Rabbitohs unveil new $26 million Centre of Excellence at Heffron Park in Maroubra

News Corp was granted an exclusive tour of the state-of-the art Centre of Excellence which forced the Rabbitohs to leave its idolised Redfern after 70 years.

This is the $26m state-of-the art Centre of Excellence which forced the Rabbitohs to leave its idolised Redfern after 70 years.

South Sydney, the future has arrived.

News Corp was given an exclusive tour of the club’s ultra-modern two-level training facility at Heffron Park, Maroubra, which officially opened on Sunday morning.

As gut-wrenching as it was to leave Redfern Oval last Wednesday, South Sydney players were gobsmacked when shown the new high performance centre before holding their first field session on the adjacent oval.

This complex was 10 years in the planning and took three years to construct.

An adjoining community centre, which will open in coming months, will offer two full basketball courts and a gymnastics centre. The entire facility has cost $56m.

South Sydney's new Centre of Excellence. Picture: Gaye Gerard

South Sydney’s Centre of Excellence delivers an array of stunning facilities yet the theme is strong and consistent – embrace the future but never forget the past.

Murals and photos adorn multiple rooms and corridors displaying the clubs’ greats including Clive Churchill, John Sattler, John Sutton, Jack Rayner, Arthur Hennessey, George Piggins, Ron Coote, Mario Fenech, Harold Horder, Eric Simms, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess and Cam Murray.

There are photos of Souths’ first side in 1908, the fight-back reinstatement march and the day Souths played St George before a then record crowd of 78,056 in the 1965 grand final.

There is a detailed history wall along with another wall naming every player from every premiership-winning side. Meetings rooms are named in honour of club legends with club directors to meet in the Clive Churchill boardroom.

They may have left but Souths have taken Redfern with them.

The coach’s boardroom of the South Sydney's new Centre of Excellence. Picture: Gaye Gerard

There is an 80-seat lecture theatre, three indoors pools, two saunas, film and audio studio, player lounge, recreational areas, yoga and stretching area, running track, climate room, hydration station, physio room, doctor’s room, laundry, rotating hot and cold pools and an infra-red sauna.

Former Souths player Corey Murray, father of current skipper Cam, said: “I haven’t seen anything better. It’s magnificent, fantastic and incredibly impressive. Things have come a long way since the old days at Redfern.”

There are dedicated male and female dressing rooms along with a futuristic gymnasium with South Sydney monogrammed weights. There is a classroom for Souths Cares, the club’s charity arm, which seats 120 people.

The men’s change room has the player’s names and a photo above his seat along with graphics showing a playing number, achievements and the names of his partner and children.

The locker room of the South Sydney's new Centre of Excellence. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Walls around the dressing room include inspirational slogans including: Love the fight, we carry the soul of Redfern, win the moment, we frontload our energy, South Sydney till I die, winning mindset, respect the past – create the future, compete, connection over perfection, our way is what we fight for and it’s our time.

“It’s been a project 10 years in the making so to now be moved in and watching the players, coaches and staff see it for the first time, when they’ve heard so much about it, is overwhelming,” South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly said.

Thomas Burgess and Damien Cook with their daughters. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“We were really keen to ensure the great history and heritage that we built at Redfern came over to Maroubra. It was important to honour that history and heritage but also make sure there is an opportunity for people to create a new history.”

In the lobby is South Sydney’s reception area which includes a cafe where meals will be prepared for players. There will also be a retail shop and interactive area.

“Ice baths, steam rooms, all the medical rooms – it’s an amazing, state-of-the-art complex. This has got everything. You don’t have to leave the facility – it’s all under the one roof,” said former Souths player Darren Brown, who played 70 games for the Rabbitohs.

Campbell Graham at the memorabilia wall. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Latrell Mitchell and his daughter Aleena. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“I’d love to be playing today with all the privileges that they’ve got and I’m sure the players realise that. Times have certainly changed, for the better.”

The Souths’ complex – called the Usana Rabbitohs Centre – opens up onto the playing field. The $26m in funding came through grants from all three tiers of government and additional input from Souths.

Ex-Rabbitohs star Steve Mavin added: “I’m a little jealous it wasn’t around in my day back at the old Redfern Oval.

“It’s sort of sad not having Redfern as home base anymore but this is a great facility. It’s a modern Centre of Excellence – if you haven’t got one, you’re missing out.”

NRL players Jed Cartwright and Cody Walker in the theatre. Picture: Gaye Gerard

70 years, 10 titles: Souths legends, players farewell Redfern Oval

Farewell, old mate, and thanks for the 10 premierships.

After 70 glorious years, South Sydney have bid an emotional farewell to famous Redfern Oval.

