the man that lead the fight for re-instatement into the National Rugby League.
Piggins played for a number of seasons before being called into Souths’ grand final side in 1971, which was regarded as one of Piggins’ best games for the Club. While Souths lost many stars to other clubs in the 1970’s, Piggins stuck with the Rabbitohs until he retired in 1978.
He represented NSW in 1974 and 1976 but received his highest representative honour whe he was selected to play for Australia in the world series match against NZ in 1975.
Piggins won the Dally M Coach of the Year Award in both 1986 and 1989.
When Piggins resigned as coach he became Club President during the 1990’s, until the Club was excluded at the end of the 1999 season. The newly formed NRL excluded the Rabbitohs from the 2000 and 2001 seasons, during which time Piggins led a two-year campaign to have the Club reinstated in the competition. Souths won a high court appeal in July 2001 and the Rabbitohs were re-instated for the 2002 premiership. In 2002, Piggins penned an autobiography titled Never Say Die.
George was also the Chairman of South Sydney Leagues Club until 2006. Piggins was one of the most vocal opponents of the Holmes à Court /Crowe takeover of 75% of the South Sydney Football Club.
South Sydney 1967-78 - 115 first grade games plus 5 replacements. 8 tries for 24 points.
NSW 1974 and 1976 - 2 games.
Who is Sean Garlick?
Sean Garlick is a South Sydney junior, captaining the Rabbitohs in his final season with the Club in 1999.
Garlick represented South Sydney from 1990 to 1993 before shifting to arch-rivals, the Eastern Suburbs Roosters, from 1994 to 1996. He returned to the Rabbitohs for three seasons from 1997 to 1999.
Garlick was Rabbitohs’ captain in 1999 when the Club was excluded from the National Rugby League and was a leading figure in the Club’s efforts to return the Rabbitohs to the elite level of the game.
When South Sydney returned to the fold 2002, Garlick was made the Club’s Football Operations Manager. He also owns a successful pie and pastry business called Garlo’s Pies with stores open right across Sydney.
South Sydney 1990-93 and 1997-99 - 91 first grade games plus 5 replacements. 14 tries for 56 points.
Eastern Suburbs 1994-96 - 59 first grade games plus 5 replacements. 3 tries for 12 points.
Who is Shane Richardson?
Shane is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and also serves on various NRL committees including the Collective Bargaining, Salary Cap and Draft Committees. He is the second longest serving CEO in the game.
In 1993 Shane moved from Queensland to take up his first role in the NRL with the Cronulla Sharks where he stayed for five years before accepting a position in the UK Super league as CEO with Hull FC. He also held a Board position whilst in this role. Shane is the only Australian to ever serve on a Super League Board.
Shane then returned to Australia as part of the team that took the Penrith Panthers to their second premiership in the history of the club. In 2004 he accepted his current role with the Rabbitohs and has successfully implemented business plans to ensure the club’s stability and security.
Mr Richardson is an experienced and well respected Public Speaker.
Shane completed his Commerce Degree at Queensland University and attended Ipswich Grammar School and Corinda High School.
Shane now lives in Coogee with his wife Kate.
Who is Shannan McPherson?
Shannan McPherson was born on 12 December 1985 in Sydney, NSW. ‘Boris’ as he is nicknamed stands 185cm tall and weighs in at 95kg.
A South Sydney junior from the South Eastern Seagulls, Shannan made his first grade debut in Rabbitohs colours against the Bulldogs at Sydney Showground on 4 June 2005.
Shannan was schooled at Marcellin College in Randwick and has completed a level one Strength and Conditioning course through the Rabbitohs.
Injury cut short this promising back rower's season in 2006 after forcing his way into the Rabbitohs top squad with some impressive performances in the lower grades in 2005. He is a very strong defender, capable of putting on a big hit when his team needs it, and can grind out the metres in attack.
Who is Nathan Merritt?
Nathan Merritt was born on 26 May 1983 in Sydney, NSW. ‘Nate Dogg’ as he is called by his team mates is 183cm tall and weighs 88kg, a handing size for a speedy winger.
