Enough already - kick them out, permanently

[gUt]

The Rabbitohs have got to go. They are an embarrassment to the code. Inept displays, stupid name, empty stadium, overrated coach, too many chances, no fans, no hope. Every time this bunch of amatuers wins a game, it's an event.

There are too many Sydney teams. Sydney needs to be given a shake-up to get people going to the game. Move Souths to the Central Coast or to Perth or somewhere, or if they refuse to move, cut them out of the game altogether. Wake the Sydney 'fans' up that they could lose their teams if they contimue to stay away from the games.

History be damned, to make your roses bloom you need to give them a hard pruning.

 

[The Brizz]

I agree with all this, get a billion people to march for a side none of them actually go and watch play. They are a joke they should be merged with another Sydney team or relocated away from Sydney, they are a circus on and off the field. The idea that this would really scare Sydney supporters of other teams is a good point to because we look like an embarrassment when you look at the crowds most of the Melbourne AFL teams get every week, the worst they have is North Melbourne and they are trying there hardest to move them.

 

[Nashy]

Couldn't agree more. The little legal loophole that saw them come back in last time needs to be closed, and we need to get rid of them.

They are an absolute discrace and don't deserve to be in the NRL. There are other cities who would appreciate a team far more.

Their supporter base at the courts have never seen them live, they have played terrible since they came back again, and they still haven't got enough money to buy more than one decent player.

I'm sorry, but they need to shutdown the franchise, and send the invite to another city.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

I have been wanting them out ever since they were let back in. They are a joke. Their fan base only cares when they arent in the comp. The players dont look like they even care, and as a mate of mine observed, it looks as they the players are happy with their own performance and thats it. If they themself play well, thats ok, who cares how the team goes. Its quickly turning into a graveyard for nrl players, its where they go to die... vagana, heggarty, peachy, and now imo wing and asotasi will go that way unless they get out soon.

 

[Guest]

I have been wanting them out ever since they were let back in. They are a joke. Their fan base only cares when they arent in the comp. The players dont look like they even care, and as a mate of mine observed, it looks as they the players are happy with their own performance and thats it. If they themself play well, thats ok, who cares how the team goes. Its quickly turning into a graveyard for nrl players, its where they go to die... vagana, heggarty, peachy, and now imo wing and asotasi will go that way unless they get out soon.

Don't forget Widders - a guy who asked to be dropped!

 

[Kan Huang]

Is it me or I can't help but also notice the amount of Kiwi juniors they've got in that squad? Not understanding what's wrong with the club at the moment because they've certainly got some talent there but they just simply can't execute for one reason or the other. They're almost like the Dragons in the way they shoot themselves in the foot rather than getting beaten by the better team on the day.

Me believes they need to address the culture at the club and instil a bit more confidence and an atmosphere of dominance there before they can really enter matches believing they're a real chance because at the moment they look like a squad that has very little of it. Hear what you like in the media, but I don't think Souths have that proud tradition and culture they had and it hasn't been around for over a decade now.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

I have been wanting them out ever since they were let back in. They are a joke. Their fan base only cares when they arent in the comp. The players dont look like they even care, and as a mate of mine observed, it looks as they the players are happy with their own performance and thats it. If they themself play well, thats ok, who cares how the team goes. Its quickly turning into a graveyard for nrl players, its where they go to die... vagana, heggarty, peachy, and now imo wing and asotasi will go that way unless they get out soon.

Don't forget Widders - a guy who asked to be dropped!

Good point! and can anyone honestly say that if sutton was at a better club he wouldnt be about 10 times better than he is at souths.

 

[Guest]

I'd actually throw Sutton into the "never to be heard of again" column if he was somewhere else. He;d be like Craig Field - a shining light in a crap team who would quickly become a crap light in a shining team!

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

I'd actually throw Sutton into the "never to be heard of again" column if he was somewhere else. He;d be like Craig Field - a shining light in a crap team who would quickly become a crap light in a shining team!

Yeah that could also be true, i just always thought he had potential and a decent coach and team would bring that out in him, but theres the other side of the coin which you covered which is probably a more likely scenario lol.

 

[Guest]

they have played terrible since they came back again

8 teams played more terrible than Souths last year

 

[Nashy]

they have played terrible since they came back again

8 teams played more terrible than Souths last year

Who cares about last year alone.

What about the other years they played. They were out for two years weren't they?

8 Years of crap, with 1 year where they barely made it through.

 

[Guest]

they have played terrible since they came back again

8 teams played more terrible than Souths last year

Who cares about last year alone.

What about the other years they played. They were out for two years weren't they?

