QLD Premier Rugby 2025

[warhorse]

The loss of players at Souths is going to have a huge impact on club revenue. I know that clubs don't pocket many $ out of subs after having to fork out for insurance, team rego. fees, referee levies etc. but loosing these lower grade players will hurt the beer and food sales. They are the players who hang around after their early morning games and enjoy a beverage.
Speaking of food sales. Maybe someone from Souths can tell me if they get revenue from the canteen or does it all go to the caterers in return for a canteen rental fee?
With the canteen charging $14 for a bacon & egg burger, $15 for a beef or chicken burger and $12 for a pie, they are going to alienate regular spectators who will stay at home and watch games on Stan. The monthly charge for Stan will be cheaper than a burger, chips and a beer.

 

[PhilClinton]

Herbie has copped a bit of stick over the years for running GPS like a business at times, but one thing he's done well in my opinion is keep the canteen costs down. I haven't heard much complaining over the years from spectators and players about the cost of sticking around at the club.

I can take my wife and two kids down to the footy, grab a couple of burgers, snags, hot chips and a cold tinnie (or 2) and still get change from a pineapple.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

Herbie has copped a bit of stick over the years for running GPS like a business at times, but one thing he's done well in my opinion is keep the canteen costs down. I haven't heard much complaining over the years from spectators and players about the cost of sticking around at the club.

I can take my wife and two kids down to the footy, grab a couple of burgers, snags, hot chips and a cold tinnie (or 2) and still get change from a pineapple.

I think Easts do a pretty good feed, Wests have that Burrito place and GPS has always been pretty good as well. Norths ain't bad, Sunnybank is pretty good; I think UQ, Brothers and Bond are rubbish on catering. Rubbish.

On the Souths saga - is any of this confirmed? Has the club done a similar social media post? If true who steps in? One of the Kefu's? What names would be genuinely interested? from an outsider looking in that is a 'root & branch' fix that can take several seasons?

 

[Ruckingooday]

The word is out that Garrick Morgan, last night, without any pre-notice to players, stepped down as Souths Prems Head Coach. What a s#@t show at Souths.
Indeed, poor "Doubles" Daley and Ian "Camo" Cameron will be turning in their graves.
The once great Club of the late '80's and the decade of the 90's is sinking before our eyes.

Facts: coach communicated with key players and people prior to letting all players know. What other pre-notice do you give? Morgan staying on and working with highly experienced and qualified planned successor Rama Chanda (great guy), more qualified than any Colts/Seniors coaches from 2024 season. An in-house announcement has made its way quickly onto forums. Tread carefully when facts aren't known otherwise you'll end up with the s**t on your face as facts become known rather personal vendettas aired (Porridgelover) Souths Prems performance was not there until Camo recognised need for change and bought Morgan in. 2 wins in the last year under TD doesn't keep any aspiring youngsters at a Club, they leave to go elsewhere for their moment. to be seen. More to be revealed having been on the inside of this. When will Rugby Union pull together instead of pulling each other down when NRL is trampling all over us anyway. We can do better as a community.

 

[warhorse]

Herbie has copped a bit of stick over the years for running GPS like a business at times, but one thing he's done well in my opinion is keep the canteen costs down. I haven't heard much complaining over the years from spectators and players about the cost of sticking around at the club.

I can take my wife and two kids down to the footy, grab a couple of burgers, snags, hot chips and a cold tinnie (or 2) and still get change from a pineapple.

I'm interested in how Souths are going to continue to fund the Clubhouse renovations, other than by ongoing Government and Council grants. They made a very modest profit last year and a massive loss the year before and that's before all this upheaval. I am sure that revenue will be down considerably.
Two sponsors have left: Smiths Lawyers(former player Greg"Puffer" Smith and long-term sponsor Alceon(former player Todd Pepper).
A couple of new sponsors have come on board. I don't know if their sponsorship matches or exceeds those that have left. Time will tell if Souths can dig themselves out and rise again.

 

[Ruckingooday]

Woweeee that is huge!

Do you know if Morgan was stepping down at just Prems Coach but remaining at the club?

