2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season explained
The 2009 South Sydney Rabbitohs season in Australian rugby league was the 100th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership, and despite being in 1st position at some points during the year and scoring over 500 points in a season for the first time,[1] they finished 10th out of 16 teams and so failed to reach the play-offs.
In Round 25, South Sydney defeated the minor premiers St. George Illawarra Dragons 41 to 6. This is the only loss greater than 20 points the Dragons have suffered since Wayne Bennett's inception as coach.
John Sutton was awarded the George Piggins Medal for Souths player of the year.[2]
On the ensuing 'Mad Monday', coach Jason Taylor and forward David Fa'alogo were involved in a drunken altercation and both sacked from the club. This prompted the club's co-owner Russell Crowe to write an 800-word letter of apology to a Sydney newspaper.[3]
Pre season
The Rabbitohs played three pre-season games in 2009.
Regular season
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Score | Attendance | Report |
|---|
| 15 March | 1 | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 52–12 | 24,486 | [7] |
| 20 March | 2 | Parramatta Eels | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 8–14 | 20,871 | http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Eels-Round-2-2009.html |
| 29 March | 3 | Newcastle Knights | Bluetongue Stadium, Central Coast | 22–12 | 15,277 | [8] |
| 5 April | 4 | New Zealand Warriors | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland | 22–16 | 19,386 | [9] |
| 13 April | 5 | Canterbury Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 12–14 | 22,775 | [10] |
| 18 April | 6 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 8–24 | 14,225 | [11] |
| 24 April | 7 | Cronulla Sharks | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 32–26 | 11,208 | [12] |
| 2 May | 8 | Gold Coast Titans | Skilled Park, Gold Coast | 14–22 | | [13] |
| 9 | BYE | | | | | |
| 17 May | 10 | Wests Tigers | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 23–22 | 29,970 | https://web.archive.org/web/20100104144141/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Tigers-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-10-2009.html |
| 22 May | 11 | Parramatta Eels | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 16–16 | 10,670 | https://web.archive.org/web/20091218112010/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Eels-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-11-2009.html |
| 1 June | 12 | Canberra Raiders | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 18–34 | 9,805 | http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Raiders-Round-12-2009.html |
| 6 June | 13 | North Queensland Cowboys | Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville | 12–46 | | https://web.archive.org/web/20100105223325/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Cowboys-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-13-2009.html |
| 13 June | 14 | Melbourne Storm | nib Stadium, Perth | 22–28 | 15,198 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223643/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Storm-Round-14-2009-in-Perth.html |
| 15 | BYE | | | | | |
| 29 June | 16 | Newcastle Knights | Ausgrid Stadium, Newcastle | 20–25 | 14,204 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223758/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Live-Scores-Knights-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-16-2009.html |
| 4 July | 17 | Wests Tigers | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 20–54 | 14,856 | https://web.archive.org/web/20091003215144/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au//News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Tigers-Round-17-2009.html |
| 10 July | 18 | Penrith Panthers | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 36–12 | 9,017 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223505/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Panthers-Round-18-2009.html |
| 17 July | 19 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 44–12 | 50,109 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223505/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Panthers-Round-18-2009.html |
| 27 July | 20 | Sydney Roosters | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 40–20 | 11,031 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223515/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Roosters-Round-20-2009-Ron-Coote-Cup.html |
| 2 August | 21 | Canterbury Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 18–26 | 24,217 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223539/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Bulldogs-Round-21-2009.html |
| 8 August | 22 | Manly Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Manly | 36–22 | 15,702 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223547/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Live-Scores-Sea-Eagles-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-22-2009.html |
| 14 August | 23 | Gold Coast Titans | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 14–22 | 11,977 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223559/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Titans-Round-23-2009.html |
| 22 August | 24 | Penrith Panthers | Penrith Stadium, Penrith | 10–40 | 14,214 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223609/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-for-Rabbitohs-vs-Panthers-Round-24-2009.html |
| 29 August | 25 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | 41–6 | 19,218 | https://web.archive.org/web/20120324223619/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Dragons-Round-25-2009.html |
| 5 September | 26 | Cronulla Sharks | Toyota Stadium, Cronulla | 26–24 | 14,879 | https://web.archive.org/web/20100808095319/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Sharks-Round-26-2009.html |
|
Statistics
| Player | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Total Points |
|---|
| Nathan Merritt | 19 | 0 | 1 | 77 |
| Fetuli Talanoa | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| Colin Best | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Rhys Wesser | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Eddy Pettybourne | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Chris Sandow | 3 | 60 | 1 | 133 |
| Issac Luke | 4 | 15 | 0 | 46 |
| Craig Wing | 6 | 1 | 0 | 26 |
| Luke Capewell | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Beau Champion | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| David Kidwell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| David Fa'alogo | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Roy Asotasi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Luke Stuart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Michael Crocker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Jamie Simpson | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| John Sutton | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| David Tyrrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Chris McQueen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Junior Vaivai | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ben Lowe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Scott Geddes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
Kit and Sponsors
National Australia Bank
The National Australia Bank was the Rabbitohs major home sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.
