A Souths diehard pushing for his team's return to their "heartland" has gained a wave of support from fans, with the Bunnies right behind him.
Stage and screen actor Luke Carroll's petition for the club's relocation to Allianz Stadium from Accor Stadium for home matches has received more than 9,000 signatures in the space of three days.
The Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal man says it's time for the Rabbitohs to "come home" from their current base in Olympic Park - "far from their spiritual and geographical heartland".
One of nine foundation club's of the NRL's precursor with roots to 1908 and one of only two still in the top competition, Souths have long held ties to Moore Park, playing home matches there from the early 1900's before a shift to Redfern Oval in the mid 20th century - around 1500m from Allianz.
"The current venue no longer serves the club or its fans," Carrol wrote in his Change.org petition, "Accor Stadium is over 30 kilometres away from the Rabbitohs' heartland communities in Redfern, Maroubra, and the inner-south and south-east suburbs of Sydney".
"For many fans—especially those without reliable access to transport or attending games on weeknights—this location is simply too difficult to reach."
In his list of reason's Carroll added: The 80,000-seat Olympic Park stadium is "too big and lacks atmosphere" alongside the NSW Government's failure to "follow-through on promised upgrades," saying the public deserves stronger return on investment from the recent hundreds of millions upgrade of Allianz.
Souths' primary fanbase, including well celebrated strong community of Indigenous supporters, are located and romantically linked to Redfern and surrounding suburbs.
The arch rivals the Sydney Roosters are currently the sole club calling the Moore Park site home, among clubs of other codes.
The stadium's late 2022 season reopening with a match between the two side's sold out.
South Sydney have previously voiced their desire for a shift away from Homebush to the ground.
They are currently in a deal to remain further west, though the club have expressed their concerns for a lack of upgrades.
On Wednesday, under the heading: FAQs – potential move to Allianz Stadium in 2026 on their website, says Allianz "will allow the Rabbitohs to provide Members and fans with an enhanced game-day experience, premium facilities, improved transport access, and central proximity for our supporter base. It aligns with our vision to evolve the match-day experience and returning to our Heartland in South Sydney".
"Allianz Stadium offers superior infrastructure, is ideally located for the South Sydney community, and would provide the club with access to the type of modern, vibrant sporting environment it deserves," the club added.
With a swarth getting behind his initiative, Carroll's petition has climbed to more than 9,600 signature of a planned 10,000 he intends to take to the state Government.
Souths chief executive rallied behind the idea on Wednesday afternoon.
"I encourage our Members and supporters of this Club, to sign this petition in support (by visiting the link in our," Blake Solly said in a statement issued via social media.
In his own post on Wednesday, Carroll pleaded for the public to get behind him.
"We don't belong 30 kilometers out in the west. We belong right here, amongst our community, amongst our supporters," he said.
"I'm a Moore Park, South Sydney Junior rugby league player. I played it all my life, up until I was 21. I love this club. We are the pride of the league. I started this petition because we need to return to our heartland, and I'm asking you all for your support to bring us home. It's been long enough. It's time to come home."