Nathan is a South Sydney junior, coming through to the senior ranks from the Alexandria Rovers club. He made his debut in 2002 with the Rabbitohs against the New Zealand Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on 12 May 2002, and stuck with the club through to the end of the 2003 season before he left for a stint at the Cronulla Sharks. He spent two season with the Sharks before returning to the Rabbitohs in 2006.
2006 was a stellar season for Merritt, winning the Dally M award for the top try scorer of the season with 22 tries, and being selected for the Prime Minister’s XIII against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
Nathan was schooled at Cleveland St High School in the heart of South Sydney territory and is heavily involved with the local Aboriginal community.
Lightning fast, a brilliant finisher and strong defender, Merritt has made his name back at his junior Club.
Who is Jason Taylor?
Jason Taylor is the Head Coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, having taken up the position for the 2007 season in his first season as a Head Coach.
During his playing career, Taylor was a deadly accurate, around-the-corner goal-kicker with one of the best kicking games in the code. The St Gregory’s Campbelltown junior made his first grade debut with Western Suburbs in 1990 and played two games for NSW from the bench in 1993. Moving to North Sydney in 1994, where he guided the team in be regular semi-finalists on four occasions in 1994, ’96, ’97 and ’98.
In 1996, he became the final winner of the Rothmans Medal as best and fairest player in the Sydney competition.
Taylor was captain of North Sydney and established a number of club records including most points in a match, most points in a season and most points for the club before the club merged with Manly in 2000 to form the now defunct Northern Eagles.
Taylor played a record 194 consecutive first grade games before he was to play reserve grade again, signaling his early release from his contract to join Parramatta in 2001. At the Eels, he equaled Mick Cronin’s record for most goals in a match and set a new career goal-kicking record. In July of 2001, Taylor surpassed the career point-scoring record previously held by Daryl Halligan. He retired after Parramatta’s loss in the 2001 Grand Final, with his point scoring record standing until Andrew Johns surpassed the feat in 2006.
Taylor was appointed caretaker Head Coach of the Eels in 2006, taking them to the finals, the first caretaker coach to achieve the feat. Taylor joined the Rabbitohs in 2007 and is on track to take the team to the finals in his first year as Head Coach.
Taylor has also enjoyed a career in the media having worked on both subscription and free-to-air television, and also works in public speaking through speakers bureau Saxtons.
Western Suburbs 1990-93 - 78 first grade games plus 8 replacements. 6 tries, 225 goals, 12 field goals for 486 points.
North Sydney 1994-99 - 167 first grade games. 32 tries, 563 goals, 20 field goals for 1274 points.
Northern Eagles 2000 - 17 first grade games. 1 try, 38 goals, 2 field goals for 82 points.
Parramatta 2001 - 26 first grade games. 8 tries, 116 goals, 1 field goal for 265 points.
NSW 1993 – 2 replacements.
Who is Dean Widders?
Dean Widders was born on 25 October 1979 in Armidale in northern NSW. Nicknamed ‘Ralph’ after his alter-ego Ralph Vale, Widders stands 180cm tall and weighs in at 93kg.
From his junior club of Narwan in Armidale, Dean rose to the heights of an NRL player at the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels making his debut for the Roosters against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on 7 May 2000. He went on to represent Country Origin in 2006 in the annual City Origin vs Country Origin representative match, before joining the Rabbitohs as one of their headline signings for the 2007 season.
Dean is not only a talented footballer but he is one of the most respected role models in the game. Described by Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper as ‘Rugby League’s Greatest Asset’, Widders is an example thousands of children across Australia to look upon sports stars as their heroes.
Dean is heavily involved with the National Aboriginal Sports Corporation of Australia, is a Member of the National Indigenous Council, and is a patron for Books in Homes across the country.
Dean was schooled at Duval High School in Armidale and Marcellin College in Randwick, has completed a Certificate I qualification in Indigenous Leadership and has completed a Certificate II in Sport and Recreation Administration.
One of the best attacking forwards, and one of the most respected players in the game, Dean Widders is one of the finest ambassadors for the game of Rugby League with the work he does in indigenous communities, and he backs it up with his silky skills on the field of play.
