Character Back story:

Just some Information to give an idea into the backstory of the characters/social environment.

Story Character Background:

The rivalry between the Roosters and the Rabbitohs dates back to 1908 and is currently the longest running sporting rivalry in the world.
The Rabbitohs form exactly 1 week before the Roosters and are noted to have beaten the Roosters in the Grand Final that year. This began the grudge.

In regards to the story, Roosters are from the East of Sydney in the rich, beachside/bayside suburbs with the Rabbits living in the lower working class South of Sydney.
The story picks up in a rough 1930ish era with the class conflict and animosity between the Roosters and Rabbits already established. I don’t want the film to preach in regards to social or racial prejudice but I still would like to make a comment that money doesn’t make you a better person or necessarily change your quality of life.

Norton (Rooster) bio notes:

Norton is a Rooster, mid 30’s. Male. He is quite large for a rooster, having played Rugby League for a number of years in the Front Row., and despite his family’s wealth /has boxed in many competitions and high class events/Gentlemen’s sport clubs. He boxes for Pride. (Cock fighting). He still is a fairly fit Rooster, but gave up a career in First Grade Football when he sustained a knee injury that required several operations. Even though Roosters tend to not get along with Rabbits, Norton is especially bitter as he suffered the injury playing against the Bunnies in his mid 20’s.

Norton is fairly wealthy; his father earned their fortune through property ownership throughout Sydney and unknown to the General Public, through various Casino and bookmaking rackets.

Norton was the prince of the empire and very spoilt. His father bails him out of all his problems business wise and other, basically by giving him more money when needed. He has a notorious bad temper and a borderline addiction to gambling, both which get him into a lot of debt.

Norton’s father, hoping that he learns a thing or two about responsibility, gives him a few streets in Redfern to manage as owner/landlord. Norton thinks he can go one better on the properties, raising the rent and making it generally uncomfortable for the locals to survive. He also realizes that quite a large chunk on the corner of charmers and Phillips street in Redfern is not owned by his father at all, and therefore is determined to acquire it to build a large number of terrace-style houses squashed together, making more money.

Raymond the Rabbit:

40-50 yo. Male. Redfern born and bred. Played for Rabbitohs in reserve and 1st Grade. Retired from playing at 35. Married roughly 15 years, and has 2 kids, one who features in film is 7/8 ish. Is a carpenter, owns a hardware store in Waterloo. Is kind, never shys away from hard work.
A Battler, but would give you the shirt off his own back if you were in trouble.
Sometimes Coaches for the Rabbitohs when available, so knows a lot of the younger blokes still playing on the team.- Also he’s mates with all their fathers, having grown up in the neighborhood with them. They all have a beer together once a week down the road at the leagues club but he’s not much of a drinker, has one or two then heads home to spend time with the family.
Bought the property he owns, had a small house on it at the time which he renovated himself- never had a mortgage, as he never drank much so used game earnings to buy the property outright from a friend of his grandfather .
He’s not a rich man, but has a quality of life through his family, friends, neighbours and the Rabbitohs.