8 Years of crap, with 1 year where they barely made it through.

And the team this year is pretty much the same as last - I'm not buying the "Craig Wing is injured that's why we're crap" argument. Are they honestly contributing to the NRL in any positive way? I say no.

 

[QUEENSLANDER]

they have played terrible since they came back again

8 teams played more terrible than Souths last year

Who cares about last year alone.

What about the other years they played. They were out for two years weren't they?

8 Years of crap, with 1 year where they barely made it through.

And the team this year is pretty much the same as last - I'm not buying the "Craig Wing is injured that's why we're crap" argument. Are they honestly contributing to the NRL in any positive way? I say no.

They are contributing to the TAB though! Its hilarious how u can bet on win / if they will a game lol

 

[Coxy]

they have played terrible since they came back again

8 teams played more terrible than Souths last year

9 actually.

But I don't get your point. If a team plays less mediocre than usual for 1 season, does that excuse the rest?

Prior to 2007, Souths last made the finals in 1989.

1990: 16/16
1991: 14/16
1992: 14/16
1993: 14/16
1994: 9/16
1995: 18/20
1996: 19/20
1997: 10/12
1998: 18/20
1999: 12/17
2000-2001: kicked out
2002: 14/15 (Bulldogs last because they had 37 points deducted for salary cap, still only 6 points behind Souths)
2003: 15/15
2004: 15/15
2005: 13/15
2006: 15/15
2007: 7/16

So that's 4 wooden spoons since 1989, and in fact, 3 wooden spoons in the last 5 seasons.

Then let's look at average home crowds in that time:

1990: 8772 (12/16)
1991: 10449 (11/16)
1992: 11785 (5/16)
1993: 9796 (11/16)
1994: 13429 (7/16)
1995: 7709 (18/20)
1996: 5031 (20/20)
1997: 5287 (12/12)
1998: 6085 (20/20)
1999: 12356 (12/17)
2002: 14790 (4/15) - their glorious return, where they effectively ran last
2003: 9524 (14/15) - back to form, only Melbourne behind them
2004: 11381 (14/15)
2005: 12028 (14/15) - again, only Melbourne behind them
2006: 10612 (14/15) - only the Warriors behind them
2007: 15702 (7/16) - matched their position on the ladder, funnily enough
2008: 21408 (4/16) - spurred on by the promise of better things to come...watch this number plummet over the coming months

Agree with gUt. Relocate or perish.

 

[schmix]

I agree that something needs to be done, but I don't think relocation is the answer. Imagine that all your life you've been waiting for a local NRL team, and when that day finally comes all you get is bloody souths! I don't think any town would embrace them, let alone the central coast who, IMO, gave up their chance of getting a relocated team when they rejected the Northern Eagles. You can't stick them in Perth or Adelaide or some other non-league city either, because for league to succeed in those areas you need a successful team (a la Melbourne).

I'm also hesitant to say kick them out all together, only because I can't imagine what it would feel like to have the Broncos gone and would hate for all the really loyal Souths fans (like Bree) to be left out in the cold. I would guess that they'd reject the game altogether, and we can't afford to be losing supporters like that.

Any thoughts on a merge? Possibly with the Sharks? - another team that, while they haven't been as consistently abysmal as souths, I think have seriously underperformed in their time in the comp. They're also geographically one of the closest teams, and a red, green and baby blue jersey would be brilliantly ugly [eusa_clap.gi

 

[Coxy]

Any thoughts on a merge? Possibly with the Sharks? - another team that, while they haven't been as consistently abysmal as souths, I think have seriously underperformed in their time in the comp. They're also geographically one of the closest teams, and a red, green and baby blue jersey would be brilliantly ugly [eusa_clap.gi

Touche! [icon_frown

Thing is, those loyal souths fans (all 2000 of them) won't accept anything but their own time. I think that's fine, but their team doesn't belong in the NRL. NSW Cup maybe, but not the NRL.

 

[Nashy]

I don't see Sharks as being a problem anymore schmix. Stuart has them playing really good footy, I think they will be a real annoyance in the finals this year to be hoenst.

It's a shame about the fans yes, but I think it's for the good of the game.

 

[Coxy]

I don't see Sharks as being a problem anymore schmix. Stuart has them playing really good footy, I think they will be a real annoyance in the finals this year to be hoenst.

Right, so you jump on someone who defends Souths based on their performance last year, but you defend the Sharks based on their performance this year.

Let's have a quick (less detailed) history lesson on the Sharks shall we.

Joined comp: 1967
Grand Finals contested: 3
Grand Finals won: Nil

Geographically their area of control is very slim. Their junior catchment is quite rich, but it's small. The club itself isn't financially strong. It stadium is boutique, but will never hold more than 20000 people.

A merger with Souths makes sense. Southern Sydney Sharks. I like.