Who is Chris Keeble?
Chris Keeble is the Corporate Relations and Events Group Manager for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Chris has been in the Rugby League world for the past 15 years having graduated from studies in Theatre Theory and performance, Marketing and Multimedia.
She fell into the Rugby League world when she was managing a theatre for another club and her career built from there.
Chris maintains an interest in the arts including all forms of theatre, entertainment and film. Chris has also produced a number of festivals, her own puppet show, art exhibitions and is also an investor in films. Her hobbies include motorbikes including owning a Vespa motor scooter and a Harley Davidson, painting, sculpting masks, anything with fish and her two gorgeous daughters Chloe, 22, and Abbe, 21. Chris Lives in Newtown, Sydney.
Who is Peter Cusack?
Peter Cusack was born in Young in country NSW on 27 January 1977. Standing 193cm and weighing in at 105kg, ‘Yak’ is a mountain of a man, hence his role as a front-row forward in the Rabbitohs line up.
Peter was schooled and played football as a junior for St Gregory’s College in Campbelltown, a school widely regarded as a Rugby League nursery of the highest order.
Peter played seven years of first grade with the Sydney Roosters, making his debut against the Balmain Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on 22 August 1998. Peter’s time at the Roosters included winning a premiership in the 2002 season and representing Country Origin in 2004, before shifting to the Rabbitohs in 2005 and earning the captaincy in 2006. Peter then earned his second Country Origin jersey in 2007 whilst leading the Rabbitohs.
Peter is an ambassador for Sir Roden Cutler Charities and has spent many hours talking to school students about safe driving as part of the Motor Accidents Authority’s Arrive alive program.
Peter is a qualified plumber and has completed a level one Strength and Conditioning course.
Peter is regarded as a fearless leader of the Rabbitohs, doing all of the hard work up the middle of the field without fear or fanfare.
Who is Scott Geddes?
Scott Geddes was born in Bowral in the southern highlands of NSW on 18 October 1980. ‘Sherminator’ is a huge man standing 188cm tall and weighing in at 108kg.
A Moss Vale Dragons junior, Geddes made his first grade debut in 2002, the Rabbitohs first season of re-admission to the competition, against the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium on 23 March. Geddes is one of only three 2007 Rabbitohs players to have been with the club since re-admission, that group including Luke Stuart and Shane Rigon.
Geddes has not forgotten where he comes from, supporting a high school knockout Rugby League competition in Moss Vale each year, and he was heavily involved in the Motor Accidents Authority’s Arrive alive program, speaking with thousands of school students about the importance of safe driving.
Geddes attended Patrician Brothers, Fairfield for his schooling, one of Sydney’s leading Rugby League nurseries. He has completed a Personal Training course and a level one Strength and Conditioning course through the Rabbitohs.
One of the best rising young talents in the game, Geddes has the potential to play representative football with an injury-free season, something he hasn't had since making his debut in 2002. A big, powerful man, Geddes can bend back a defensive line in attack and break an attacking raid in half in defence.
Who is Grant Duthie?
Grant Duthie arrived at the Rabbitohs in November 2006 to assist the Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Grant was recruited from the Australian Rugby Union, where he was previously employed as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with the NSW Waratahs throughout 2005 and 2006.
Who is Tony Henderson?
Tony Henderson is the true stalwart of the South Sydney Club, having been with the Rabbitohs for 32 years. Having always worked in the training and football departments, Tony has seen many seasons from the sidelines and on the field of battle.
Tony spent a decade on the training staff of the NSW State of Origin side and also ran the field for the Australian team.
Who is Jaiman Lowe?
Jaiman Lowe was born in Toowoomba in Queensland on 22 January 1983. The older brother of fellow Rabbitohs player Ben, ‘J Lo’ stands 192cm tall and weighs 110kg.
A junior player with the Newtown Lions in Toowoomba, Jaiman broke into the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys against the Rabbitohs at Dairy Farmers Stadium on 13 April 2002, spending four years in far North Queensland. Jaiman then followed then Rabbitohs Development Manager Dave Roberts from the Cowboys to the Rabbitohs, making his home in the red and green colours.
