2007 Season
The Rabbitohs announced a series of big-name player signings for season 2007 including Roy Asotasi and Daniel Irvine (prop and hooker from the Bulldogs), David Kidwell (back row forward from Melbourne), Nigel Vagana (centre from Cronulla), Dean Widders (utility forward from Parramatta) and Jeremy Smith (half-back from Parramatta). Of these, Roy Asotasi, was extremely popular with fans as he is currently considered by many as one of the top three prop forwards in the game. As a result of this recruitment, Souths were able to field the most internationals (8) in a game since 1975. They were Kiwis Nigel Vagana, David Kidwell, Roy Asotasi, Joe Galuvao and David Fa'alogo and Kangaroos David Peachey and Shannon Hegarty.
Off-field the club had secured Jason Taylor (former Parramatta coach to be assistant coach at Souths), Mark Hughes (former Head of Recruitment at the Bulldogs), Errol Alcott (formerly Australian cricket team's head physiotherapist), Anthony Mundine (appointed as Indigenous Liaison Officer) and former NZ cricket captain Martin Crowe (as a board member).
Markedly improved results were shown on the field with South Sydney winning their first three games of the 2007 season (marking their best start to a season since 1972) and being competitive in every game. On the back of one of the best defenses in the competition, the Rabbitohs finished strongly, making the semi finals for the first time since 1989. They finished the season in 7th position with 12 wins. Souths' season ended in the first week of the finals, losing 30 - 6 to the Manly - Warringah Sea Eagles(who they had beaten in a regular season match only a few weeks before, prompting hope among the Rabbitoh faithful that a repeat victory and a serious finals campaign was possible) at Brookvale Oval.
Read more about this topic: History Of The South Sydney Rabbitohs
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