Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of our community I congratulate the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs on winning the 2014 NRL premiership. The Rabbitohs first grand final win since 1971 has uplifted our community. It has been wonderful to see members of the community wearing their red and green and to see homes and businesses draped in the club's colours. But, most importantly, it has been wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of young kids who have fulfilled the dream of seeing their team win a grand final.

It has been a long journey back for Souths since they were booted out of the competition in 1999. But they never gave up and many have worked hard to see them get where they are today—No. 1.

I wish to congratulate and thank George Piggins; Nick Pappas and the board; Russell Crowe; Peter Holmes a Court; Shane Richardson; the management team at the Rabbitohs; and, most importantly, the team, led ably by Maroubra boy Johnny Sutton. Thank you for your sacrifice, your hard work and your determination to become No. 1 again.

I want to pay special tribute to the coach, Michael Maguire, who summed up Souths' evolution a couple of days before the grand final when he said, 'With Souths we used to hope, now we believe.' Michael Maguire has instilled that belief in the team, it has resulted in a premiership and he is worthy of the praise of our community.

I am proud to be a lifelong Rabbitohs supporter and I am honoured to have worked with the team, the management and Souths Cares, their charity arm. I look forward to working with the Rabbitohs in the future. Up the mighty Rabbitohs!