Jaiman completed his QCS at St marys College in Toowoomba and has completed a traineeship in Sports Recreation and Administration, and he continues to do community work with the students Green Square Public Square, a service he began whilst playing for the Rabbitohs in 2007.
Jaiman is an experienced front row forward from the old-school mould of tough men. Carries the ball forward with gusto, hits hard in defence and still wears electrical tape around his head like his hero from the ‘60s and ‘70s John Sattler. Lowe intimidates his opposition when he takes the field in the red and green.
Jaiman was selected in the emerging Queensland State of Origin squad in 2005-06.
Who is David Peachey?
David Peachey was born in Dubbo in the Central West of NSW on 21 February 1974. ‘Peach’ stands 190cm tall and weighs in at 90kg, a footballer’s frame that can’t be mistaken for anyone other than the ‘Peach’.
David has earned himself legendary status in the game of Rugby League since graduating to the big time from the Dubbo Macquarie Club as a junior. Not only has played in over 250 NRL games for both the Cronulla Sharks and the Rabbitohs, he has also represented Country Origin, NSW on four occasions, and played for Australia in 1997.
David made his first grade debut with the Sharks against the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium on 3 June 2006, and finished with the Sharks in 2005, before an ill-fated stint with the Widnes Vikings in the UK Super League. Mid-season in 2006, Peachey joined the Rabbitohs and instantly became not only a crowd favourite but a leader of men amongst the playing group.
Not only is he respected for his on-field achievements, he is highly respected for the work he does amongst the community, particularly Indigenous communities across Australia. David is the founder of the David Peachey Foundation, is involved with the Croc Festival and is broadly regarded as an Aboriginal leader across the nation.
David was schooled at South Dubbo High School and studied Horticulture before furthering his Rugby League career.
David announced he would retire from elite Rugby League at the conclusion of the 2007 season, choosing to move into a role with the Rabbitohs’ community initiative Souths Cares. However he has pledged to play senior Rugby League with his son Wyndham who is currently 11 years of age, just as David played with his three uncles, Marshall, Martin and Michael, when he was a teenager.
David is one of the most experienced players in the game and one of the best fullbacks to have ever played Rugby League. His ability to control the game from the back, make breaks at will, set up his support players and defend like a demon are all traits that aspiring fullbacks emulate from Peachey’s game.
Who is John Sutton?
John Sutton was born in Sydney on 5 November 1984. ‘Sutto’ is 190cm tall and weighs 102kg.
A South Sydney junior from the Kensington United and Coogee Wombats clubs, Sutton won 10 premierships in succession with Kensington before progressing to the junior representative sides of the district.
Sutton broke into first grade for the Rabbitohs against the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium on 4 July 2004, and represented the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2005 against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
John is a keen surfer, calling the Maroubra Beach home.
John was schooled at South Sydney High School and has completed a level one Strength and Conditioning course through the Rabbitohs Club.
John Sutton came of age in the 2005 season with some blockbusting displays for the Rabbitohs, earning himself a place in the Kangaroos pre-season training squad in 2006. Sutton shifts between second-row, lock, five-eighth, and centre and is a strong performer in all positions.
Who is Sunny Abberton?
Sunny Abberton (Director, Writer, Producer) is a 34-year-old first-time writer, director and producer.
Sunny was born in Sydney, Australia, as the oldest of four brothers, and spent his formative years between Maroubra’s housing estates, New Zealand and a hippy commune in Nimbin. Sunny, and brothers Jai and Koby, were taught to surf by their grandfather and would find the beach their only escape from a troubled and destitute home life.
Sunny showed talent as a young surfer and left school at age 15 to pursue a career in the sport. Sunny competed on the competitive ASP Pro Tour in the late 1980s and early 1990s, in which he gained a reputation as one of the best junior surfers in the world. Fortuitously, this early career path took him to countries such as Brazil and South Africa where he was introduced to class injustices and economic oppression for the first time on a global scale.
