The Comeback, 2002-04 Seasons
After being ousted from the NRL league competition in 1999, the Rabbitohs were granted re-admission in 2002 after court action led by Sydney solicitor, Nick Pappas. Shortly after reinstatement was achieved, Pappas succeeded George Piggins as chairman of the club.
Not surprisingly, after having to create an entirely new team for the season, the Rabbitohs were not at their former best and performed disappointingly during their return season. Be that as it may, they did manage to notch up wins over various clubs, including two over Canberra. 2003 saw the team finish as wooden spooners, but they did acquire various new players including Bryan Fletcher, Ashley Harrison, Justin Smith, Luke MacDougall and Mark Minichello. 2004 was another less-than-successful campaign on the field. Off the field, however, the league world was shocked by the announcement that Penrith CEO Shane Richardson would be quitting his post there to join the Rabbitohs.
Richardson had previously led the Penrith Panthers football club to their second ever Premiership in 2003 against the Sydney Roosters.
At the time Richardson said words to the effect of "bringing this club back to its previous success will be the challenge of my life. It will be tough, but I expect this club to be competing in the NRL finals in 2008"
Read more about this topic: History Of The South Sydney Rabbitohs
Famous quotes containing the word seasons:
“I will venture to affirm, that the three seasons wherein our corn has miscarried did no more contribute to our present misery, than one spoonful of water thrown upon a rat already drowned would contribute to his death; and that the present plentiful harvest, although it should be followed by a dozen ensuing, would no more restore us, than it would the rat aforesaid to put him near the fire, which might indeed warm his fur-coat, but never bring him back to life.”
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745)