Buzz Rothfield spends his NRL grand final with South Sydney Rabbitohs saviour George Piggins
IT was a grand way to welcome back George Piggins, with the Rabbitohs breaking their premiership drought and chants of “Saint George Piggins” as Phil Rothfield found out.
Opinion
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SOUTH Sydney’s 43-year premiership drought is over and their favourite son and saviour is back.
The man who went to court, marched, mortgaged his house and coached free of charge watched alongside old 1971 team mates John Sattler and Bobby McCarthy in his first game for almost a decade.
The Daily Telegraph spent the night alongside the Rabbitohs legend, lapping up some of the old rough-house moments that were a trademark of his game.
The arrival
When Piggins walked into the ground at around 5pm it marked exactly 3130 days — or 471 weeks — since he’d last been to the football to watch the Rabbitohs play.
That afternoon on March, 12, 2006 old rivals the Sydney Roosters flogged Souths 40-22 at ANZ Stadium. John Sutton was the sole survivor from that team.
Piggins attended the game last night with his wife Nolene and best mates Norm Lipson, Dr Jim Lahood and his cousin Peter, who sat with him as directors on the old Souths board.
The fans
He is immediately recognised and cheered by Souths fans.
On the way to level five the lift stops on the third floor where Rabbitohs supporters notice him. They start chanting: “Saint George Piggins” “Saint George Piggins” “Saint George Piggins.”
He’s embarrassed but waves to them and smiles.
The NRL suite
The PM Tony Abbott, former PM John Howard, the governor-general Peter Cosgrove and the Premier Mike Baird are among the guests.
But old George steals the show. Everyone wants to say hello.
He stops first to chat to Joyce and Rod Churchill. It becomes a handshake-a-thon.
The only awkward moment was when Souths chairman Nick Pappas walks over to say hello.
They shake hands, exchange some small talk, but look uncomfortable.
His minder Norm Lipson shakes his head.
We move to the TAB suite where George thanks the betting organisation for their $50,000 donation. Three professors from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Peter Bye, William Bye and Ann Bye are there and insist on being photographed with Rabbitohs legend.
The start
George is reunited with his old team mates Bobby McCarthy and John Sattler.
We’ve moved to the same suite where the Australian selectors are gathered to pick the Clive Churchill Medal winner.
George is ripping into the party pies and enjoys a cup of tea.
He hasn’t had a drink since he was 15:
“It used to make me a little bit violent so I gave it away.”
Souths start strongly but Piggins shows little emotion.
Well, not until Alex Johnston scores. He gets to his feet and claps.
“Even in the old days George was never one to be out of his seat yelling and screaming,” Peter Lahood says.
Mario Fenech is sitting in the seat in front of him and going absolutely troppo.
At half-time Piggins is confident. He says the 6-nil scoreline is not a true indication of the Rabbitohs’ superiority in the first half.
He says he’s happy to be back watching it live but misses the loungeroom, the air-conditioning, the big plasma and all the comforts of home.
Russell Crowe is sitting just three suites from us but the pair don’t cross paths.
Second half
The Bulldogs level up at 6-all before big George Burgess crashes over under the posts with about 20 minutes to go.
Piggins marvels at his size and power — a bit like McCarthy in the old days.
He’s out of his seat again, this time showing more animation and excitement.
The NRL are loving having him back.
Their sponsorship boss Mat Raward is an old Souths fan who personally delivered the tickets to Piggins’ home on Thursday.
“I almost cried when I got to his house, knowing he was coming to the football.”
The winners
The result didn’t matter because, win or lose, this was a most worthwhile exercise.
That Men of League, OzHarvest and Sydney Children’s Hospital all shared $120,000 from the generosity of John Singleton, the TAB and a Sydney car dealer.
This was a victory for broken old footballers, the homeless and sick kids.
Plus, we got the old warhorse back where he belongs.
HIGHLIGHT
Russell Crowe bringing the old bell to ANZ Stadium on his boat down the Parramatta river and the atmosphere at ANZ Stadium when his security man Spud Carroll took it onto the field
LOWLIGHT:
The Sharks finishing last in the sprint relay. Sums up our season.
RIVAL’S RESPECT
Even the Canterbury Bulldogs were ecstatic to see George Piggins back at the football last night. Before the game their chairman Dr George Peponis offered the Rabbitohs legend tickets to the Canterbury Leagues club corporate suite, just in case he was uncomfortable with Souths officials.
HOTPOT HARES
There’s no doubting the incredible popularity of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. More than 140,000 individual bets were placed on Souths with the TAB to win matches and the premiership during the season, making them the most popular sporting team in Australia with punters.
STILL THE ONE
Channel Nine spared no expense to ensure a world class coverage of last night’s game.
They even paid more than $2 million for a new sideline special-effects camera, imported from Europe. It only arrived in the country on Thursday.
SHOWING THE FAITH
Two punters had $2,000 on the Bulldogs with the TAB to win the premiership at $41 after they lost to the Gold Coast Titans in the last round of the competition, going into last night’s game with the chance of winning $82,000.
SPOTTED
Dragons immortal Graham Langlands wearing a Rabbitohs pin and cheering for his great old rivals.
SPOTTED II
Kerry O’Keeffe lapping up the hospitality in the NRL Legends room.
Originally published as Buzz Rothfield spends his NRL grand final with South Sydney Rabbitohs saviour George Piggins
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