While he was in Brazil, he discovered a children’s reading book written to teach the poorest Brazilian children about the Landless Movement, which was a turning point for Sunny. Through this piece of literature, he first gained an insight into the power of the arts to have the potential to enlighten and inform - particularly the young and the oppressed. Sensing parallels between the injustices experienced by the lower echelons of these societies, and the poverty he had witnessed in the housing commission estates of his native Maroubra, Sunny set out to create a voice which could inspire the youth of his own backyard. Thus the idea for BRA BOYS was born.
Meanwhile, back in Maroubra, an escalation in tensions among various Sydney communities was beginning to manifest in violence on Sydney’s eastern beaches. Gangs would regularly travel to the beaches and it sparked a series of bloody confrontations. The youth at Maroubra banded together to defend their beach and create a brotherhood to protect one another. Sunny was part of the resistance and, together with a small group of mates, formed a group they termed the Bra Boys.
From his days on the Pro Surf tours, Sunny had a wealth of experience in front of the camera, and he used this exposure to learn the tricks of the trade, through a mixture of osmosis and curiosity. Years of filming surf travelogues on home video cameras also helped to equip him for his first feature documentary shoot.
It was about six months into the filming of the documentary that his brother Jai was charged with murdering a Sydney standover man, a blow later amplified when his brother Koby was charged as an accessory after the fact. Together with a local production company Sunny spent an additional three years filming the central figures within the Bra Boys community, including the legal struggle of his two brothers.
He collected hundreds of hours of film out of which the Bra Boys documentary was compiled. Sunny was the writer, producer and director of the film.
As the informally appointed patriarch of both the Abberton family and then the larger group known as the Bra Boys, Sunny had always felt a deep responsibility for both the internal and external perception of the group. Through this documentary, Sunny hopes to give inspiration and a voice to the youth of Maroubra, and others in Australia who have grown up in similar circumstances, as well as provide an arena to share their experiences in a public forum.
Sunny currently lives at Maroubra Beach in Sydney, Australia. BRA BOYS is his first feature film and he currently has another two projects in development, one of which is a feature adaptation of the BRA BOYS documentary. Source – http://www.braboys.com.au
Who is Lote Tuqiri?
Lote Tuqiri is one of the best players in either Rugby code in Australia today.
A former player with the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and the Australian Kanagaroos, Tuqiri switched codes with much fanfare to the NSW Waratahs for the 2003 Super 12 Rugby season.
Tuqiri has played over 50 Tests for the Australian Wallabies and has over 50 Super Rugby caps to his name.
Tuqiri toyed with the prospect of switching back to Rugby League, with the Rabbitohs the leading Club to snatch his signature, however in March 2007 Tuqiri decided to re-sign with Rugby on a report five-year, $6 million deal.
Who is Eddie McGuire?
Eddie McGuire AM was born on 29 October 1964 in Melbourne, Victoria, and is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian Rules Football, particularly the Collingwood Football Club.
Eddie is a renowned journalist, sports broadcaster and business entrepreneur, well known for hosting the Australian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and The AFL Footy Show. He is the former CEO of the Nine Network resigning on 30 June 2007. McGuire is also the host of the Nine Network game show 1 vs. 100 and the current president of the Collingwood Football Club.
Who is Joe Williams?
Joe Williams was born on 4 September, 1983 in Cowra in Central West NSW. Nicknamed ‘Precious’, Williams stands 178cm tall and weighs in at 81kg.
Moving to the Southern inland city of Wagga Wagga as a child, he played with the Lakes Raiders before moving to Sydney when Roosters Recruitment Manager and former prominent Aboriginal footballer Arthur Beetson spotted him and brought him to Sydney.
Williams won the Jersey Flegg Grand Final for the Roosters in 2002, kicking the match-winning field goal, before shifting to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2004. Williams made his first grade debut in round 12 of the 2004 premiership when the Rabbitohs took on the Sharks at Toyota Park on 29 May.
