Friday night marks the 230th match-up between the two oldest teams in Australian rugby league, heritage clubs Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs.
They have been linked since 1908, where South Sydney beat the then named Eastern Suburbs 14-12 in the inaugural grand final.
The clubs have enjoyed a healthy rivalry, with South Sydney having won only 15 more head-to-head clashes. When Australian Kangaroos regular Ron Coote defected from South Sydney to Easts in 1972, the rivalry went up another level to pure hatred.
Since then, there has been a smattering of players who have donned both the tri-colours and the cardinal and myrtle. This week, the Roosters have signed Nathan Brown, who although not named in the Round 3 side, will join this list.
Here is the best side from the NRL era of those who have played for these two famous clubs.
1. Latrell Mitchell
Sydney Roosters – 96 matches – 2 premierships
South Sydney – 50 matches
This one is a no-brainer. Mitchell started in the Roosters SG Ball Cup team, before being rushed into the NRL side as a baby-faced 18-year-old. From there, he featured prominently as a centre in the Roosters’ back-to-back title-winning sides of 2018-19. Instead of staying put in search of a three-peat, Mitchell chose the club he supported as a child for the chance to play fullback.
Latrell Mitchell is one of the NRL’s biggest stars. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
2. Shannon Hegarty
Sydney Roosters – 109 matches – 1 premiership
South Sydney – 59 matches
Shannon Hegarty was a hard-nosed, undersized winger who ran the ball hard and had a knack of scoring important tries. Playing three games for Queensland in 2003, he featured heavily in the early 2000s Roosters sides. He played in four grand finals, and scored the opening try in the 2002 victory against the Warriors. After losing the 2004 Grand final to the Bulldogs, Hegarty played four years on the flank for South Sydney.
3. Adam MacDougall
Sydney Roosters – 6 matches
South Sydney – 31 matches
Most fans would remember Adam ‘Mad Dog’ MacDougall from his time with the Newcastle Knights, where he famously had a longstanding feud with Wendell Sailor. However he started his career at the Roosters and also had a stint at South Sydney. Today he is the man behind ‘The Man Shake’, a weight loss shake which has made him a wealthy man.
4. Shane Rigon
Sydney Roosters – 84 matches – 1 grand final
South Sydney – 99 matches
Shane Rigon had a handy career spanning 213 first grade games. Playing off the bench for the Roosters 2000 grand final loss to the Broncos, the lock/centre then moved to Bradford for one year, before returning home to play 99 games for the cellar-dweller Rabbitohs.
5. Chris Walker
South Sydney – 5 matches
Sydney Roosters – 47 matches
Chris Walker is the only man on this list to have played for both clubs in the same season. Whilst not the only player to do so, his controversial mid-season move to the Roosters in 2003 saw him receive death threats in the mail. A talented journeyman who played for six NRL clubs, his career was marred by a handful of incidents which eventually saw him sacked from his 2006 stint with the Melbourne Storm.
6. Luke Keary
South Sydney – 65 matches – 1 premiership
Sydney Roosters – 118 matches – 2 premierships
Luke Keary famously split from the Rabbitohs after a confrontation with team owner Russell Crowe at his farm near Coffs Harbour in 2016. At that point he was a premiership winner, playing off the bench for the 2014 drought-breaking side. Since then, he has won two premierships with the Roosters, joining a short but illustrious list of players who have a premiership at both clubs.
Luke Keary is a vital part of the Roosters’ attack. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
7. Craig Wing
South Sydney – 71 matches
Sydney Roosters – 185 matches – 1 premiership
Craig Wing was a South Sydney junior who debuted for the Bunnies just before they were booted from the competition in 1999. Moving to the cross-town rivals was the lifeline to continue his career and it thrived. Wing would go onto feature in four grand finals, 12 origins and 17 Tests before returning to South Sydney in 2008.
8. David Kidwell
Sydney Roosters – 19 matches
South Sydney – 38 matches
A hard hitting front rower, whose eventual coaching resume revealed an impeccable footballing brain, Kidwell featured heavily for the Kiwis over his career, playing 25 tests for New Zealand. Whilst he did not play in the 2002 Grand Final, Kidwell was an important squad member playing 19 games in that campaign. After playing the bulk of his career in Melbourne, Kidwell returned to Sydney to finish his playing career with Souths.
9. Mick Crocker
Sydney Roosters – 92 matches – 1 premiership
South Sydney – 68 matches
Whilst not remembered as a hooker, this Queensland Maroons stalwart found himself as the starting dummy-half for the Roosters in their 2003 Grand Final loss to Penrith. Having already won in 2002, success seemed to follow Crocker throughout his career. In his three years at Melbourne, Crocker lost only three games. After picking up a second grand final win, Crocker found himself at South Sydney, after a failed visa application blocked a Super League move. Crocker may have played in a sixth grand final if he did not retire at the end of 2013.
10. Peter Cusack
Sydney Roosters – 95 matches – 1 premiership
South Sydney – 73 matches
Another Arthur Beetson discovery, Cusack featured heavily in the early 2000s dominant Roosters sides, winning their clubman of the year in 2002. When he moved to Souths in 2005 he replicated that effort, winning the George Piggins Medal. Cusack would eventually co-captain the side.
11. Ashley Harrison
South Sydney – 66 matches
Sydney Roosters – 41 matches
Playing close to 300 NRL games and a mainstay of Queensland’s dominant streak in Origin, Harrison captained the South Sydney Rabbitohs during his 66 games there. His move to the Roosters was not so successful, as the club went through two years of disappointment. Harrison eventually found his long term home, playing 117 games at the Gold Coast Titans.
Bryan Fletcher in action for the Roosters. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
12. Bryan Fletcher
Sydney Roosters – 135 matches – 1 premiership
South Sydney – 45 matches
The less decorated of the comedic duo Fletch and Hindy, Bryan Fletcher grew up in the eastern suburbs playing for the Paddington Colts. He eventually debuted for the Roosters and was fast tracked to representative honours. After his infamous ‘hand grenade’ celebration in Origin, and a try scoring effort in the 2002 premiership win, Fletcher defected to South Sydney to captain the side in their early years post re-admission to the NRL.
13. Angus Crichton
South Sydney – 55 matches
Sydney Roosters – 87 matches – 1 premiership
Angus Crichton came through the Roosters junior system whilst starring for Scots College in rugby union. Also a part of the Waratahs system, it was Souths who gave him his first opportunity when the ‘Tahs told him he would have to wait a few more years. Crichton played three years at Souths before signing for the Roosters, the team he supported since birth. Crichton was part of the 2019 premiership winning side and is currently away from the game while he deals with personal issues.
Bench:
14. Dean Widders
Sydney Roosters – 13 matches
South Sydney – 34 matches
15. Mark Minichiello
Sydney Roosters – 1 match
South Sydney – 85 matches
16. Glenn Hall
South Sydney – 19 matches
Sydney Roosters – 2 matches
17. Scott Logan
Sydney Roosters – 78 matches
South Sydney – 22 matches
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