How a raw chook, a mascot and a pregame speech exposed a young Rabbitoh to NRL’s fiercest rivalry

A bizarre new chapter has been written in the Book of Feuds. This is how a raw chook, South Sydney’s Harold Matthews side and Reggie the Rabbit exposed a 15-year-old Souths junior to the NRL’s fiercest rivalry.

The first time Peter Mamouzelos realised the rivalry between South Sydney and the Roosters might be a bit intense, a mascot mauled a raw chicken in the sheds before a game.

It was a lot to take in for a 15-year-old, but it set the tone for steady hatred between the clubs that flows through junior grades into the rival NRL sides who face off again on Friday night.

The South Sydney hooker was just a teenager playing Harold Matthews Cup back in 2017, when, before a game at Redfern Oval, beloved club mascot Reggie Rabbit brought a raw chook into the sheds.

In a rare insight into the emotionally charged rivalry between the two clubs, the now 24-year-old details an eye-opening pregame pump up where a perfectly good piece of meat was demolished in the name of sporting theatre.

“I remember when I was playing Harold Matts, we had Reggie the Rabbit come in before our game against the Roosters and he gave us a little speech,” Mamouzelos says.

Peter Mamouzelos revealed a Reggie Rabbit story.

“He brought in a raw chicken and he said, ‘This morning, I went out and I caught myself a chicken’ and he started pulling out this raw chicken and all us boys, we were 15 years old, looking at each other like, ‘What’s going on?’

“From a young age, it’s taught to you as a Souths player to hate the Roosters and as a Roosters player, to hate Souths.”

Call it crazy, but it worked.

He’s not sure what became of the poor chicken, but Souths beat the Roosters 28-14 that day.

“Everyone was gee’d, everyone ran out ready to run through a brick wall,” he continues.

“Hopefully Reggie does it again (on Friday), get the boys up for it.

“It’s a special week, the fans get around it and obviously the proud history that both clubs have. Over the years it’s always a game that you circle.

Peter Mamouzelos on the rivalry.

“I’ve only played two (NRL) games (against them now). You can tell you go to another level when you verse them. I can’t wait to run out there on Friday, get amongst it, feel the atmosphere.”

A Souths junior, Mamouzelos has come into his own in 2025 as the club’s starting hooker.

However, he says there’s no concern about the club signing Roosters hooker Brandon Smith from next season and what that will mean to his game time.

“I spoke to Wayne (Bennett) about the whole situation, he’s made me feel really good and comfortable,” he said.

“Wayne’s just given me a simple role this year, just to be Pete and play to the best of my ability. We’ll see when Brandon comes next year how it all pans out. My main focus is this year.

Now with three wins from their first four games his confidence is soaring.

“I just feel like my patience has rewarded me now. I’ve had a lot of time to work on my game, and now that I’m here I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and do my best every week for the team,” he says.

“Souths have given me a great opportunity to learn under Damien Cook, who’s been a great player for so long. Now I’m at the stage in my career where I’m starting and playing big minutes and I’m really enjoying it.”