Sports Australia

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have appointed John Lang as Head Coach, replacing Jason Taylor for the next two seasons.

Lang is one of Rugby League’s most successful and respected coaches of all time, having coached 13 consecutive seasons in the NRL from 1994 to 2006 with a winning percentage of 57 per cent.

Lang has been with the South Sydney Football Club for the past 16 months as the Club’s Football Manager, however he is keen to return to coaching.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and working with the players for the next two seasons,” Lang said.

“We have a great young squad of players, a great coaching, medical and training team, and a strong front office to keep the Club moving forward off the field.

“It’s an honour to be given the opportunity to coach a Club such as South Sydney and we’ll be leaving no stone unturned to win our next premiership.”

South Sydney has also appointed Mark Ellison as Football Manager in a shift to the front office for the former NRL Assistant and lower grade coach.

Ellison is a South Sydney junior that spent five years playing with the Club in a playing career that spanned eight seasons from 1984 to 1991. Ellison coached at Jersey Flegg and Premier League level before joining the NRL coaching ranks as an Assistant Coach.

Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson says the appointments of Messrs Lang and Ellison are a positive move for the Club.

“Being able to bring John into the coaching role is very fortunate for the Club as we have someone now who has already been working with the players and the Football Department staff over the past two seasons,” Mr Richardson said.

“John is a highly credentialed Head Coach with a great track record of developing young players and taking teams that are outside the top-eight and turning them into premiership contenders. He did that at Penrith who went from wooden spooners in 2001 to premiers in 2003, and he went to the finals six years out of eight at the Sharks. He is a hardened professional.

“Mark Ellison is an asset to this Club and we’re pleased that he is able to continue to work with the Football Department in the Football Manager role.

“As CEO, I need someone helping me to run the Football Department at our Club that knows what we need to be successful on the field, and who can also run the department efficiently and within budget. Mark has run his own business before so he will understand the business-side of Rugby League, but also knows the playing and coaching side of the business intimately as well.

“We’re very confident that Mark will do a good job taking over where John Lang has left off, and we feel we have a very strong Football Department moving into the new season.”

Some of the highlights of Lang’s coaching career include winning the NRL premiership with the Penrith Panthers in 2003; two premiership victories with the Easts Tigers (Brisbane); a Grand Final appearance in 1997 with the Cronulla Sharks; two minor premierships in 1999 (Sharks) and 2003 (Panthers); eight Finals Series in 13 seasons; three Coach of the Year Awards in 1995, 1999 and 2003; Australian Super League Coach in 1997; and being awarded the Australian Sports Medal for contribution to Australia’s international standing in Rugby League.

John Lang

Position: Head Coach

Coaching record: 323 NRL Games (184 wins, 134 losses, five draws, 57% winning percentage);

Head Coach Penrith Panthers 2002-06;
One NRL Premiership (2003)
One NRL Minor Premiership (2003)
Two NRL Finals Series

Head Coach Cronulla Sharks 1994-2001;
One Grand Final appearance (1997)
One Minor Premiership (1999)
Six ARL/Super League/NRL Finals Series

Head Coach Easts Tigers (Brisbane) 1981-84; 1990-93;
Two premierships

Three Coach of the Year Awards.
Dally M 1995
Dally M 1999
Channel 9 Coach of the Year 2003 (Dally M Awards cancelled)

Playing record: Easts Tigers (Brisbane) 1969-79 – Three premierships;
Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1980;
19 games for Queensland 1972-80;
One game for New Souths Wales 1980;
Eight Tests for Australia 1973-80.

Achievements: Awarded the Australian Sports Medal for contribution to Australia’s international standing in Rugby League;
Took Penrith Panthers from wooden spooners to premiers in two seasons;
Five total premierships with Brisbane Easts (three as a player and two as a Coach) are the only premierships the Club has won in the past 50 years.

Mark Ellison

Position: Football Manager

Playing record: 107 first grade games in eight seasons with South Sydney Rabbitohs 1984, 1987-90; Cronulla Sharks 1985-86; St George Dragons 1991;
84 first grade games for the Rabbitohs;

Coaching record: South Sydney Jersey Flegg, Premier League and NRL Assistant Coach 2004-09