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, 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.4th Annual Report of the South Sydney Rabbitohs
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.
Preseason The Rabbitohs played three pre-season games in 2009.
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report8 FebruaryReturn to Redfern Wests TigersATP Performance Centre, Redfern26–305,00014 FebruaryCoffs Harbour Trial Penrith PanthersBCU International Stad., Coffs Harbour38–428 FebruaryCharity Shield St. George Illawarra DragonsANZ Stadium, Sydney18–625,871 Legend:
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Score Attendance Report15 March1 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, Sydney52–1224,48620 March2 Parramatta EelsANZ Stadium, Sydney8–1420,87129 March3 Newcastle KnightsBluetongue Stadium, Central Coast22–1215,2775 April4 New Zealand WarriorsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland22–1619,38613 April5 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney12–1422,77518 April6 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesANZ Stadium, Sydney8–2414,22524 April7 Cronulla SharksANZ Stadium, Sydney32–2611,2082 May8 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold Coast14–22 9BYE17 May10 Wests TigersSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney23–2229,97022 May11 Parramatta EelsANZ Stadium, Sydney16–1610,6701 June12 Canberra RaidersANZ Stadium, Sydney18–349,8056 June13 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville12–46 13 June14 Melbourne Stormnib Stadium, Perth22–2815,19815BYE29 June16 Newcastle KnightsAusgrid Stadium, Newcastle20–2514,2044 July17 Wests TigersANZ Stadium, Sydney20–5414,85610 July18 Penrith PanthersANZ Stadium, Sydney36–129,01717 July19 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane44–1250,10927 July20 Sydney RoostersANZ Stadium, Sydney40–2011,0312 August21 Canterbury BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney18–2624,2178 August22 Manly Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, Manly36–2215,70214 August23 Gold Coast TitansANZ Stadium, Sydney14–2211,97722 August24 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium, Penrith10–4014,21429 August25 St. George Illawarra DragonsANZ Stadium, Sydney41–619,2185 September26 Cronulla SharksToyota Stadium, Cronulla26–2414,879
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
Ladder
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:
Player statistics Player Appearances Tries Goals Field Goals Total Points – – – – – –
Representative honours Player All Stars Anzac Test Pacific Test City / Country State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Four Nations
References