Latest news with #NRLIndigenousRound
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Warriors v Bulldogs: Live updates from the crucial round 23 NRL clash
Advertise with NZME. All the action as the Warriors travel to Sydney to take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a crucial NRL Indigenous Round clash. In a bombshell late change to his side's starting lineup to take on the Bulldogs, Warriors coach Andrew Webster has dropped halfback Tanah Boyd. Boyd was named in the No 7 jersey for the top grade team 24 hours out from the game, but surprisingly played 80 minutes in the club's reserve grade NSW Cup side. The Warriors have not given a reason for the 25-year-old's relegation, but have instead called upon Te Maire Martin to fill in at halfback. Meanwhile, the Warriors welcome back skipper James Fisher-Harris and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita for Saturday night's clash. Both players missed last week's 20-18 loss to the Dolphins with calf injuries but have been named in the Warriors squad as the side looks to snap a two-game losing streak. Captain Fisher-Harris was originally named on the extended bench, but was brought into the starting 13 by Webster on Friday night. His inclusion sees Marata Niukore move into the second row, Leka Halasima pushed to the interchange bench and last week's debutant Eddie Ieremia-Toeava into the reserves. Te Maire Martin has been named on the interchange bench at the expense of Freddy Lussick. Prop Demitric Vaimauga, who also missed the loss to the Dolphins, is also on the interchange, replacing Jacob Laban, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken leg. Laban was on the wrong end of a hip-drop tackle at the weekend and the culprit, Felise Kaufusi, has been slapped with a two-match ban. Hooker Wayde Egan has overcome his head knock but Webster is using the match to help the 28-year-old rest a persistent shoulder injury. That gives Samuel Healey a start in the No 9 jersey for his fourth NRL appearance. For the Bulldogs, Lachlan Gavlin has been named at halfback despite fracturing his hand in their 28-14 loss to the Wests Tigers. The Warriors have lost four of their past six matches, including the last two, and sit in fifth place after a strong Penrith Panthers showing against the Newcastle Knights on Friday. The Bulldogs beat the Warriors twice last season, a golden point 13-12 thriller in Sydney and a 34-18 win in Auckland. Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 10. Jackson Ford, 9. Samuel Healey, 23. James Fisher-Harris (c), 8. Marata Niukore, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Erin Clark. Interchange (from): 11. Leka Halasima, 14. Te Maire Martin, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Freddy Lussick, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Nesian Footy waves goodbye to Toutai Kefu
Sam and Tinirau farewell their much-loved friend and weekly co-host, Toutai Kefu, after 18 gruelling months of carrying Nesian Footy on his back. Tinirau looks ahead to the return of NRL Indigenous Round this weekend, while Sam gives a thumbs up to the Wallabies' call to scrap the Giteau Rule. Toutai Kefu gets ready to start his new era with the Kamaishi Seawaves.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Footy fans blast Melbourne Storm's 'effing poor' replacement for Welcome to Country as one detail leaves them furious: 'I want a refund on my membership'
Football fans have been left fuming after the Melbourne Storm offered up a watered-down Acknowledgement to Country to kick off the NRL Indigenous Round on Thursday night. The round began with the Storm delivering an Acknowledgement of Country instead of a Welcome to Country before their 22-2 win over Brisbane. Unlike Welcomes, Acknowledgements can be performed by a non-Indigenous person. The move came after the club cancelled the Welcome to Country just hours before its Anzac Day clash with South Sydney. Elder Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin, who was meant to perform that Welcome, said she and Victoria's Wurundjeri people will not work with the club for any official or cultural events. She was furious over a Storm board member's links to Advance Australia, a political lobby group she claims promotes racial division. The club apologised earlier this week for the Anzac Day cancellation but confirmed only an Acknowledgement would be held before Thursday's game. Some viewers thought the Acknowledgement of Country was the same as a Welcome to Country and were left fuming. 'So the storm have gone back on their no more welcome to country promise, will have to ask for a refund on my membership,' one posted on social media. 'I deliberately changed channel's so didn't have to acknowledge anything,' commented another. Others saw the ceremony as a weaker version of the Welcome to Country. 'Storm had the opportunity to make up for the cancellation of the welcome to country from Anzac round, they decided to do this? P*** f***ing poor,' one posted to X. Some were more extreme in their views following the ANZAC Day decision. 'Melbourne Storm can f*** right off with their indigenous round welcome to country,' one fumed. 'Not only did owners back no vote, they cancelled welcome to country ANZAC day, they also have zero indigenous players on their roster.' The fact that the Storm chose to broadcast the Acknowledgement of Country on the big screen, rather than feature a live ceremony, also created division. 'It was as it should be, Indigenous Round just recognising past and present Indigenous players, none of the WTC dribble acted out by an auntie or uncle. Great work melbourne storm, you got it right as usual,' one footy fan commented. 