This week, the Sharks will commemorate Indigenous Round with a number of events, such as free health screenings and guest appearances by former players Preston Campbell and David Peachey.
The Sharks will commemorate the significant event on the pitch and in the community this Saturday at PointsBet Stadium when they play the Panthers. They will be wearing a stylish Indigenous uniform created by well-known Aboriginal artist Jordan Ardler.
On Thursday morning, Ardler will address the NRL team, explaining the meaning behind the jersey that depicts stingrays and embodies the traditional knowledge and tales of the Cronulla region’s indigenous owners.
The Vitalis Family Medical Practice and Deadly Choices are partnering to provide free ‘715’ health checks to First Nations people at the stadium on Friday. Many students and community members from the area are anticipated to attend.
Resources aimed at preventing smoking will also be available through the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Na Joomelah programme, which is supported by scientific data.
Native American icon Campbell will be present during the occasion and the NRL team’s captain’s run practice to highlight his cultural ties, and legendary Aboriginal Sharks player Peachey will lead the team out of the tunnel during the game.
Five Indigenous players make up the Sharks NRL squad: Nicho Hynes, Will Kennedy, Jesse Ramien, Braydon Trindall, and Niwhai Puru. Earlier this week, Ramien and Kennedy had a passionate conversation about Indigenous Round.
“This is a unique week for our culture,” declared Ramien, a proud Wiradjuri man.
“Just to give recognition to all that our people have accomplished and will continue to accomplish in sports and other spheres of life. This week is extremely important to me, my family, and my community.
“As a young Indigenous boy from Coonamble, a small country town in New South Wales, I believe I have the support of my community.” I’m excited about it.
It’s enormous. The role models serve as a small source of inspiration for the kids, showing them that anything is possible if you put your mind to it, regardless of where you’re from—whether it’s a small town like that or the big city.
“When I was a little child, I used to look up to people like Greg Inglis and Jonathan Thurston. It’s truly an honour to be in that position now.”
Kennedy, a former resident of Kirinari Aboriginal Hostel in Sylvania and a proud Kamilaroi man, continued: “It’s very important.” I believe that all of the players began there as young children, and as we grew older, we all looked up to the Indigenous boys.
He went on, “A lot of my favourite players were Indigenous,” mentioning Peachey, Campbell, Rhys Wesser, and his father William ‘Bubba’ Kennedy.
On the day of the game, the teams will exchange cultural gifts during the coin toss. This will be followed by a dance performance and smoking ceremony by the Djurawalinjang Dancers. Juniors from the Darkinjung Many Waters and Blacktown Redbelly Warriors teams will walk with each player to form a boomerang shape as Peachey emerges from the dugout to lead the Sharks onto the pitch.
Before the game, Dharawal First Nations leader and proud Yuin-Dunghutti, Aunty Dolly Brown, will give a Welcome to Country speech.
Participants in the Sharks Indigenous programme, Blacktown Redbelly Warriors, and Darkinjung Many Waters programmes will play halftime games sponsored by Deadly Choices.
Renowned Indigenous artist Daren Dunn, who showed his designs to the players during practice on Tuesday, will paint Hynes and Kennedy’s boots.
