2026 NRL – The Prospector’s Pickaxe: Random Souths Guy

 

 

Have you heard of the ‘Random Souths Guy’ phenomenon? It is a real thing. People bobbing up in South Sydney jerseys at all sorts of events and in all parts of the world. So real, in fact, that South Sydney has trademarked the term ‘random souths guy”’and there is a Facebook page with 47000 followers. I had my own experience last week.

I was heading south on Olsen Avenue in Labrador on Friday afternoon. I passed a large group of worshippers leaving the local mosque after the midday prayers when I spotted a ‘random Souths Guy’. He was a normal looking bloke, about my age, bespectacled, and he had a pretty good head of steam up, but was sweating profusely, so I decided to offer him a lift. This is how the conversation went.

 

Me: G’day mate, you look like you could use a lift. Jump in.

RSG: That would be great Thank you. That is what we Australians do, we look after one another.

Me: Where are you off to?

RSG: The Gold Coast University Hospital tram stop, thanks.

Me: Sure thing, that is a bit of a hike

RSG: I was going to take the 719 Bus. There is a stop just up here somewhere, by the looks of the map. It is important to use public transport whenever you can, especially given the way things are lately.

Me: What is your name, anyway?

RSG: Ah, Tony.

Me: What are you up to Tony?

Tony: I have just been to midday prayers down at the Mosque.

Me: In your Souths jersey?

Tony: Well, I wasn’t really there for the prayers, it was more just to show them my support.

Me: (I let that one go through to the keeper) Gee, it is still warm for the end of March, Tony.

Tony: Yes, it is getting hotter every year. The bloody planet is heating up, no doubt about it. We need to do more about it. Where are you heading?

Me: I am heading up to Bunnings at Crestwood Heights to get a few things.

Tony: I hope you are not after Jerry cans, I have heard they have sold out of them.

Me: No, I am after a Drill bit and some screws. Are you from around here, Tony?

Tony: No, I am from Sydney. Grew up there, housing commission. My mum brought me up on her own. We did it tough, but it was good. That is when I developed a lifelong love of the Cardinal and Myrtle.

Me: Wasn’t it great seeing Alex Johnson break Ken Irvine’s record. I would have loved to have been there. That was a truly historic moment.

Tony: I was lucky enough to be there actually. It was fantastic.

Me: Did you run onto the field when he scored?

Tony: Yeah, I did sneak on the field for a little while, but I didn’t want to risk getting a fine. I waited until everyone else went out there. I don’t think anyone even noticed I was out there. This is a nice car, what is it?

Me: Isuzu D Max 3.0 L turbo diesel.

Tony: Bloody hell, Diesel. Have you had to sell a Kidney yet to keep it running?

Me: Not far off mate, but not yet.

Tony: Have you thought about buying an EV? A good mate of mine in Sydney, Chris, he swears by them, says everybody should have one.

Me: Not really, maybe one day I might.

 

By now, we are at the lights at Olsen Ave and Napper Rd.

 

Tony: (He spots the Pearl Energy servo across the road). Geez, look at the price of Diesel over there. $3.30 a litre. I didn’t realise it was that expensive. Makes you wonder what the ACCC is doing? Not much by the looks of it?

Me: Well, with everything going on in the Middle East, I suppose you can’t expect anything less. Are you following what is going on over there?

Tony: Very confusing part of the world, the Middle East. A woman at work, Penny, she always banging on about it, but it goes over my head, most of it.

Me: Fair enough, are you connecting to a tram or are you going to Helensvale to get on the heavy rail to go up to Brisbane? Do you know that there are rail strikes up here now?

Tony: No, I am getting on another tram, heading south. What are they striking about?

Me: The usual, higher wages, less hours, more holidays. There is one odd thing they want, Pet Bereavement Leave. Have you ever heard of anything more ridiculous?

Tony: Pet Bereavement Leave. My wife and I have a Cavoodle, it runs the house, not me. We would be devastated if she passed away.  I think there may be some merit in that. Interesting.

Me: Souths have got the Bulldogs next. Should be a tough one for your blokes?

Tony: I think we will get them, but they are a great club the Bulldogs, multiculturalism, inclusion, diversity. They are a great example of what modern Australia can be. But Souths are no slouches in that area. We have a really little bloke at the back, plenty of indigenous boys, friends from the Pacific nations and PNG, a couple of rogues and even a Greek hooker, not to mention a bloody old coach, no Ageism at the Bunnies. Do you live near here?

Me: Next set of lights, turn right, couple of blocks from there.

Tony: Nice, do you own any investment properties?

Me: No, I used to have one. I sold it when I retired a couple of years ago. I probably should have held on for a bit longer.

Tony: I think you made the right move, mate.

Me Well, we are here now. Just head down the escalator, and you are set.

Tony: All the best, thanks for the lift. Much appreciated.

 

I headed off to Bunnings and went about my business. He seemed like a nice enough bloke, but I had a nagging feeling that I knew him from somewhere. Probably not, I concluded.

 

To read more by Mark Shannon click here.

 

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