MEDIA RELEASE: Bulldogs Shoosh for Kids
NSW Office of Sport
21 April 2026
Editor’s note: access images of Bulldogs players and Milperra Colts junior players here: https://officeofsport.intelligencebank.com/customshare/index/MEORa
Bulldogs Shoosh for Kids
NRL club the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are getting behind a NSW Government campaign to keep kid’s sport fun this winter by urging spectators to keep sideline behaviour positive.
The Bulldogs have joined more than 1,000 sports clubs and associations as well as 33 State Sporting Organisations (SSOs) to support the NSW Office of Sport’s Shoosh for Kids winter campaign.
Shoosh for Kids is about ensuring the environment at junior sport is positive – to keep kids participating in sport.
Rather than remaining completely silent, it’s a reminder to spectators that if you don’t have something positive to say, Shoosh for Kids.
The Shoosh for Kids program provides free resources to clubs, associations and SSOs to share the message and help keep sport fun for kids.
The Bulldogs joined junior players from Milperra Colts Junior Rugby League Club at Brighton where they got a chance to meet their heroes and share their experiences of why Shooshing for Kids is so important.
For further information and to sign up to the Shoosh for Kids campaign, visit: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/shooshforkids
Office of Sport Deputy Secretary Adam Berry said:
“When attending junior sport we need to remember, it isn’t the NRL, EPL or NBL – it’s community sport.
“It’s a chance for kids to have fun, make friends and learn new skills.
“As adults, we wouldn’t perform our best if someone shouted at us.
“And as spectators, we need to ensure junior sport is fun for kids so that they keep playing and enjoying the benefits it offers.
“The message is simple, if you don’t have anything positive to say, Shoosh for Kids.”
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton:
“Junior sport is the heartbeat of our community, which is why we're proud to stand alongside the NSW Government in supporting the Shoosh For Kids campaign.
“Rugby league should be a place where every child feels safe, supported and free to enjoy the game they love — and that starts with the adults on the sideline.
“The message is simple: keep it positive, keep it fun. Let's make sure every kid in our community wants to come back and play week after week."
Bulldogs player Matt Burton said:
“The Shoosh For Kids campaign is a fantastic initiative that I’m proud to be a part of.
“As an NRL player, I’ve experienced how great passion from the stands can be, but I also know that it can sometimes go too far.
“Kids should be free to enjoy their sport in a positive environment and this campaign is a great reminder to spectators to respect that.”
Milperra Colts President Katie Lawrence said:
“Shoosh for Kids really speaks to the environment we want to create around junior sport.
“In junior rugby league especially, we’re not just developing players—we’re shaping young people.
“Programs like Shoosh for Kids help protect that experience by reducing negative comments towards referees, players, and even other parents.
“From a club perspective, it aligns with creating a safe, inclusive environment where kids want to turn up each week.
“Ultimately, it’s about remembering why kids play sport in the first place—fun, friendships, and learning.”
Media contact: Steve Norris 0417 291 346