2014: The Year the Drought Ended
The modern era of the South Sydney Rabbitohs reached its defining moment on Sunday 5 October 2014, when the Club claimed its 21st Premiership with a commanding 30–6 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.
In front of 83,833 fans, South Sydney delivered a performance that was as composed as it was powerful, ending a 43-year wait for Premiership glory. Led by captain John Sutton, the Rabbitohs rose above the occasion with a complete team effort — disciplined in defence, clinical in attack, and unshakeable under pressure.
The Premiership capped a season of dominance. Finishing third on the ladder, South Sydney set the benchmark across the competition, leading the NRL in tackle breaks, try assists, dummy-half metres and defensive efficiency. It was a squad built on balance — the power of Sam Burgess, the control of Adam Reynolds, the creativity of Greg Inglis and the emergence of a new generation.
One of those new faces was Alex Johnston. In his debut season, Johnston finished as the Club’s leading try-scorer, crossing 21 times and announcing himself as one of the game’s most lethal finishers. Around him, experience stood tall. Lote Tuqiri found his best form when it mattered most, while Sam Burgess — in his final season before departing for the northern hemisphere — produced a campaign that would earn him every major Club award.
Off the field, the momentum was just as strong. Membership surged past 30,000 for the first time, average home crowds climbed to more than 22,000, and belief in the Red and Green reached heights not seen in generations.
The 2014 Premiership wasn’t just a win — it was a turning point. A reward for patience, loyalty and resilience. A moment that redefined what the modern Rabbitohs could be.
And a reminder that through decades of waiting, rebuilding and believing, since 1908, South Sydney is still here.
