'He means so much to our club': Rabbitohs to do Satts proud

South Sydney players watched a video of John Sattler talking about the camaraderie he shared with his former teammates as they prepare to play in his honour against Manly.

The Rabbitohs will wear a John Sattler tribute jersey featuring the famous ‘torn rabbit’ logo from the 1970 grand final that has become part of Australian folklore due to Sattler's heroics in playing 77 minutes with a shattered jaw.

At the 13th minute of play, Rabbitohs supporters group, The Burrow, will lead a round of applause, paying homage to the No.13 jersey worn by Sattler in his four premiership victories as South Sydney captain in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971.

Such is the esteem with which Sattler, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, is held that the Sea Eagles have encouraged their fans to join the tribute to the man who led Souths to victory against them in the 1970 grand final.

Souths coach Jason Demetriou said he didn’t have to tell his players the significance of the former Australian captain’s passing earlier this week – despite his last game for the club being more than 50 years ago.  

“We talk about opportunities to represent the jersey and this weekend is an opportunity for us to represent someone who means so much to so many people at our club,” Demetriou said.

“Satts has been down at training many times over the years, and to pre-season launches and big events.

He also was right next to George Piggins at the front in the marches that got the club back into the NRL.

“His contribution on the field is well known, but off the field it is just as big and I think that is what the players resonate with.

“We listened to a talk he did a few years ago in which he spoke about his team-mates and about how much they meant to him and how they are great mates now.

“That probably represents what John was like. He was a bloke who just loved his team-mates and loved being out on the field with them so hopefully we can replicate that on Saturday night.”   

The Sattler family, including son Scott, will be joined by Souths officials in a guard of honour as the team takes to the field against Manly, and a minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off.

“To have Scott and the family there is going to be really special, and it shows how much he meant to our club that we have created a jersey in his name that we are going to wear,” Demetriou said.

“It is not just a jersey that we are selling; the players are going to get an opportunity to represent in it and that is special, and it is something we treasure dearly.”

Demetriou is in his second season as Rabbitohs coach after moving to Redfern with Wayne Bennett in 2019 following their bitter departure from Brisbane after the Broncos lured Anthony Seibold from Souths.

Seibold is now in charge of Manly and he and Demetriou will go head-to-head as rival coaches for the first time at Accor Stadium on Saturday night but any bad blood that previously existed between them now appears to have gone.

“I think the way the Broncos thing ended was an emotional time for all of us,” Demetriou said.

“Up until that point I hadn’t even met Anthony, and I’ve met him a couple of times since then. He seems like a decent bloke and it’s great to see young coaches back in the game.

“It was brutal in Brisbane and also with the abuse he copped on the web, and for his family. as well. No one wants that and no one wants to see any coach go through that.

“We’ll battle it out on game day and we’ll want to get one over each other, but outside of that, we need to support each other, otherwise we’re on our own. It can be a lonely job head coaching.”

Seibold revealed that Wallabies coach Eddie Jones had helped him come to terms with his unhappy departure from the Broncos when he worked under him with the England rugby union team.

“It’s a growth in myself as a coach and myself as a person,” Seibold said. “I think one of the people who really helped me with that is Eddie Jones …  spending time with Eddie for two years and seeing how he handles things.

“At different times you could handle things better or differently, but I’ve moved on. All that stuff is in the past and I’m really focused on this group and trying to help them reach their potential.”

After working at the Rabbitohs as an assistant to Michael Maguire before taking over the reins as head coach in 2018, Seibold is expecting Souths to be at their best and wants his players to also pay respect to Sattler.