'Great Acknowledgement. But would have preferred a Welcome on ground,' another viewer said. 'Easy to ignore if it's just on a screen,' added another, tongue firmly in cheek. 'I deliberately changed channel's so didn't have to acknowledge anything,' another fan posted. 'I don't care how it's done. I won't acknowledge it,' added yet another. The furious statement from Aunty Joy would have been the last thing NRL CEO Andrew Abdo was hoping for when he launched Indigenous Round on Tuesday. Aunty Joy's broadside at the club came after it was revealed Storm board member Brett Ralph had donated $175,000 to Advance Australia through his JMR Management Consultancy Services company. Advance Australia campaigned against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, supports Aboriginal politicians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Warren Mundine, and stands against what it calls 'out-of-control' immigration policies. 'I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community Elder,' Aunty Joy said. 'We cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division. 'We are willing to continue to work with Melbourne Storm to address the deep community concerns but cannot endorse any official functions or cultural work until measures are put in place to ensure cultural respect and safety for all.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I was ashamed': Departing Dolphin's impassioned plea in fight for change
There was a moment in the Dolphins' preseason when Josh Kerr laughed at any suggestion of his captaincy credentials, chortling there was no chance coach Kristian Woolf would appoint him as the club's leader. Yet soon after, he was called up on stage as co-skipper of the Indigenous All Stars in their triumph of their Maori counterparts, offering the inspirational words 'culture elevates culture'. 'I didn't know I had to do a speech, I'd never been a captain before so I didn't realise I had to get up on stage,' Kerr jokes. 'I was shaking and stuff – 'oh, thank you, Harvey Norman'.' But Kerr's pride in his Indigenous roots had not always been so obvious. Growing up, he reveals he simply wanted to fit in at school, and was not so willing to express his cultural background with admiration. 'I've been very blessed in my life, but when I was going through school I was probably ashamed at points in time to identify as proudly as I was as an Indigenous Australia,' Kerr says. 'The thing is I now feel embarrassed looking back on that and being that kind of person I was. But it was probably one of the best things for me because you learn to be proud within yourself. Loading 'When you get older, and you realise the impact you can have on the younger generations, that's what made me really want to dive in and be a great leader to my family and cousins.' Kerr will enter this week's NRL Indigenous Round the same larrikin and charismatic presence which has made him an endeared figure to media, but now driven by a higher purpose. As an ambassador for Deadly Choices, the 29-year-old has cast a keener eye on issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture – namely the angst generated this year regarding Welcome to Country. The prop cuts a more frustrated demeanour when discussing his anger at social media critics of the ceremonies – 'I'm sick of hearing 'why do I have to listen to Welcome to Country?'' But while he laments it's 'crazy that there's still a lot of that going on in the world', he stresses his role as an Indigenous leader and advocate was to help educate the 'arrogant' sceptics of the impact racial vilification has caused. And he implored the rugby league community to not limit their education on Indigenous culture and issues to NRL rounds dedicated to such awareness and celebration. 'You don't really like looking back at the past and all those atrocities that happened, however you need to have that bit of pain, look back and say 'how can we do better?'' Kerr says. 'Everything seems impossible until it's done. I would just love to be able to leave a legacy knowing I did my part for my kids when they grow up to make sure they're not ashamed, and they're very proud of who they are.' Kerr will enter Saturday's clash with the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium to begin his final stretch with the Dolphins, as the club confirmed he had not been re-signed beyond his 2025 deal. He will instead return to the Dragons, where he played his first 68 games, on a two-year contract. While Kerr was ushered into the Queensland Maroons' fold for their State of Origin game three preparations, Woolf said in July the squad's plethora of injuries – including forwards Daniel Saifiti, Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler and Max Plath – had opened doors for other prospects to make their case for extensions. 'It [the salary cap] is evolving all the time, what this year has given us with the injuries we've had is a real opportunity for other guys to step in and have a presence, and put their own mark on the team,' Woolf said, while expressing hope they could squeeze Kerr into their roster. 'Some guys have put their hands up to say they need to be in this club going forward.' Despite his desire to remain in Redcliffe, Kerr refused to get caught up in the hysteria of his next move, believing whenever he did his form plummeted. He now stands a key pillar in his side's finals charge, averaging 85 running metres a game off the bench at a time when he and his fiancé welcomed their first child – Atlas – into their lives. 'I've had this drama before where I've been in contract negotiations and I start really overthinking things,' Kerr admitted last month.