DeLonghi
DeLonghi was the major away sponsor for the Rabbitohs in the 2009 Telstra Premiership.
V8 Supercars Australia
V8 Supercars was the Rabbitohs major sleeve sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.
Virgin Blue
Virgin Blue was the Rabbitohs major training sponsor for the 2009 Telstra Premiership.
2009 squad
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20090328000118/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Players-2009.html
Notes and References
- News: Walter . Brad . Crowe declares the new-look Rabbitohs as best squad in decades . League HQ (smh.com.au) . 28 November 2009 . 1 December 2009.
- http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/Media/docs/4th-Member-Co-Annual-Report-fe147152-4473-4702-8ad4-0e2bd23817a2.pdf 4th Annual Report
- News: No room for any sympathy by Russell Crowe/. The Daily Telegraph.
- News: Tigers 30 – Rabbitohs 26 at Redfern Oval. https://web.archive.org/web/20090212112900/https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Return-to-Redfern-Match.html. 19 January 2018. 12 February 2009. 8 February 2009.
- News: Rabbitohs Romp Over Panthers in Coffs Harbour. https://web.archive.org/web/20090223180922/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Rabbitohs-Romp-Over-Panthers-in-Coffs-Harbour.html. 23 February 2009. 19 January 2018. 14 February 2009. rabbitohs.com.au.
- News: Rabbitohs Win Back-to-Back Charity Shields. https://web.archive.org/web/20090525184420/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-2009-Charity-Shield.html. 25 May 2009. 19 January 2018. 28 February 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead.
- News: Rabbitohs 52 defeat Roosters 12. https://web.archive.org/web/20100107181851/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Roosters-vs-Rabbitohs.html. 7 January 2010. 19 January 2018. 15 March 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Rabbitohs 22 defeat Knights 12. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410102745/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Knights-Round-3-2009.html. 10 April 2012. 19 January 2018. 29 March 2009. rabbitohs.com.au.
- News: Rabbitohs 22 defeat Warriors 16. https://web.archive.org/web/20100107142742/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-from-Rabbitohs-vs-Warriors-Round-4-2009.html. 7 January 2010. 19 January 2018. 5 April 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Bulldogs 14 defeat Rabbitohs 12. https://web.archive.org/web/20100106233844/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Bulldogs-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-5-2009.html. 6 January 2010. 19 January 2018. 13 April 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead.
- News: Sea Eagles 24 defeat Rabbitohs 8. https://web.archive.org/web/20100212140553/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Sea-Eagles-Round-6-2009.html. 12 February 2010. 19 January 2018. 18 April 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead. dmy-all.
- News: Rabbitohs 32 defeat Sharks 26. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410102715/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Rabbitohs-vs-Sharks-Round-7-2009.html. 10 April 2012. 19 January 2018. 24 April 2009. rabbitohs.com.au.
- News: Titans 22 defeat Rabbitoghs 14. https://web.archive.org/web/20100107213157/http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Match-Previews--Reports/Live-Scores-Titans-vs-Rabbitohs-Round-8-2009.html. 7 January 2010. 19 January 2018. 2 May 2009. rabbitohs.com.au. dead. dmy-all.
