Matt Caple remembers shedding tears the day the red and myrtles were kicked out of the competition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He has seen just about everything as a South Sydney fan – everything except a premiership.
Caple was born in 1971 – two days before the Rabbitohs downed St George 16-10 in front of more than 62,000 fans at the SCG – the last of their 20 premierships.
Souths haven’t featured in a decider since.
The historic club have the chance to erase 43 years of heartache on Sunday when they meet Canterbury in the NRL grand final and Mr Caple, from Heddon Greta, said he can’t wait to experience it.
“It means so much to me and my family,” he said.
“I think we’ve got the team to do it but, regardless of the result, I’m so proud of them.”
Caple has been to every Charity Shield game for the past 14 years; he was there when Souths were kicked out of the competition in 1999 and he was there when they won three wooden spoons on their return in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
He said he had supported Souths for as long as he could remember, which he has now passed on to his daughter, Lara.
“I was born into it,” he said.
“My mum’s side of the family were all from the Maroubra and Coogee area, everyone on that side supported Souths.
“Dad’s side was from Leichardt and supported Balmain, but he was converted to support Souths.
“I didn’t really have much of a choice.”
Caple said he could still remember the emotion he felt when the Rabbitohs were kicked out of the NRL after the Super League war of the late ’90s.
“My girlfriend at the time couldn’t understand why I was crying,” he said.
“They were just gone, they didn’t exist anymore.
“Everyone was shattered, we went on the march, dad has still got one of his placards from the day.”
Caple said it had been a long journey to the grand final and Sunday would be a day to savour.
“It feels like it has been building up to this,” he said.
“The team has been together for a while now, [Michael] Maguire has done an awesome job with them.
“I’d love them to win but to be honest I never thought I’d get to see them in a grand final.”
Mr Caple said he would be at ANZ Stadium for the game and, if John Sutton was to lift the premiership trophy on Sunday night, it would be one of the best days of his life.
Kick off is at 7.15pm.