The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘I was ashamed': Departing Dolphin's impassioned plea in fight for change
There was a moment in the Dolphins' preseason when Josh Kerr laughed at any suggestion of his captaincy credentials, chortling there was no chance coach Kristian Woolf would appoint him as the club's leader. Yet soon after, he was called up on stage as co-skipper of the Indigenous All Stars in their triumph of their Maori counterparts, offering the inspirational words 'culture elevates culture'. 'I didn't know I had to do a speech, I'd never been a captain before so I didn't realise I had to get up on stage,' Kerr jokes. 'I was shaking and stuff – 'oh, thank you, Harvey Norman'.' But Kerr's pride in his Indigenous roots had not always been so obvious. Growing up, he reveals he simply wanted to fit in at school, and was not so willing to express his cultural background with admiration. 'I've been very blessed in my life, but when I was going through school I was probably ashamed at points in time to identify as proudly as I was as an Indigenous Australia,' Kerr says. 'The thing is I now feel embarrassed looking back on that and being that kind of person I was. But it was probably one of the best things for me because you learn to be proud within yourself. Loading 'When you get older, and you realise the impact you can have on the younger generations, that's what made me really want to dive in and be a great leader to my family and cousins.' Kerr will enter this week's NRL Indigenous Round the same larrikin and charismatic presence which has made him an endeared figure to media, but now driven by a higher purpose. As an ambassador for Deadly Choices, the 29-year-old has cast a keener eye on issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture – namely the angst generated this year regarding Welcome to Country. The prop cuts a more frustrated demeanour when discussing his anger at social media critics of the ceremonies – 'I'm sick of hearing 'why do I have to listen to Welcome to Country?'' But while he laments it's 'crazy that there's still a lot of that going on in the world', he stresses his role as an Indigenous leader and advocate was to help educate the 'arrogant' sceptics of the impact racial vilification has caused. And he implored the rugby league community to not limit their education on Indigenous culture and issues to NRL rounds dedicated to such awareness and celebration. 'You don't really like looking back at the past and all those atrocities that happened, however you need to have that bit of pain, look back and say 'how can we do better?'' Kerr says. 'Everything seems impossible until it's done. I would just love to be able to leave a legacy knowing I did my part for my kids when they grow up to make sure they're not ashamed, and they're very proud of who they are.' Kerr will enter Saturday's clash with the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium to begin his final stretch with the Dolphins, as the club confirmed he had not been re-signed beyond his 2025 deal. He will instead return to the Dragons, where he played his first 68 games, on a two-year contract. While Kerr was ushered into the Queensland Maroons' fold for their State of Origin game three preparations, Woolf said in July the squad's plethora of injuries – including forwards Daniel Saifiti, Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler and Max Plath – had opened doors for other prospects to make their case for extensions. 'It [the salary cap] is evolving all the time, what this year has given us with the injuries we've had is a real opportunity for other guys to step in and have a presence, and put their own mark on the team,' Woolf said, while expressing hope they could squeeze Kerr into their roster. 'Some guys have put their hands up to say they need to be in this club going forward.' Despite his desire to remain in Redcliffe, Kerr refused to get caught up in the hysteria of his next move, believing whenever he did his form plummeted. He now stands a key pillar in his side's finals charge, averaging 85 running metres a game off the bench at a time when he and his fiancé welcomed their first child – Atlas – into their lives. 'I've had this drama before where I've been in contract negotiations and I start really overthinking things,' Kerr admitted last month.
