HE'S been a South Sydney rugby league tragic since the 1950s.
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"I saw Clive Churchill kick the goal from the sideline against Manly at Redfern in 1955,'' Bob Ezzy of Mondrook recalled.
"He had a broken arm. We won 9-7 and that got us into the semi-finals. We won the premiership from there.''
The Glory Days. Souths won five premierships in six years from 1950-55. Bob thinks the Rabbitohs are on the verge of another golden era starting on Sunday evening in the NRL grand final against Canterbury. He'll be at ANZ Stadium to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on the Rabbits.
The Bunnies will start favourites. But Bob's played, coached and seen enough football in his 72 years to know that favourites don't always win grand finals.
"One of the referees, Mr (Shayne) Hayne worries me,'' Bob admitted.
"But in the end I don't care if we win by 1 or 101. Just as long as we win.''
There was a bit of family connection with his decision to support Souths as a youngster.
"Dad used to ride motor bikes with the South Sydney club,'' he explained.
"And mum was born in Waterloo, in the heart of South Sydney territory.''
It's been 43 long years since Souths earned the right to do the lap of honour after they beat St George in the grand final.
"I didn't think it would take us this long to win another one after 1971,'' Bob said. "I hope we don't have to wait as long for the next one after Sunday.''
The 1967 triumph over the same club as Souths will play on Sunday, Canterbury, remains etched in Bob's memory and not just because of Bob McCarthy's famous intercept try. That was also the club's first title since 1955.
"An old fella I knew and had a lot of respect for gave me a footy card just before the grand final. It showed a rabbit dressed in Souths gear diving over for a try saying 'up the Rabbos, Souths to win.' "
It remains one of his favoured pieces of South Sydney paraphernalia. And he has plenty.
"We smashed Canterbury that day too,'' he said.
"Well, beat them at least, 12-10.''
But Bob concedes there have been some dark times in the last 43 years. Seasons when Souths languished in the cellar and of course the two years in isolation when the club was excluded from the NRL in 2000/2001 before people power helped get the foundation club back in the big league.
"I always knew we'd get back in,'' he said.
"I think every South Sydney supporter did.''
The campaign to Save Souths was led by George Piggins.
"George Piggins...he's one of the finest men on earth,'' Bob enthused.
Bob's put together a South Sydney Shrine at his Mondrook home in readiness for Sunday. It was in place when the Rabbitohs qualified for the club's first grade final since 1971 by beating old enemies the Sydney Roosters last Friday night.
Halfway up the driveway leading to the house there's a sign reading 'Rabbitohs Road.'
Now Bob can't wait until the kickoff on Sunday evening when Souths will battle the Bulldogs.
He hopes to be singing Glory Glory to South Sydney come fulltime.