The missing 2023 report:
Rabbit in the vineyard, much like his team in the second half of 2023, went missing in action after Round 27 last season – temporarily lost. However, there was cause for celebration through the Dean Hawkins-Blake Taaffe inspired Souths NSW Cup team – 2023 premiers and NRL club champions.
There was also a Tanunda Club Friday night catch up with JTH – and the $400.00 members’ cash jackpot … that wasn’t!
I was as flat as the Glenelg surf as Round 27 Friday night football loomed large – the season had fallen apart. We had been towelled up in Newcastle the previous round, Latrell had a brain snap late in the game meaning that, once again, he was unavailable for a crucial NRL game.
I had contemplated avoiding the game altogether, perhaps tune in on ABC Grandstand while doing other things, the season was as good as over.
Until a text from JTH proposing a Tanunda Club meal and viewing of Round 27, Souths versus the Sombrero, who were waiting to hammer the final nail into the 2023 coffin, displace us in the top 8, and play finals.
Whilst enjoying our delicious Tanunda Club meals, we noticed the members cash draws names on the wall behind us.
Souths were going to miss the finals, however $400.00 cash into the wallet would soften the blow.
Minor issue: my name had been called out the previous Friday evening, staff had not updated the details.
Not even the well-connected JTH could weave any magic.
I was a week late.
Summed up the 2023 NRL season as a Rabbitohs member!
2023 NRL Round 27
Sydney Football Stadium
Roosters 26 d Souths 12; half-time Roosters 10-6
Souths points: Tries: Murray 19’, Chee Kam 55’. Goals: Ilias 2/2.
Souths line up: Taaffe (last NRL game for Souths, yet again in place of the suspended Latrell), Johnston, Tass, Graham, Thompson, Walker, Ilias, Tetola, Cook, S Mitchell, Koloamatangi, Chee Kam, Murray (capt.) Res: Arrow, Duncan, Sele, Moale.
‘Highlights’
Rabbitohs v Roosters – Round 27, 2023 | NRL.com
Press conference:
Rabbitohs: Round 27 | Watch (nrl.com)
Souths finished the season ninth – twelve wins, twelve losses.
Four wins from the last thirteen rounds of the season, after eight wins in the first eleven rounds, including wins over the Storm in Magic Round, the Broncos in Brisbane, and a memorable Anzac round win over the premiers.
What could have been?
The Roosters-Sombrero-Evil Empire, deservedly finished 7th.
For the first time since 2017, Souths were not playing finals. 2014 premiership coach Michael Maguire was shown the door at the end of the 2017 season, replaced by a Mr Anthony Siebold, who was 2018 Dally M coach of the year, after steering Souths to the Preliminary Final. Seibold subsequently saw greener fields at Red Hill, signing a long-term, big money deal with the Broncos.
Jason Demetriou had his contract extended following the 2023 post-season review – a season where Souths had led the competition after Round 11, yet somehow missed the finals. John Morris left to coach with Benji at the Tigers, while Sam Burgess left the building early to coach Warrington.
BUT, as the 2023 finals rolled on, there was much joy via the NSW Cup side.
2023 NSW Cup premiers – 2023 National Club Champions:
While the NRL side tumbled out of contention, the Souths NSW Cup side were moving in the opposite direction – after a sluggish start to the season.
Stories in abundance throughout the squad, including: young gun winger Tyrone Munro, who debuted in the NRL across the ditch when Souths convincingly defeated the Warriors 28-6, on a beautiful Auckland evening of driving rain; Latrell’s older brother Shaq, who lost many, many kilograms and overcame mental health issues to play NRL; Ethan O’Neill, son of Julian, Yileen ‘Buddy’ Gordon, redefining the term ‘journeyman’ – debuted for Souths in 2005, also played for the Dogs and Penrith, the last of his 71 NRL games was in 2011 for the Panthers, Buddy now is a key man in the ‘Souths Cares’ community program at the club; Dean Hawkins, the NSW Cup player of the year; 2021 NRL Grand Final fullback Blake Taaffe; Dane Gagai’s brother Jacob; and other young guns including the ‘Greek God’ Peter Mamouzelos, former Parkes Spacemen player Ben Lovett, and Tallis Duncan (yes, he is named after the ‘Raging Bull’ Gorden Tallis).
As their highly paid club mates seemed to lose their ability to play as a team in both attack and defence, Joe O’Callaghan’s men were on a roll, winning 8 of their last 10 games of the home and away season, including six straight leading into the finals where the ‘Reggies’ downed the Warriors 26-12 in the Preliminary Final, then fellow foundation club the North Sydney Bears in the major semi 30-14.
The NSW Cup grand final was a rematch of the major semi-final, Souths hanging on to defeat the Bears 22-18.
This win was Souths 21st Reserve Grade premiership; the club’s first was 1913. Before 2023, the ‘Reggies’ last tasted premiership success in 1983.
Souths would go on to challenge Brisbane’s Easts Tigers in the NRL club championship on grand final day.
This was a most comprehensive victory: 42-22.
Blake Taaffe, player of the match in the NSW Cup grand final, left Souths for Canterbury with two 2023 winners’ medals.
2023 NSW Cup Grand Final
Souths v North Sydney
Parramatta Stadium
24/9/23
Souths 22 d North Sydney 18: Souths points: Tries: Carr, S Mitchell, Munro, O’Neill. Goals: Hawkins 3.
Match Highlights – Rabbitohs vs Bears Grand Final (youtube.com)
2023 NRL State Cup Grand Final
Souths v Brisbane Easts Tigers
Sydney Olympic Stadium
1/10/23
Souths 44 d Brisbane Easts Tigers 22
Souths points: Tries Munro 10’, Carr 18’, Munro 37’, O’Neill 49’, Teaupa 51’, Munro 55’, Carr 71’, Duncan 75’. Goals: Hawkins 5/8. Half-time Souths 12-6.
Souths 2023 NRL National Club Championship winning side:
Taaffe, Carr, Thompson, Gagai, Munro, Teaupa, Hawkins (capt.), S Mitchell, Mamouzelos, Gray, French, O’Neill, Duncan. Res: Gardiner, Rahme, Skelton, Gordon.
South Sydney win the 2023 NSW Cup for the first time in 40 years | NSWRL
Barossa Valley red wine of the week:
Due to illness (and a course of antibiotics) there is no addition to the Barossa Valley red wine list during bye week.
Can possibly make up for lost ground during Origin.
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
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About Russel Hansen
Russel Hansen Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country. He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder. He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters. Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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