First it was a home ground, and in later years their training facility, now it is consigned to the history books as the Rabbitohs’ NRL squad make the move from their spiritual home to the club’s new $56m Centre of Excellence at Heffron Park in Maroubra.

Hundreds of fans descended on Redfern Oval on Wednesday, joining club legends like George Piggins and Mario Fenech to celebrate Souths’ final ever training session at the venue — a captain’s run ahead of Thursday night’s match against the Dolphins in Brisbane, led by former Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett.

Latrell Mitchell walks on to Redfern Oval to a hero’s welcome. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Bunnies used the celebrated Chalmers Street venue as their home ground on their way to 10 of the club’s 21 grand final victories.

So it was fitting that Piggins, the club legend who led the Rabbitohs’ top-flight return two decades ago, was at the centre of the festivities.

Fans cheered the 78-year-old as the NRL playing squad mobbed him, bringing the Souths saviour inside their team circle in a stirring final Redfern tribute.

“It’s important for the players to understand the importance of taking this (Redfern) culture to Heffron. It is something special to take with us,” Souths coach Jason Demetriou said.

Piggins and Fenech joined modern-day heroes Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray in signing autographs and posing for photographs with fans who turned up, decked out in cardinal and myrtle.

It was a rare midweek flurry of activity, nestled among the area’s public housing estates and Victorian terraced housing.

Locals long ago dubbed Redfern Oval the Holy Land, the small ground dripping with colour, glamour, nostalgia and heroics.

“It’s a sad day we’re moving away to a new centre of excellence but the club is moving with the times,” former Souths halfback Craig ‘Tugger’ Coleman said.

Tom Burgess takes centre stage as George Piggins, flanked by captain Cameron Murray and assistant coach Sam Burgess, watch on. Picture: Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Souths legend Mario Fenech is all smiles with the fans. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Fans packed the grandstand at Redfern Oval. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

This was South Sydney’s home ground between 1947 and 1988 where so many legends perfected their craft, including Clive Churchill, Bob McCarthy, George Piggins, John Sattler, Bernie Purcell, Ron Coote, Craig Coleman, Elwyn Walters, Ian Moir, Mario Fenech, John O’Neill, Paul Sait, Jimmy Lisle, Ian Roberts and Jack Rayner.

Souths won premierships in 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971 and 2014 while playing and training at Redfern.

It is difficult to think of a more acclaimed Sydney suburban home ground than Redfern Oval. Perhaps only St George’s Jubilee Oval in Kogarah.

As exciting as the move to Maroubra is for Souths players and officials, there is a deep sadness at leaving the once working class Redfern.

Latrell Mitchell, George Piggins and Cody Walker. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Souths’ Tyran Smith against the Crushers in the last first-grade game at Redfern Oval in 1996. Picture: Mark Evans

“Redfern Oval was the epicentre of rugby league when we were growing up,” said McCarthy. “When I grew up, Souths had the glamour side of the 1950s and everyone wanted to get to Redfern Oval to watch guys like Churchill, Moir, Rayner and Purcell.

“Naturally enough, we all aspired to play there too when we grew up. It was hallowed turf. Everyone wanted to go to Redfern Oval.

“Clubs didn’t like playing against us because group of little old ladies who were Souths supporters would sit in the front row of the grandstand and hit opposition players as they walked in with their umbrellas. They would cry if we lost.”

This isn’t a final end to the Souths-Redfern association with the club’s junior representative teams to continue playing at the ground.

Before moving to Redfern, Souths played home games at the Sydney Showground and Sydney Sports Ground. Souths moved away to the newly-built Sydney Football Stadium in 1988 and then to Accor Stadium in 2006.

The late John Sattler heads for the dressing room after being sent off during Souths’ clash with Manly at Redfern Oval in 1967. Picture: Phil Merchant

“I grew up across the road so Redfern Oval was my backyard,” Coleman said. “Redfern Oval has given me the best memories of my life.

“I would hang around Redfern Oval as a kid when Souths had a golden era with John Sattler, George Piggins, Ronnie Coote, John O’Neill and Eric Simms, all my heroes.

“Then to later play first grade with Souths at Redfern Oval, in front of all the clubs’ fans, was unbelievable.”

But Redfern remained their spiritual home, a $19m revamp in the early 2000s gave players modern training facilities under a newly built grandstand.

The first NSWRL match played at Redfern was in April, 1948, where Souths and neighbours, Eastern Suburbs, drew 19-all. Souths Leagues Club operated opposite the ground on Chalmers Street until its closure in 2012.

Originally published as Rabbitohs unveil new $26 million Centre of Excellence at Heffron Park in Maroubra