A DJ set being played out of a shopping trolley on a main road. Welcome to the Canterbury Bulldogs

“I only went to play for 10 or 20 minutes, but I ended up playing for an hour. I started with the Bulldogs’ anthem out the front of the stadium, but I kept going. I was playing high-energy music and made sure it was all family-friendly.

“The trolley wasn’t from Coles or Woolies, it was actually modified to fit the speakers, but I could hardly see where I was pushing it because of all the lights from the cameras in my face. We finished out the front of the Belmore Hotel.

“I’m a proud Lebanese-Australian, I grew up a Doggies fan, and loved watching them through the Hazem El Masri days.

“It was a shame to lose [Josh] Addo-Carr [at then end of the 2024 season], but our future looks so bright. It was great to be a part of it.

“A few people commented on social media, saying, ‘relax, it’s only the second round’, but it’s all about bringing the Dogs and the community together. It means so much.”

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There were more than 18,000 fans at the Titans game, but even the healthy attendance meant there was no guarantee the club would turn a profit.

Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton said of the atmosphere: “Sunday’s sellout at Belmore was absolutely electric. The atmosphere our fans created was second to none – you could feel the history and passion in every corner of the ground.”

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