My understanding: succession planning, when people can work together well with respect. He's staying with the Club.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

Herbie has copped a bit of stick over the years for running GPS like a business at times, but one thing he's done well in my opinion is keep the canteen costs down. I haven't heard much complaining over the years from spectators and players about the cost of sticking around at the club.

I can take my wife and two kids down to the footy, grab a couple of burgers, snags, hot chips and a cold tinnie (or 2) and still get change from a pineapple.

I think Herbie has done a very good job over there from a business point, but I think the rugby has been a little below par in the past few seasons.

 

[warhorse]

I think Easts do a pretty good feed, Wests have that Burrito place and GPS has always been pretty good as well. Norths ain't bad, Sunnybank is pretty good; I think UQ, Brothers and Bond are rubbish on catering. Rubbish.

On the Souths saga - is any of this confirmed? Has the club done a similar social media post? If true who steps in? One of the Kefu's? What names would be genuinely interested? from an outsider looking in that is a 'root & branch' fix that can take several seasons?

Word that I have is that Assistant Coaches Rama Chand and Ray Thomas and Director of Rugby and High Performance, Jason Jones will take over. I don't know if the Club will look to engage a new Head Coach from outside that group.

 

[Ruckingooday]

I'm interested in how Souths are going to continue to fund the Clubhouse renovations, other than by ongoing Government and Council grants. They made a very modest profit last year and a massive loss the year before and that's before all this upheaval. I am sure that revenue will be down considerably.
Two sponsors have left: Smiths Lawyers(former player Greg"Puffer" Smith and long-term sponsor Alceon(former player Todd Pepper).
A couple of new sponsors have come on board. I don't know if their sponsorship matches or exceeds those that have left. Time will tell if Souths can dig themselves out and rise again.

Magpies, protect their territory fiercely, so can't see them doing anything other fighting for life, and they won't be the first Club in our Premier history to go through, sometimes, painful change to get to a better place. (GPS/Brothers to name a couple have done the hard yards at different times and now reap the rewards)

 

[Ruckingooday]

Word that I have is that Assistant Coaches Rama Chand and Ray Thomas and Director of Rugby and High Performance, Jason Jones will take over. I don't know if the Club will look to engage a new Head Coach from outside that group.

It's succession planning and getting right experience in to the Club

 

[Ruckingooday]

I’ve said it a number of times over the last year, I’m not involved with South’s but I know there is a big chunk of sponsor money which will walk out the door if GM was given marching orders or had his powers reduced.

That is an issue which no doubt will complicate matters for the club if things don’t work out.

No marching orders.

 

[Ruckingooday]

Any idea what the issue is?

2+ grades worth of players don't disappear without cause.

Too many old players in lower grades who just want to be social and drink and have no interest in training or learning new things. ( SoAnd nothing wrong with that but at Souths younow have talented and enthusiastic youngsters pushing down seconds/thirds and having to play with them. It . difficult but maybe time for renewal in those teams. You also have young Colts scared of moving in to the lower grades playing against/with hair arsed men when they still feel like kids.

 

[Elwee's Loo]

Facts: coach communicated with key players and people prior to letting all players know. What other pre-notice do you give? Morgan staying on and working with highly experienced and qualified planned successor Rama Chanda (great guy), more qualified than any Colts/Seniors coaches from 2024 season. An in-house announcement has made its way quickly onto forums. Tread carefully when facts aren't known otherwise you'll end up with the s**t on your face as facts become known rather personal vendettas aired (Porridgelover) Souths Prems performance was not there until Camo recognised need for change and bought Morgan in. 2 wins in the last year under TD doesn't keep any aspiring youngsters at a Club, they leave to go elsewhere for their moment. to be seen. More to be revealed having been on the inside of this. When will Rugby Union pull together instead of pulling each other down when NRL is trampling all over us anyway. We can do better as a community.

That's still huge mail. But my first reaction is what would GM offer moving forward? I don't know him and have no agenda against South's or him. But it's a perplexing call. If you were a player considering a move Souths now, what is the lure? On the face of it, there appears to be turmoil that is supposed to be fixed by GM, and Rama Chand. Has Rama coached Premier Grade before? Then who in the club management previously bought into GM's vision, which has failed - are they calling the shots? Where is the accountability? Nobody wants South's to fail, we all want rugby to succeed but this doesn't appear to be a compelling case of re-establishing a once great club in crisis - yet.