Joe’s form has see-sawed since making his debut, moving in and out of the first grade side over the past four seasons at the Rabbitohs. A noted goalkicker, Williams has all the ball-handling skills of the top halfbacks in the competition, largely due to his touch football background, a game in which he has played at representative levels.
Joe is the father of two children, son Brodi and daughter Phoenix, and is passionate about his family, children and music. Joe is a talented singer and guitarist and has performed on television a number of times.
Joe is also passionate about his Aboriginal heritage, helping his communities of South Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Cowra on countless occasions. Joe also travelled to Central Australia as part of NASCA’s ARM Tour in late 2006.
Joe was schooled at Marcellin College in Randwick, St Michael’s in Wagga Wagga and Trinity Senior High School in Wagga Wagga. He has also completed a level one Strength and Conditioning course during his time at the Rabbitohs.
Williams signed with the Toulouse Club in the French Rugby League for the French 2007-8 season, but a late offer from the Penrith Panthers will see Joe remain in the NRL for the 2008 season.
Who is David Kidwell?
David Kidwell was born on 23 April 1977 in Christchurch, New Zealand. ‘Kid’ as he is known to his team mates stands 188cm tall and weighs in at 104kg.
David’s career has been a much celebrated one, starting at his junior Club of the Hornby Panthers and progressing to lead his country of New Zealand on to the field of Rugby League battle.
After leaving New Zealand, Kidwell made his first grade debut for the now defunct Adelaide Rams in the 1997 Super League competition against the Canberra Raiders at Canberra Stadium on 17 August. Kidwell spent two seasons in Adelaide before spending the 1999 and 2000 seasons at the Parramatta Eels. He then ventured overseas and spent 2001 with the Warrington Wolves in the UK Super League before returning to Australia to the Sydney Roosters in 2002. Kidwell then headed south of the border to the Melbourne Storm, spending four years with the Club from 2003 to 2006 and playing in the 2006 Grand Final against the Brisbane Broncos before returning to Sydney in 2007 to pull on the red and green jersey of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Kidwell suffered a debilitating knee injury in a freakish accident whilst at home playing with his daughters on 7 April 2007, an injury that would rule him out for the remainder of the season.
A veteran of 175 first grade games, Kidwell has also represented New Zealand on 24 occasions between 1999 and 2006.
David is a keen golfer and tennis player and likes spending time with his young family in their South Sydney home.
Kidwell was schooled at Hillmorton High School in Christchurch and has completed a Small Business course and First Aid courses at university.
Kidwell is one of the most damaging and aggressive players in the NRL, and has developed into a world-class leader of men both on and off the field. Kidwell is passionate about football and his team mates, as was evidenced by his performances for the Storm and the Rabbitohs, particularly in the 2006 Grand Final, and whilst representing his country, New Zealand.
Who is Ray Chesterton?
Ray Chesterton is a respected Rugby League journalist who works for Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
Chesterton has been one of Rugby League’s leading journalists for a number of decades, and is also a respected author and book reviewer.
Chesterton was part of an esteemed panel who selected the South Sydney Dream Team, the all-time greatest Rabbitohs team which was selected in 2004.
Chesterton has been vocal supporter of the ‘no’ vote against the privatisation of the Rabbitohs.
Who is Errol Alcott?
Errol Alcott is the Director of Athletic Performance for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Joining the Rabbitohs in June 2006, Alcott moved to the Rabbitohs from Cricket Australia, where he had been the Australian cricket team's head physiotherapist for the past 22 years. Alcott is responsible for physical performance and the rehabilitation department.
Michael Brown, Cricket Australia's General manager of Cricket Operation, led tributes to Errol: "Errol goes to South Sydney with our best possible wishes. He's been an outstanding servant to Australian cricket for the last 22 years and has assisted countless international cricketers over 10 Ashes series and many other important moments during a period in global cricket when Australia has, for the most part, been top of cricket's tree. Errol's positive impact on the Australian team dressing room over the past two decades has been immense.
"I had a meeting with Errol yesterday and completely understand his desire to take up the job at South Sydney. We're yet to determine whether he has a role to play in the upcoming Ashes series. In the coming weeks and together with our stakeholders we'll be working through the options available to us in terms of the physiotherapist who works with the Australian men's team during the 3 mobile Ashes campaign."
