Supercars
Inside the Canterbury Bulldogs vs Red Bull AMPOL Racing tug of war
Go behind the scenes as the Canterbury Bulldogs take on the Red Bull AMPOL Racing Supercar in an epic tug of war challenge, with exclusive access, player reactions and how the crossover came together.
What happens when one of the NRL's toughest teams goes head-to-head with a championship-winning Supercar? We went behind the scenes as Canterbury Bulldogs players took on the Red Bull AMPOL Racing Chevrolet Camaro in an unforgettable tug of war challenge. From the planning and preparation to the final pull, here's how the crossover between rugby league and motorsport came together.
When two heavyweights collide
It's not every day an NRL squad lines up against a championship-winning Supercar.
But when the Canterbury Bulldogs rolled in, there was only one question floating around the paddock: could a pack of footballers muscle a Red Bull AMPOL Racing machine?
Before anyone grabbed the rope, the banter had already started. There were plenty of laughs, a few bold predictions and no shortage of confidence from both camps. Whether it's an NRL training field or a pit lane, no one likes losing.
Broc Feeney, his Supercar and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
© Brett Hemmings
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs meet Supercar Driver Broc Feeney
© Brett Hemmings
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs pull Supercar
© Brett Hemmings
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs enjoy a cold can
© Brett Hemmings
More than just a tug of war
What looked like a simple challenge quickly became a genuine contest.
Throughout the day, fans got to see:
- Bulldogs players swapping footy boots for a battle against horsepower
- Red Bull AMPOL Racing showing what goes into preparing a Supercar away from race day
- Plenty of laughs, sledging and competitive banter
- The personalities behind two elite sporting teams
- The moment everyone found out whether muscle could beat machine
Plenty of talk... then it was time to pull
Once the cameras were rolling, the laughs gave way to game faces.
The Bulldogs did what they've built their reputation on all season - digging in, backing each other and refusing to give an inch. Every pull became a contest, every reset came with another round of friendly chirping, and every person watching wanted to know the same thing: who was going to blink first?
On the other side, the Red Bull AMPOL Racing crew knew exactly what their machine was capable of. Calm, calculated and quietly confident, they were just as determined to defend the honour of motorsport.
The moments you don't see
The best parts of the day weren't always the ones in front of the camera.
They were the conversations between takes. The players wandering over to check out the Supercar up close. The crew explaining how everything worked. The smiles after a good pull and the jokes flying once everyone caught their breath.
It's those unscripted moments that make crossovers like this memorable. Different sports, different worlds, but the same competitive mindset.
Broc Feeney meets Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players
© Brett Hemmings
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs prep for tug of war
© Brett Hemmings
Six Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players again Supercar
© Brett Hemmings
Red Bull AMPOL Racing team set up tug of war rope
© Brett Hemmings
Built on competition
Whether you're chasing points on the NRL ladder or milliseconds on the stopwatch, one thing never changes - everyone wants bragging rights.
That's what made this challenge work.
Two teams. Two completely different sports. One rope. And absolutely no one is willing to let go.
By the numbers
- 2 elite sporting teams
- 1 Red Bull AMPOL Racing Supercar
- 1 epic tug of war
- Dozens of crew members behind the cameras
- Hundreds of kilograms of combined pulling power
- Countless laughs throughout the day
Watch how it all went down!
