It's much more than a team, it's a family.
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For six generations, Toni Wood's family have been diehard South Sydney Rabbitohs fans.
Growing up in the South Sydney area meant many trips to games for Toni as a child which would ultimately spark her inevitable love for the club.
"The house I was born in and we moved out of when I was three, they pulled down and built the South Sydney Junior Rugby League club," she said.
I spent most of my childhood going to every Rabbitohs game. Because I went to the games at such a young age, I just grew up loving the Rabbitohs.
- Toni Wood
For as long as the fourth generation Rabbitoh fan can remember, her family has bled red and green, and although there are some 'rebels' in the family, the tradition is still very much alive.
"Most of my family goes for the Rabbitohs but there are a few rebels like my youngest son who doesn't support them anymore," she said.
"I have two grandchildren now so I'm hoping they'll be Rabbitohs fans, I dress them up in red and green. I think we'll get them."
One of the many fond memories for Toni with her club was watching games in the company of the late Don Lane, and during the years when South Sydney were ousted from the NRL in 1999, the thought of swapping teams never crossed her mind.
"As a kid we used to sit with Don Lane who took a liking to my nan so we would sit with him when we were little and watch the game," Wood said.
"When they got kicked out of the competition for those few years, it was just heartbreaking for my whole family.
"No, no, no, no, that [swapping teams] was not an option."
When asked who her favourite player is in the most recent lineup, Toni nominated the one, the only, Damien Cook, and went on to share her thoughts on the "super coach", Wayne Bennett.
"He's just a brilliant player, he's got a good footy brain, he's humble," she said.
"He seems to have a passion for Souths, he's a great asset to the team.
"He's [Wayne Bennett] a great coach. Good luck to him, he seems to be doing us well.
"I don't care who coaches us as long as they win."
It goes without saying that Toni is a huge fan of the Charity Shield and says the reasoning behind her passion for the NRL goes beyond her team.
"It's just wonderful. Look at the crowds, wherever they go, they bring their crowds," she said.
"It brings all sorts of people together from rich and poor, it's a great sport.
"I work three out of four weekends a month but as soon as I know when the Charity Shield is on I take the weekend off."
Read more | The best 2019 Charity Shield fan photos
Perhaps one of the most inclusive aspects of the Rabbitoh fan base is the ability to feel connected wherever you go, Toni says.
"Everywhere you go you see a Rabbitohs supporter. You'll be watching the NBA in America and you'll see someone with a Rabbitohs hat on, we're everywhere," she said.
"If I drive past a car that has a bunny sticker on it, I'll do the bunny ears to them. It's just what Rabbitohs do.
It's just in my blood. One red eye, one green eye.
The 2020 Charity Shield will be held on February 29 at Glen Willow Stadium with kick off at 7pm.
Jay-Anna Sleeman
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