Commenting on the past 22 years and his new role, Errol Alcott said: "I feel very privileged and lucky to have been involved in the careers of so many of this country's cricketing personalities. Part of me is sad that this time with the team is coming to an end but I am looking forward to the new challenges in my professional life. I believe I've left a legacy to the sport and have many fond memories including three victorious assaults on the cricket World Cup, and eight successful Ashes campaigns out of ten from 1986 to 2005."
Former Australian Cricket Captain Steve Waugh described him as, “the best in the business.”
Errol started out with the South Sydney Club many years ago before moving to St George and then the Australian Cricket team.
Errol began his work with the Australian cricket team on the 1983-84 tour of West Indies. During his time, Australia has played 243 Test matches with a success rate of 51.44% - the most successful team during this period. Australia participated in 516 ODIs during the same period with the best success rate of all international teams of 64.73% (Statistics courtesy of Ross Dundas).
Who is Dr Andrew McDonald?
Dr Andrew McDonald is the Rabbitohs Club Doctor.
Dr McDonald has been with the Club since 1996, helping to treat and manage the Rabbitohs players injuries and rehabilitations.
Dr McDonald also works with the Sydney FC Soccer Club and has a medical practice on Bronte Rd in Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Who is Reni Maitua?
Reni Maitua was born on 11 June 1982 in Paddington, NSW.
Standing 180cm tall and weighing in at 98kg, Maitua is a South Sydney junior that has risen to the heights of representing Australia.
‘Tooty’ as he is nicknamed, moved to the Bulldogs in 2002 after playing junior representative football with South Sydney. A Coogee Wombats junior, Maitua plays lock forward but can fill in anywhere in the halves, the centres and back-row.
Making his first grade debut for the Bulldogs against Parramatta on 13 March 2004, Maitua quickly rose to stardom, claiming his first representative jersey as part of the 2005 City Origin side, and eventually playing for Australia in the opening match of the 2006 Tri-nations series.
Who is Ralph Vale?
Ralph Vale is the alter-ego of Rabbitohs forward Dean Widders. Ralph is an underachieving, loudly-spoken bush footballer from Dean’s home town of Armidale, who is trying to get a start with the Rabbitohs.
Ralph makes prank phone calls to important members of the Rugby League administration, gives journalists tip-offs about big issues in the game, and professes to have taught Widders everything he knows.
Ralph became a star of SSFC-TV and has built a cult following amongst Rabbitohs fans.
Who is Mark Ellison?
Mark Ellison is the Assistant Coach of the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
‘Rhino’ as he is nicknamed from his playing days, assists Head Coach Jason Taylor throughout the 2007 NRL season, after having previously supported Shaun McRae and Arthur Kitinas at the Rabbitohs in recent seasons.
Mark played five seasons with the Rabbitohs in 1984, '87, '88, '89 and '90, playing 84 games for 378 points including ten tries, 165 goals and eight field goals.
Mark also played for the Sharks in 1985 and '86, and the Dragons in 1991 for a total of 107 first grade games for 412 points (12 tries, 178 goals, 8 field goals)
Mark was an integral part of the Rabbitohs 1989 team that won the minor premiership, the last South Sydney outfit to qualify for the semi finals prior to the qualification of the 2007 side.
Who is Craig Wing?
Craig Wing is one of the leading players in the NRL, and he will return to the Rabbitohs in 2008 on a four season deal.
Wing, 27, came up through the junior representative grades with the Rabbitohs and burst on to the NRL scene in 1998 and 1999 with South Sydney, playing 41 first grade games for the Rabbitohs prior to the Club being omitted from the NRL competition in 2000 and 2001.The NSW and Australian representative has played 228 NRL games in a glittering career which has featured four grand finals including a premiership win in 2002.
