NRL Indigenous round jerseys showcase art and stories from around the country

The NRL's Indigenous round jerseys have been revealed, with work from artists across the country set to be showcased on the footy field.

Blake Ferguson in the Eel's Indigenous round jersey.

Blake Ferguson in the Parramatta Eel's Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL

Murrawari and Euahlayi artist Danielle Mate Sullivan designed the Eel's Indigenous round jersey, with input from player Will Smith.

The artwork is called 'Connection', and as the name suggests, it represents connection to past and future.

Four hands on the back of the jersey represent Indigenous players Will Smith and Blake Ferguson's children.
The back of the Eels Indigenous round jersey
The back of the Parramatta Eels Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
North Queensland's jersey features the sea turtle, a delicacy in the far north and Torres Strait.

Kuku Yalanji/Koa artist William Chambers designed the 'Chosen One' jersey, which shows the turtle's life cycle from hatchling to adult. 

While the hunters look for the 'chosen one' for their meal, the turtle that grows into adulthood will also be the 'chosen one' to continue the life cycle of the sea turtle.
Cowboys Indigenous round jersey
Cowboys Indigenous round jersey Source: NRL
The artwork on the front and back of the West Tigers' jersey, designed by Billy Reynolds is called ‘Guwing & Yunada’, which means sun and moon in Dharawal language.

The work features kangaroo and emu living in harmony as the sun and moon prepare to switch places at dusk.

On the jersey's sleeves, another artwork, entitled 'River flow' is symbolic of life; as a river flows on, so do our lives.
David Nofoaluma in the Wests Tigers' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey
David Nofoaluma in the Wests Tigers' 2020 Indigenous Round jersey Source: NRL
The Cronulla Sharks' jersey 'Coming Together' was designed by Bidjara artist Alara Geebung.

The design represents reconnection with the ways of our old people and oneness with mother nature and equanimity of mind.

The animals pay tribute players' totems and represent oneness with land, sky and sea.
The sharks Indigenous round jersey
The Cronulla Sharks Indigenous round jersey Source: NRL
The Broncos Indigenous round jersey was designed by Koa and Kuku Yalanji woman Elaine Chambers-Hegarty.

At the centre of the jersey, the circle represents the meeting where people from north, south, east and west gather under the watch of their ancestors.

The circles around the jersey represent the communities the Broncos operate in, while the wavy lines represent the rivers and waterways currently suffering through drought.
Scott Prince wearing the Broncos 2020 Indigenous jersey.
Scott Prince wearing the Broncos 2020 Indigenous jersey. Source: Deadly Choices
The Titan's jersey is all abut connection with community, passion, support and togetherness.

The artwork, "Healing", was designed by Gomeroi artist Laura Pitt.

The blue circles in the middle  represent the Titans community, passion is represented through the coloured dots surrounding the players and supporters with links of the blue and ochre lines, while the handprints and waterholes represent connection to the land.
Gold Coast Titan's Indigenous jersey.
Gold Coast Titan's Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
Wiradjuri artist Kylie Cassidy tells the story of the Rooster's club in their 2020 jersey.

The club is represented by a circle at the top left of the design, and journey lines stemming out represent the team's involvement in the community.

The totems of the Indigenous players, including those from the junior squads, also feature on the jersey, with symbols representing land, sky and sea.
Roosters Indigenous round jersey
Roosters Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
Manly's jersey features a large blue circular design representing the Manly district and Brookvale, with its tentacles and tributaries reaching far beyond, embracing fans across the country.

The design, created by Lee Hampton, also features a map of the Manly/Warringah/Pittwater districts.

 The dotted lines represent the journeys undertaken by Indigenous players, past and present, who have represented the Manly club and their people.
The Manly Sea Eagles Indigenous round jersey.
The Manly Sea Eagles Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
Indigenous students from Bethlehem College, Ashfield designed the Bulldog's 2020 jersey.

The jersey's design represents the coming together of communities for the Indigenous round.

The players and community are represented as suns around a meeting place alongside the totems of the local area and the Cooks River.
Adam Elliott wears the Bulldogs Indigenous round jersey.
Adam Elliott wears the Bulldogs Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
The Rabbitohs' jersey design represents the legacy of the players who have worn the jersey before them.

Wahlabul man Uncle Joe Walker designed the jersey in collaboration with the team's Indigenous players.

The design connects all the different communities, players and their stories to the black rabbit.
The Rabbitohs Indigenous round jersey.
The Rabbitohs Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
The Knights jersey was designed by local Newcastle artist Tyler Smith with input from players Connor Watson, Edrick Lee and Gehamat Shibasaki.

Smith also enlisted the assistance of four young Indigenous detainees through his art program at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre to create the work.

he design of the jersey represents the local landscape of Newcastle, the wider region and also incorporates the handprints of the team's three Indigenous players, and their totems.
The Knights Indigenous round jersey
The Knights Indigenous round jersey Source: NRL
Gomeroi artists Jakeob Watson and Elenore Binge designed the Dragons jersey.

Watson's  'Dragons Community' design showcases spiritual guides, the humpback and footprints of the kangaroo within the hunting boomerang and pays respect to the Dragons' playing group, their families, staff and supporters.

Binge's 'Dharawal Country – Spirit of the Dragon' design is a representation of two meeting places – Netstrata Jubilee Stadium and WIN Stadium – while the U-shaped symbols embody the Bidjigal and Wadi Wadi custodians of the land where the stadiums stands.
The dragons Indigenous round jersey.
The Dragons Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
Ngunnawal, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi artist Lynnice Church designed the Raiders' 2020 jersey.

The jersey carries artwork associated with the region’s Reconciliation Public Holiday, which occurred on June 1.
Raiders Indigenous round jersey 2020.
Raiders Indigenous round jersey 2020. Source: NRL
Penrith's jersey was designed by Natasha Fordham.

It features the meeting place of Panthers Stadium on Darug land, flanked by the Nepean River, local wildlife and the Blue Mountains.

Fordham designed the jersey in collaboration with Panthers Indigenous Welfare Officer Glen Liddiard and Panthers players Brent Naden, Daine Laurie and Brayden McGrady, which features each of the players' totems.
Panthers' Indigenous round jersey 2020.
Penrith Panthers' Indigenous round jersey 2020. Source: NRL
17-year-old Wurundjeri, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Ngurai illum Wurrung artist Ky-ya Nicholson Ward designed Melbourne's jersey.

The design is called ‘Jindi Worobak’ which means ‘Join and Unite’ in Woiwurrung. 

The centre circle on the jersey represents AAMI Park, and the white circles represent the staff, fans and crowd who come united as one to support the players, while the joint circles flowing through the middle section of the jersey represent the Birrarung (Yarra River).
Melbourne Storm's 2020 Indigenous round jersey.
Melbourne Storm's 2020 Indigenous round jersey. Source: NRL
The Warriors' jersey, designed by Dave Burke, is called Tāua Tahi -the Māori way of saying “That’s Us”.

The jersey acknowledges shared realities of Indigenous people in New Zealand and in Australia, on and off the field.

It represents the players coming together and below is the next generation who are inspired by the coming together of Indigenous peoples and the change that can be created by understanding and respecting each other.
The Warriors Indigenous round jersey
The Warriors Indigenous round jersey Source: NRL

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6 min read
Published 28 July 2020 7:24pm
Source: NITV News


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