built a premiership team around a tough pack of forwards including Ron Coote (who is regarded as Australia's second best ever , after Johnny Raper), Bob McCarthy (who scored over 100 first grade tries), Gary Stevens, Bob Moses, John O'Neill, Jim Morgan, Elwyn Walters and inspirational captain John Sattler. Signs that a great Souths side was in the making emerged in 1965 when a then record crowd of 78,056 supporters packed the SCG to see a young Souths team coached by Bernie Purcell take on the mighty St. George in the grand final. The club had finished fourth and had then beaten Parramatta and Norths to make the Grand Final. Souths had already beaten Saints twice during the 1965 season and the huge crowd showed up expecting to see an end to the Dragons' decade of dominance. Souths showed great heart in going down 12–8 in one of the most memorable grand finals of all time. In February 1966 at Redfern Oval a record crowd of 18,701 saw Souths defeat premiers St George. Souths would win four of the next five premierships between 1967 and 1971. In the 1967 grand final Souths beat Canterbury 12-10 following a spectacular intercept try by second row forward Bob McCarthy. In 1968 Souths defeated Manly 13-9 featuring a solo length of the field try by winger Mike Cleary. Souths lost the 1969 grand final 11–2 to Balmain who devised a controversial plan of "go slow" tactics in order to successfully disrupt Souths play. Souths convincingly beat Manly in the 1970 grand final with halfback Bob Grant starring with two tries. Souths' last grand final victory in 1971 saw them beat back a determined comeback by St. George in the second half to take out the game 16–10. This was their last grand final for 43 years ago. During this golden era Souths' backline also had plenty of class, including goal kicking legend Eric Simms, dual rugby internationals Michael Cleary and Jimmy Lisle, Paul Sait, Bob Honan, Brian James, brothers Ray and Arthur Branighan, Dennis Pittard and Bob Grant. Of the 1970 grand final side that beat Manly 23–12, only Arthur Branighan did not achieve International status. Souths was also a team of plenty of courage, highlighted by captain John Sattler in the 1970 grand final who in the early minutes was "king-hit" late and unexpectedly by Manly prop John Bucknall. The hit broke Sattler's