A Saturday Night To Remember

Date: Saturday night, March 25th, 2023

Place: Souths Cares Box, Accor Stadium

The cheer went up from the 18,000 or so Souths fans as the Sattler family and George Piggins marched out to the centre of the field to join the circle formed by the Rabbitohs players in memory of John Sattler.

Satts

It was an emotional time to be sure. Only days earlier Satts, the Souths icon had gone to heaven and the rugby league world was mourning.

This was the bloke who was brutal on the field, but a kind, softly-spoken gentleman off the field.

The man who captained Souths to four grand final wins and famously played one with a jaw broken in three places.

John Sattler was a part of Aussie sporting lore.

As for me, it was a great honour to be a witness to this emotional outpouring, together with my great mates Dr Jim Lahood, Peter Lahood and Souths legend Craig “Tugger” Coleman.

A Saturday Night To Remember - Norm Lipson & George Piggins
Peter & Jim Lahood sit behind Norm Lipson & George Piggins at Redfern Oval.

George

Oh…and did I say George Piggins was also in the box with us.

How appropriate that George, the man who so famously and staunchly saved the Rabbitohs from extinction was on hand to farewell his old friend and team mate – the bloke he played alongside in the 1971 grand final victory over the Dragons.

Victory in 1971. (Image nrl.com)

So when George strolled out on the field to honour Satts, it wasn’t surprising that he got the rounding applause from the stands.

But what was surprising to me (it shouldn’t have been) was the reception George received after the match which Souths won so thrillingly.

A Saturday Night To Remember
Applause for George Piggins.

Mobbed By Fans

As we were walking out of the stadium, George was suddenly mobbed by adoring fans.

Kids, parents elderly men and women kept him busy for more than an hour taking photos on their phones with the great man.

We were there for more than an hour as the faithful kept requesting selfies and pictures with a humble and slightly embarrassed man…and we could have been there even longer.

But the real surprise came when we made it down to the basement where my car was parked.

As we piled in the car to go home, a familiar figure in a Souths jacket came to the car, grabbed George, gave him a hug and said, “how are you George”.

The Gladiator

It was the Gladiator…Russell Crowe who had spotted George.

A Saturday Night To Remember - George Piggins & Russell Crowe
George Piggins & Russell Crowe.

They shook hands warmly and then it was time for a couple of quick pics together. It was a handshake and a photo that was a long time coming, but the time had come.

We all then piled into my car and went home with smiles on our faces…on a Saturday night to remember.

By Norm Lipson for Bunnies TV.

3 comments

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  • It is great to see these two men shake hands and take a photo together. In my eyes they are both saviours of our great club. One bring us back from the dead and the other strengthening the club and taking it forward when it was needed. The sight of this can only make our great club even stronger and look forward to a brighter future

  • Hi Boys
    One of the Souths boys on our forum was asking why Macca wasn’t on the field with Scott, Barney,etc prior to the Sths v Manly game ?