Themis
27-04-08, 10:00 AM
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/souths-faithful-owed-explanation-for-failure-piggins/2008/04/26/1208743316531.html
Adrian Proszenko | April 27, 2008
RABBITOHS patriarch George Piggins says the club's fans deserve an apology from co-owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court for predicting premiership glory in 2008.
The Rabbitohs crashed to their seventh consecutive defeat after losing 32-18 to Brisbane on Friday night and are firm favourites for the wooden spoon.
Piggins said Holmes a Court and Crowe created unrealistic expectations when they won their bitter batter for control of the club.
"I suppose when you come out in that meeting and say in the year 2008 we're going to win the competition, he owes them [fans] an apology because that's one of the selling points [of their campaign]," Piggins told The Sun-Herald."I'd like to tell you I wasn't on the board at that stage either, I haven't been on the board for six years.
"It was the way they tipped some of those [incumbent] board members out with that as a selling point: 'When you wake up in the morning I hope you're happy - and at the end of the day we'll win the comp in 2008'. Well, if you're going to win a comp [this year], you better get a shake on."
There were high hopes for the Rabbitohs this season after their fairytale finals appearance last year. Hollywood star Crowe, asked at the time of his takeover when fans could expect a 21st premiership, said: "2008 sounds good - the 100th year of the club. But I'm like that, I like things organised."
Premiership glory is the last thing on coach Jason Taylor's mind as he attempts to dig the club out of the mire. Piggins reiterated he had no intention of attending a Souths game or burying the hatchet with the club's new owners. "I don't intend to break bread with them," he said.
The man who led the fight for South Sydney's re-admission to the NRL in 2002 said the crisis would test the team's resolve.
"It's a good learning time for the coach to see if he can handle this sort of pressure," Piggins said."On law of averages, you'd say this season is gone. But if that's the way you coach and that's the way you play, you are gone."
And his message to long-suffering Souths fans: "They've got to realise now there's no magic wand."
Adrian Proszenko | April 27, 2008
RABBITOHS patriarch George Piggins says the club's fans deserve an apology from co-owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court for predicting premiership glory in 2008.
The Rabbitohs crashed to their seventh consecutive defeat after losing 32-18 to Brisbane on Friday night and are firm favourites for the wooden spoon.
Piggins said Holmes a Court and Crowe created unrealistic expectations when they won their bitter batter for control of the club.
"I suppose when you come out in that meeting and say in the year 2008 we're going to win the competition, he owes them [fans] an apology because that's one of the selling points [of their campaign]," Piggins told The Sun-Herald."I'd like to tell you I wasn't on the board at that stage either, I haven't been on the board for six years.
"It was the way they tipped some of those [incumbent] board members out with that as a selling point: 'When you wake up in the morning I hope you're happy - and at the end of the day we'll win the comp in 2008'. Well, if you're going to win a comp [this year], you better get a shake on."
There were high hopes for the Rabbitohs this season after their fairytale finals appearance last year. Hollywood star Crowe, asked at the time of his takeover when fans could expect a 21st premiership, said: "2008 sounds good - the 100th year of the club. But I'm like that, I like things organised."
Premiership glory is the last thing on coach Jason Taylor's mind as he attempts to dig the club out of the mire. Piggins reiterated he had no intention of attending a Souths game or burying the hatchet with the club's new owners. "I don't intend to break bread with them," he said.
The man who led the fight for South Sydney's re-admission to the NRL in 2002 said the crisis would test the team's resolve.
"It's a good learning time for the coach to see if he can handle this sort of pressure," Piggins said."On law of averages, you'd say this season is gone. But if that's the way you coach and that's the way you play, you are gone."
And his message to long-suffering Souths fans: "They've got to realise now there's no magic wand."