A Coogee Randwick junior from the South Sydney Juniors stable, Wing has represented Australia in 16 Tests from 2002 to 2005 including a Kangaroo Tour in 2003 and Tri-nations tournaments in 2004 and 2005. He has also represented NSW on 10 occasions from 2003 to 2006, and City Origin in five matches in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Craig was the 933rd first grade player for the Rabbitohs.
Who is Paul Mellor?
Paul Mellor was born on 21 August, 1974 in Sydney, NSW. ‘Big Bird’ as he is known in Rugby League circles stands 190cm tall and weighs in at 108kg.
A South Sydney junior from the Matraville Tigers Club, Mellor is the youngest Rabbitoh in history having made his first grade debut at the age of 16 years and 10 months on 30 June 1991 against the Gold Coast Seagulls.
Mellor has played 17 seasons at the highest level spanning 221 NRL games scoring 90 tries. He has played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs (1991-96; 2006-07), Bulldogs (1997-98), Cronulla Sharks (1999-2002; 2005) and the Castleford Tigers in the UK (2003-04).
Mellor does a lot of work with South Sydney Juniors, helping to bring through the next generation of young player, and he also helps coach his sons’ teams in the Cronulla junior league.
Mellor was schooled at Marist Brothers in Pagewood, completing his Higher School Certificate before studying a Bachelor of Human Movement at the Australian Catholic University. He has also completed a level strength and conditioning course through the Rabbitohs.
Mellor is a powerful runner of the ball, safe under the high ball and solid defender.
Mellor played his final game of Rugby League in the 2007 Qualifying Final against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on 8 September 2007 at Brookvale Oval, electing to retire from the game at the conclusion of his 2007 season.
Who is Joe Galuvao?
Joe Galuvao was born on 8 July 1978 in Auckland, New Zealand, his country which he would go on to represent on four occasions.
Standing 180cm tall and weighing 105kg, ‘Smokin’ Joe’ as he is known to his team mates was once part of the world’s best second-row combination with Kiwi team mate Tony Puletua.
Joe made his first grade debut on 2 May 1998 with the Auckland Warriors against the Roosters, staying with the Warriors until 2000 when he left for Penrith. Galuvao and Puletua became a formidable unit during the 2003 season playing with the premiership-winning Penrith Panthers, before joining the Rabbitohs for the 2006 season.
Galuvao played four tests for New Zealand at the peak of his powers in 2003 and 2004.
Galuvao has amassed 128 NRL games to date in his career, playing only a handful of games with the Rabbitohs in 2007. Galuvao spent most of the season in Premier League with the North Sydney Bears before shifting to Queensland Cup feeder Club Easts Tigers, helping them to a semi finals berth.
A deeply religious man, Galuvao is involved heavily in SEEC helping islander children in the western suburbs of Sydney. He finished high school at James Cook High in Manurewa in New Zealand and is currently studying a diploma in Youth Recreation. He has also completed small business and physical education courses at TAFE.
Who is Roy Asotasi?
Roy Asotasi was born on 6 January 1982 in Auckland, New Zealand, the country which he now captains in the test arena.
Standing 184cm tall and 103kg, Asotasi is rated as the best prop-forward on the planet, intimidating his opposition with his destructive running-style, powerful defence and fearsome attitude towards the game.
Asotasi played five seasons with the Bulldogs from 2002 to 2006, making his first grade debut against the Raiders at Canberra Stadium on 25 August 2002, going on to win the 2004 premiership with the ‘Dogs against the Roosters.
Asotasi was one of the Rabbitohs marquee signings for 2007 and he paid the Club back in spades with his performances throughout the season.
Aostasi is also setting himself for life after football, completing a small business management course at TAFE and working one day a week with one of Australia’s leading commercial real estate agents.
Asotasi was appointed to the position of captain of the New Zealand Kiwis prior to the Anzac Test in May 2007, and was named co-captain of the Rabbitohs in 2007 as well.
Judged by experts as the premier front-row forward in the game, he has developed into a world-class prop, leading the New Zealand Test side over the past two seasons. He carries defenders on his back when taking the ball ahead and hands out big hits in defence on numerous occasions in each game he plays, with the footwork of a back. Roy signed with the Rabbitohs until the end of 2011.