 

[Ruckingooday]

Surely he was not the only one to let it get to this point. The board and his henchman (who I’m also told was a huge problem) need to hold a level of accountability for where this club has stumbled to under their combined watch.

This will take years to correct.

The Club was in struggling way before Morgan and current Committee arrived. Too many people doing their own thing or people not doing their thing at all.

 

[PhilClinton]

I'm interested in how Souths are going to continue to fund the Clubhouse renovations, other than by ongoing Government and Council grants. They made a very modest profit last year and a massive loss the year before and that's before all this upheaval. I am sure that revenue will be down considerably.
Two sponsors have left: Smiths Lawyers(former player Greg"Puffer" Smith and long-term sponsor Alceon(former player Todd Pepper).
A couple of new sponsors have come on board. I don't know if their sponsorship matches or exceeds those that have left. Time will tell if Souths can dig themselves out and rise again.

What is the go with those two sponsors leaving? Didn't Smiths only become a major sponsor in 2024? I know Greg Smith is a similar vintage to Morgan and they were close. I'm guessing he got wind of GM stepping down and did the same.

 

[Ruckingooday]

Warhorse, I don’t think I can remember a time in the last 30+ years that Souths have not had a very good lower grade set up. 4th grade at Souths is an institution.

A friend on mine within the club has said things changed when GM took over from TD. TD & his coaching group, from their point was about growing the club and talent & Morgan came in and stripped it all back to focus on one teams success.
This is not a great day for Souths as a club regardless of how their top team does in their first trial against a undermanned Norths outfit.

Anything I've seen out of Souths or Morgan has only ever been about One Club working together. I know several highly respected individuals at Souths, well before Morgan, who found it very difficult to work with coaches who have now departed and wanted only to run their own show, who put self above Club. A successful Club has to have a Premier team that is performing for players, sponsors and spectators. Souths Prems were only 2 wins in last year under TD I think? That doesn't retain or inspire anyone. I'll say it again.

 

[Ruckingooday]

What is the go with those two sponsors leaving? Didn't Smiths only become a major sponsor in 2024? I know Greg Smith is a similar vintage to Morgan and they were close. I'm guessing he got wind of GM stepping down and did the same.

No.

 

[PhilClinton]

No.

What do you mean?

I think it's a valid question, it's strange for someone to sign up to be a major sponsor and then leave after only one season. I believe it's fairly common practice for most clubs to have their top tier sponsors commit to a number of seasons to ensure they can forecast cash. And this happens to be a situation where the head coach is also stepping down.

 

[Ruckingooday]

That's still huge mail. But my first reaction is what would GM offer moving forward? I don't know him and have no agenda against South's or him. But it's a perplexing call. If you were a player considering a move Souths now, what is the lure? On the face of it, there appears to be turmoil that is supposed to be fixed by GM, and Rama Chand. Has Rama coached Premier Grade before? Then who in the club management previously bought into GM's vision, which has failed - are they calling the shots? Where is the accountability? Nobody wants South's to fail, we all want rugby to succeed but this doesn't appear to be a compelling case of re-establishing a once great club in crisis - yet.

I don't think it's crisis. Anything I've ever heard about for Souths since TD departure has been about a three year plan. This year a transition/succession plan, though my inside track says this was personal as well, so maybe. we should all stop speculating. Rama Chant has serious credentials and. is a Magpie. Souths are lucky to have him: Their FB post back in Oct: "The club is excited to welcome back Rama Chand after his stint with representative programs with the Queensland Reds and also having been abroad in a Director of rugby role with Georgia Rugby Union for the past few years. Rama has previously been at Souths with successful roles as our Colts Head Coach and Premier 7s coach. He is a well-credentialed coach who holds a level 4 from Rugby Australia and also is a World Rugby Master Trainer." More so than any in-house coaches from last year.

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Seems like we've got two posters from opposite ends of whatever is going on at Souths.