Maloney Family’s Rabbitohs Connection Continues with Incredible $50,000 Gesture

A connection to South Sydney stretching back more than 60 years has continued through another remarkable act of support, with Kevin Maloney donating $50,000 directly to Jai Arrow at a recent Family of League function at The Juniors Kingsford. Kevin is the son of Joe Maloney, who played an important role in recruitment for the Rabbitohs during the 1960s and helped bring some of the most significant players in the Club’s history to South Sydney. Among those recruited by Maloney were Rabbitohs legends John Sattler, Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote, three men who would go on to become central figures in one of the greatest eras in the Club’s history.

“We Want You to Play for South Sydney”

Joe Maloney was involved in the recruitment of John Sattler ahead of his move to South Sydney, with a simple message delivered to the young forward: “We want you to play for South Sydney.” Sattler signed with the Rabbitohs at the end of the 1962 season and went on to play 195 premiership matches for the Club between 1963 and 1972, all in first grade. He captained South Sydney to five consecutive Grand Finals between 1967 and 1971, lifting the premiership trophy on four occasions. His place in rugby league folklore was cemented in the 1970 Grand Final, when he famously played the final 77 minutes of the match with a shattered jaw as the Rabbitohs defeated Manly. Maloney also helped recruit Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote, who would become integral members of South Sydney’s premiership-winning sides and two of the finest players to wear the Cardinal and Myrtle. More than six decades later, the Maloney family’s connection to the Rabbitohs remains strong.

An Incredible Gesture for Jai

At a Family of League function at The Juniors Kingsford, Kevin Maloney made an extraordinary $50,000 donation directly to Jai Arrow, continuing the groundswell of support from across the Rugby League community. Family of League was established in 2002 by rugby league greats Ron Coote, Jim Hall and Max Brown to provide financial, social and emotional support to members of the Rugby League community doing it tough. Kevin’s gesture carries particular significance given the Maloney family’s longstanding association with South Sydney. Joe helped bring some of the Club’s greatest players to Redfern, while Kevin remains a passionate Rabbitohs supporter and has now stepped forward to support one of the current generation.

Kevin’s generous contribution is another example of that spirit and of a Rabbitohs connection that has continued across generations.