Rugby league
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THE chimes of Glory, Glory to South Sydney will be blasting from Peter Ward's Tolland home if the Rabbitohs are victorious in Sunday's NRL grand final.
The self-declared South Sydney tragic has gone to some extreme measures to show his support of the team from Redfern.
A painter by trade, Ward has painted his house red and green and has Rabbitohs flags hanging for the eaves off the roof.
Even the mailbox is sporting a fresh coat of paint.
Ward has been to the last four Souths grand finals, but hasn't seen his beloved Bunnies play in a decider since he was 14.
Forty three years ago, Ward never would have imagined it would take so long, so he's going to enjoy every minute.
Ward won't make the trek to Sydney to watch, instead he'll enjoy the game with friends and family and have a barbecue at his newly painted house.
After South Sydney triumphed over the Roosters on Friday night, Ward painted his house the following morning.
"I've been saying for the last three years if we make the grand final I'll paint my house," he said.
"I've been a Rabbitohs since I was four years old and grew up in Redfern.
"It's a passion not a disease."
Things are very different since last watched John Sattler lead the Rabbitohs onto the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1971.
"We had the virtually the Australian team playing for us those days," he said.
"We used to go up and watch them train and kick a ball behind the goal post, but things have changed now.
"It's more business than sport now, but we've never waned."
With many hardships along the way, Ward has always backed his side.
He's endured wooden spoons and being kicked out of the competition, but is loving being back on top.
Ward won't hear of South Sydney losing to the Bulldogs come Sunday.
"It's our turn," he said.
"I have no doubt its our turn and if we can reproduce what we did on Friday night we will be a happy little household on Sunday night."
Saying he had no option but to catch the Souths "disease" with his mother Colleen taking her children to the games every week.
His mother's grave has even decorated in Rabbitohs memorabilia after they booked a place in the grand final.
Ward has been amazed by the response to his paint job, with people stopping to take photos.
And if the result goes his way, it might become a bigger attraction in Tolland for a while yet.
"I'm in no hurry to change it, it's Christmas colours too," Ward joked.