You’ve seen all the memes, the social media posts, the betting company pics, but did you know that the Random Souths Guy isn’t quite as random as you first thought.
You may think it’s just a handful of loyal, devoted, slightly mad South Sydney fans from all over Australia and the world at every opportunity, but there’s a more sinister behind the scenes story you’ve never heard about. Until today.
The Random Souths Guy was indeed a Random South Guy in the beginning, but social media and betting companies have changed all that.
Well, ever since betting companies opened a market on the appearance of a Random Souths guy at events.
The original 500-1 offered for a Souths fan to be at a major boxing event in the US was the catalyst, and Rabbitohs fans saw the opportunity to make some cash while spreading the South Sydney message across the world.
Previously the South Sydney marketing department was Russell Crowe inviting Hollywood stars to Rabbitohs games.
But making real money out of being a Random Souths Guy needed some real coordination and organisation, so a secret underground society was kicked out, and we have managed to get an exclusive interview with a former member of this ExCom (Executive Committee).
Our contact did not want to be named, but was happy to go by the moniker Marvellous Mavin.
Marvellous Mavin had recently left the group over the decision to break with tradition. The ExCom had recently decided to go against the group’ original charter and allow more than just the standard home jersey be allowed for use. This included the awful ISC Superheroes round which Marvellous Mavin hated with a passion.
After a lengthy rant about how the NRL’s Super Heroes round was just a greedy cash grabbing exercise showing the NRL to be cash sucking jerks, our insider went on to explain how it all works.
“All positions are unpaid up front, but anyone on the committee does get to share in the end of season dividends.”
“First of all there’s the Event Organising committee. This group’s job is to literally find every sport that is being broadcast for the month ahead. Where and when and all that. And rank them in importance for maximum Souths Random Guy exposure.”
“This then goes to the Personnel committee. The committee then get in touch with registered South Sydney members and fans all across Australia and the world to see who can make which event.”
“Then the Wagering committee come into play. They scour every available betting website around Australia in the World for the best odds. If they find a market where a Random Souths guy is on the betting list, this is then categorised as a Class 1 urgent event, and emails are sent to all Souths fans with a 200km radius, or for international events anyone residing in the country of the betting market.”
“Once the target Random Souths Guy, or girls we should point out at this time, are confirmed starters, the Finance committee kick in. They take $100 from the Secret Society’s main account and place a $100 bet on the Random Souths guy betting option.”
“They are careful to bet enough to win, but not enough to arouse too much suspicion with betting companies.”
I asked at this stage, what happens if the Souths fan doesn’t make the intended match, hence costing the Random South Sydney Supporter Secret Society valuable funds. Our insider said that’s never been a problem.
“Na, never, ever happened. Souths fans can be called plenty of things, and most of them are right, but they are loyal servants. Which other clubs would get 100k to march to get them back into the competition. Then suffer through the Owen Craigie, Bryan Fletcher era when we returned worse than ever.”
“Plus there’s the carrot and stick too.”
“If the Random Souths Guy does their job and gets on TV, and the bet is won, they will then receive 5% of the winning bet. If the Random Souths Guy can’t provide proof they were at the venue after agreeing to go, it’s a lifetime ban.”
“All remaining betting funds are pooled back into the Finance department who use the funds to continue to help pay for travel costs, and replacement Souths jerseys when the needs arise.”
Our insider says the network of Rabbitohs fans attached to this society is now around 10,000, which is why there always appears to be a Random Souths guy at every sporting event in Australia.
But we do wonder why we haven’t herd about this until now. Marvellous Mavin quietly informs us that “We don’t want to piss of a certain Hollywood star.”
So next time you do see a Random Souths Guy on the Sportsbet socials, or a meme that pops up in your daily online rummaging, take a moment to think about all the hard work that actually went into that random appearance at a sport completely unrelated to rugby league and admire the effort.
