It’s been nine years since the infamous ‘Bad Friday’ clash between the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs — and Josh Reynolds still remembers it like it was yesterday.
James Graham’s attempted chargedown, the controversial penalty, the big Englishman’s knuckle pointing at the referee, the bottles hurled from the crowd… it’s a game Reynolds, actually, will never forget.
And the former Dogs playmaker took the Fox League Podcast inside it all ahead of this year’s Good Friday clash that is set to be another blockbuster.
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For Bulldogs and Rabbitohs fans, it’s the must-watch clash of the regular season and for players it “absolutely” has a bit more feeling compared to any other game, according to Reynolds.
“There’s thousands of fans, there’s the Easter Show, there’s show bags everywhere,” he said.
“I used to love it because there’s just that feel. It’s hot, it’s always hot. It’s always the daytime, it’s bright. It’s a massive rivalry… we disliked Souths.
“I think we’ve had close to 50,000 sometimes and that’s like semi-final stuff. Even guys that haven’t played semis you can just tell, it’s like ‘wow, this is huge.’ And you hear the roar when you walk out… It’s epic.
“There’s always lot on the line. There’s bragging rights for the fans — this is a big one for them. If we beat Parra and Souths, but don’t go any good after that, it’s OK, we’ve ticked off the big ones and have bragging rights for the whole year,” he laughed.
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The rivalry between the two clubs had gone to another level in 2015 after the Rabbitohs broke the Bulldogs’ hearts in the grand final the previous year.
This clash, in front of 40, 523 fans, was the first time the two teams would face off since the grand final. Throw in the fact that it was the annual Good Friday match and as Reynolds summed up, it was “double trouble.”
Reynolds had missed the month prior due to a broken arm but was cleared to return via the bench just in time, while Brett Morris overcame a calf injury to line up at fullback.
The likes of Trent Hodkinson, Josh Morris, David Klemmer and of course James Graham also featured.
For the Rabbitohs, Greg Inglis was at fullback, Issac Luke played hooker and Luke Keary joined Adam Reynolds in the halves.
George and Tom Burgess were in the pack, but there was no Sam after he code-hopped to rugby union in 2015.
“There’s something in it,” Reynolds said when asked about facing the Bunnies for the first time since the grand final loss.
“I don’t care what anyone says… In the grand final rematch last week (Panthers vs Broncos) and the Broncos weren’t allowed to talk about it — you talk about it for sure. As if you don’t.
“There’s always something… because to win a grand final is massive. It’s what you play for and that team took that away from you. So there’s always something in it.
“There’s always something for Souths too with us and that one was the icing on the cake… that was just an emotional boilover like I’ve ever seen.”
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The Bulldogs had a fast start with Curtis Rona scoring in the fourth minute and Sam Perrett crossing in the 13th minute.
South Sydney hit back though with a penalty try right on the stroke of half time to close the score to 10-8 at the break.
Josh Morris scored in the 51st minute before David Tyrell responded for the Bunnies seven minutes later.
Another penalty goal from the Rabbitohs levelled the scores 16-all with six minutes to go until Hodkinson nailed a field goal in the 76th minute.
Adam Reynolds then had a failed attempt a field goal to level the scores again in the 78th minute.
But as he got the ball away a desperate Graham attempted to charge down the kick and instead colleted Reynolds’ legs.
The Bunnies halfback stayed down and referee Gerard Sutton awarded South Sydney a penalty.
An irate Graham and Klemmer sprayed Sutton and the latter was sent to the sin bin.
Bryson Goodwin took the penalty goal and sealed an 18-17 win in what was a highly controversial — and emotional — finish.
“Well… I can say it now, I was fuming,” Reynolds admitted while recalling the incident.
“I may have said something myself and I was like, ‘you can’t say that’ so I walked off. It was very unlike actually me… I’m proud of myself.
“I was around and I could see those two boys going off so I was like, ‘it’s not good for me to be here’.
“It was obviously a penalty, but at that time, you’re like, ‘no, it’s Good Friday, we’re not losing on that.’ And the thing with ‘Jimmy’, it’s an effort play and he obviously didn’t mean it.
“He’s not going for his leg, but it’s a penalty in the law of the game. But yeah, it was just so hard to take.
“I remember Klemmer… I don’t know what he was saying but (the ref) goes ‘hold on, you can’t say that. You’re gone.’
“I remember it right now. I’m picturing James Graham’s eyes. That was anger, that’s anger 101. But I can’t blame him.”
Graham will never be able to live down his knuckle in Sutton’s face. But despite the Bulldogs captain losing his cool, he didn’t forget his manners.
“His big thing was you can’t point because it’s rude so when he’d point he’d do it like that or with his elbow,” Reynolds laughed.
It was mayhem at what was formally known as ANZ Stadium once the full-time siren sounded. Furious Bulldogs fans hurled abuse — and objects — from the stands towards the match officials.
Security tried their best to protect the referees as they headed towards the tunnel, but one slipped over while attempting to dodge a flying bottle.
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Inside the sheds, it was sombre.
“We were devastated. It was just like ‘wow’ … especially against them,” Reynolds said.
“It was a tough one to swallow because it was them and it was Good Friday and we shouldn’t have lost the game. We really should have won, but to lose it like that… That was hard.
“But I remember seeing footage of someone falling over and look, we all were very, very angry, but that was very, very uncalled for.
“We can’t have that stuff in our game. But that’s just the Bulldogs passion… Their James Graham in the stands.”
The Bulldogs got their revenge the following year with a 42-12 win on Good Friday, followed by a 24-9 victory in 2017.
But from 2018 it’s been all South Sydney with Latrell Mitchell starring in last year’s 50-12 win.
This season, however, the power could shift. The Bulldogs are coming off a big win over the Titans, while the Rabbitohs were smashed by the Roosters last week — and are dealing with rumours of fractures inside the group.
Reynolds, who is eight months into retirement, is heading to the game as a spectator is “keen as” to experience the rivalry as a fan.
“I’m getting the bus, this is the first time I can fully enjoy it. I’m going to indulge a bit,” he said.
“I want to watch it properly and see it as the fans did.”
Source Agencies
