Bulldogs Players Celebrate Father’s Day Reflecting on Fatherhood

As the Telstra Premiership continues, NRL players take the opportunity on Father’s Day to reflect on their roles as fathers. Kurt Mann, a lock for the Bulldogs, has made his children a priority in his life, especially since relocating to Belmore from Wollongong.

Mann, at 31, is among the older members of the Bulldogs squad. He shared that staying closer to his children, a four-year-old son named Huxley and a two-year-old daughter named Sunday, has been fulfilling. Mann stated, “It’s nice to be able to spend as much time as I can with them. On a day like Father’s Day, you can reflect on how much the kids mean to you.”

Fellow teammate and five-eighth, Matt Burton, also echoed similar sentiments, having welcomed his son Noa in August last year. Burton expressed how becoming a father has changed his perspective on life. “If you have a bad day, he doesn’t know any different, so it makes going home and taking your mind off things a lot easier,” he noted.

Another player, Max King, recently welcomed his son Hercules with his wife Christy. King mentioned that fatherhood is a lifelong dream for him, and he has received guidance from fellow players in the squad. He looked forward to seeing his son in a Bulldogs jersey someday, linking the importance of family football tradition.

For Toby Sexton, the day is a moment to reflect on his own father, Tony, who faced a serious accident last year. Sexton described his father as his hero, stating, “Everything I do in footy is for him and my family.” This acknowledgment of fathers and family among the Bulldogs players illustrates the personal significance of this day beyond their professional commitments.