Eight-year-old Kira, a Rabbitohs junior Member since birth, has had some unique opportunities at the Rabbitohs; opportunities that other eight-year-olds would crave.
She’s had the chance to jump on the microphone beside her friend Nyarla and her Dad as a Junior MC at the Rabbitohs’ annual Junior Appreciation Round for the last three years, interviewing players such as Cameron Murray, Damien Cook and Jack Wighton; and she gets to hang out in the Rabbitohs offices after school on more afternoons than she would care to remember.
But despite being on a first-name basis with the South Sydney players, and having her father working at the Rabbitohs, who is the person at South Sydney that this young lady says is the one she looks up to most?
“It’s Brontee!” says Kira.
“She’s the coolest person at Souths. She let’s me do cool things like the ground announcing in Junior Appreciation Round and she lets me hang out with her in the office. She even helps me with my homework sometimes.
“She has the best job at the Rabbitohs, she does the best job at the Rabbitohs, she’s my friend, and I want to do what she does when I’m older!”
That’s some high praise from an impressionable young lady who one day wants to make a big contribution to her Club in the same way the Rabbitohs’ Fan Development and Event Operations Manager, Brontee Fulton, does at South Sydney day-in and day-out.
From leading the Club’s game day events team which gets the Rabbitohs’ faithful on their feet and out of their seats at every home game; to leading the Club’s fan development initiatives; to managing the Rabbitohs’ Tarsha Gale Cup women’s under 19s team; to being a member of the Club’s Emerging Leaders group featuring young managers and players at the Rabbitohs; Brontee has left an indelible mark on the Club over the past five seasons and has become a role model for young ladies like Kira, and will continue to be so in the years to come.
Starting as an intern with the Club’s Membership and Match Day team in 2020, Brontee has grown in her career to become one of the young stars in Rabbitohs management with a very bright future ahead of her.
Here is our chat with Brontee Fulton, the Rabbitohs’ nominee as the Club’s Women in League ambassador for season 2024.
How did it all start for you at the Rabbitohs?
“I started at the Rabbitohs in an internship program back in 2020 in the Membership department whilst studying a Bachelor of Management and Sports Business degree at university and was lucky enough to secure a full time position in the Membership and Ticketing team at the Rabbitohs.
“I then worked my way up through the Consumer team by looking after different events, ticketing and now game day and fan development programs.”
Tell us about your current role:
“I’m the Event Operations and Fan Development Manager at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Essentially, I manage and run our Rabbitohs home games including all the operations and then work to bring the sports and entertainment elements together.
“Fan development is about identifying people in our community and other communities that don’t yet have a strong affiliation with the Club and working to get them on the journey to become part of the South Sydney faithful.”
What does a normal game day look like for you?
“It’s a long day. We get there a lot earlier than the players and fans. We have to setup the spaces early and complete production meetings where all of our game day producers, light operators, techs, etc. all come together in one room and go through the run sheet and what the game day will look like.
“This is followed by rehearsals including pre-game and half time segments.
“Depending on what the game looks like, my job is to work with the team on the ground and make sure it is up to a high standard. This involves working with the football staff to bring the game day to life for our fans and Members.”
What is the most rewarding part of the job?
“The most rewarding part is working in a fan-facing role and working in a fast-paced job.
“You can sometimes forget how much this Club means to people.
“But even the little things like a getting a Member down for the coin toss before the game. It can be a regular part of my working day, however for some supporters it’s a moment they will never forget.
“I enjoy giving people those opportunities and giving them chances to become closer to the club that they love.”
What is your career highlight so far?
“Working on the annual Indigenous Round fixtures, we made a decision as a club last year to go all-in on that round, given how important it is being a club with a strong indigenous presence.
“We wanted to be the NRL’s standard for the round each year and put on the best show for Members and fans.
“Delivering last year’s Indigenous Round at Allianz Stadium and then following it up with another great game day experience this year at Accor Stadium was huge. This year alone we had big performers like Aria Award winning Coodjinburra man Budjerah, engaging a lot of different community groups as well as making sure our Souths Cares group had a large representation and past Indigenous players as well, these are the moments you savour.
What does a game day such as Indigenous Round look like?
“Indigenous Round has always been a special week in the Rabbitohs calendar and last season we set the goal to have our match day become the most significant celebration of Indigenous excellence in sport.
“With such a high standard, the planning for this round begins well before the season does as we work to celebrate Indigenous excellence on and off the field.
“It involves things like booking a marquee act, managing budgets and stakeholders, as well as liaising with Souths Cares, our Past Players Association and our Junior League to showcase community groups, performers, mini league teams and past Indigenous players.
“In the lead up we work with our Game Day Producer, Lighting and Pyrotechnicians, and our in-house content team to bring the vision to life.
“Game day is when it all comes to life. My team and I will work behind the scenes to make sure our acts are where they need to be, cues are met and the vision comes to life!
Tell us about your role with the Tarsha Gale Cup team?
“This season just gone, I volunteered to be the Tarsha Gale under 19’s team manager.
“It was primarily a game day role that saw me attend each game and be a part of the behind-the-scenes things like setting up the sheds and doing the interchanges on the sideline, which was all a new realm for me as I have never been involved in football operations before.
“It was really exciting to see that part of the game.
“Obviously for the Rabbitohs, we do not yet have an NRLW team, but most of the girls that were a part of team will be the future of our Club, so it was great to see them put the work in.
“Being semi-professional at the moment it was great to see all the volunteers that made the effort to make it feel professional.”
How would you describe the representation of women at the Rabbitohs?
“It is getting stronger all the time and I’m excited to be playing my part in it.”
“We’ve got women across our board, senior executive team, line managers, across the whole business in both football and administration.”
“These women are not hired to meet a quota or to tick a box… They’re here because they are industry leaders.
What advice would you give to young females looking to carve out a career in sports?
“Put your hand up! I have quickly learnt that you only get the opportunities you go after.
“I would encourage those that are looking to get a foot in the door of the sports industry to throw their hat in the ring, regardless of your experience.
“As long as you have the passion and appetite for learning you can certainly forge a path for yourself.
“I have been lucky to have some great mentors both male and female on my journey who have made navigating the early parts of my career an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience.”
