The sell-out event saw businesses pay up to $250 for four
sessions spread over six hours, covering both the normal business conference
motivational and marketing fare delivered by businesses close to the club, as
well as some sessions focused more specifically on the Rabbitohs’ own business.
The on-field side saw Rabbitohs players David Peachey, David
Kidwell and Dean Widders introduce the speakers, including NRL CEO David Gallop
and Souths coach Jason Taylor.
Gallop addressed the broader NRL issues including the
observation that, under the salary cap restraints, a club’s edge comes from its
support services and the way it links to the community – two areas clearly in
Souths’ business plan.
Taylor
drew on some insights from both his own playing career and from his role as
Souths’ new coach to emphasise the importance of team building and integrity in
dealing with people within the club and in broader business.
The luncheon speaker, Peter Holmes à Court, introduced
everyone to the Rabbitohs’ Brand Universe. From the core of the club’s logo and
identity through all the relationships the club holds with the community,
sponsors and others in the South’s family, he mapped out the club’s activities
and brand opportunities.
From the introduction of the Rabbitoh Rabbit Hunter on the
Armani players’ suits to a variety of Rabbit logos for different purposes
including a possible yin-yang rabbit and Chinese character logo, those
attending received an insight into the brand marketing possibilities being
identified for the Rabbitohs.
Part reality and part aspiration the presentation was
entitled ‘The most loved brand in Australian Sport.’ Business supporters got a
clear idea of how Holmes à Court and Russell Crowe are planning to build the
Rabbitohs brand, and like the ABC TV audience the night before, the applause
indicated they liked what they saw.
Photo: ABC TV – Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes à Court in a
scene from the documentary, South Side Story (ABC TV Tuesdays 8pm)
Source South Sydney Herald September 2007 – www.southsydneyherald.com.au