The South Sydney Rabbitohs are pleased to announce their NRL squad for Indigenous Round 12 against the Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium to be played this Saturday 28 May at 5:30pm.
Rabbitohs Head Coach Jason Demetriou has named Mark Nicholls to return from injury on the interchange bench. Cameron Murray has been included on the extended bench.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs 2022 Indigenous Jersey honours our matriarchs – our mothers and all women.
The jersey was designed by Uncle Joe Walker, a proud Wahlabul man, who is designing the Rabbitohs Indigenous jersey for the fifth time in 2022.
Depicted on the jersey is the birthing tree which symbolizes our matriarchs and acknowledges that everything comes from Mother Earth. The players’ totems are featured at the trunk of the tree which symbolizes that everyone is part of the foundation of our communities and that everyone has a role to play in helping the tree to flourish. The totems representing the players are:
- Goanna – Cody Walker (Yuin and Bundjalung) and Latrell and Shaquai Mitchell (Wiradjuri - maternal totem)
- Shark – Latrell and Shaquai Mitchell (Biripi - paternal totem)
- Crocodile – Alex Johnston (Saibai Island)
- Black-tailed Kangaroo – Isaiah Tass (Yuwi)
- Whale – Blake Taaffe (Bidjigal)
The red colour on the jersey represents the blood in our veins and red earth we live on and the green represents the natural beauties of our land. The red and green also represent the Rabbitohs and their connection to people right across our countries. The river represents our song lines and individual journeys as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The circles represent our people coming together as one. Many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clan groups come together to yarn and share in support of the Rabbitohs. In addition, the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander flags highlight the sleeves of the jersey.
The jersey says we are all part of the Rabbitohs family. We all become one.
Round 12 will also be Damien Cook’s 150th NRL game in South Sydney colours. Cook debuted for the Rabbitohs in round one, 2016. He has played 158 NRL games during his career with the Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Dragons.
The curtain raiser to the NRL fixture will be South Sydney Juniors district A-grade match between two clubs with long-standing ties to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the South Sydney region. The Redfern All Blacks (Gadigal) and La Perouse Panthers (Bidjigal) will kick off at 3:15pm, showcasing some of the best local talent in the South Sydney area. Gates at Accor Stadium will open at 3pm on Saturday.
Pre-match entertainment at Accor Stadium will include a Welcome to Country from Aboriginal Elder Uncle Allan Madden, didgeridoo performances on field and around the concourse from proud Wabanja Gunai and Dunghutti man, Brock Tutt, and proud Gamilaroi man Kaleb Taylor including a rendition of Glory, Glory to South Sydney at run out, and dance performances from The Glen, The Glen for Women and Brolga Dance Academy. Aboriginal airbrush tattooists and totem colouring-in stations which also be featured for kids around the concourse. La Perouse Panthers and Redfern All Blacks will also take to the field for the Mini League matches at half time of the NRL fixture, accompanied by a singing performance from proud Wiradjuri woman, Millie Mills.
“The Rabbitohs’ match day partner for Indigenous Round is 13YARN, the first and only national Indigenous-led crisis helpline, run with the support of Lifeline. The Rabbitohs are one of 13YARN’s first partnerships in Australian sport. If you, or someone you know are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN (139276) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
The Rabbitohs NSW Cup team will take on the North Sydney Bears at North Sydney Oval on Sunday 29 May at 2pm, with the Rabbitohs Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership side playing at 12pm at the same venue on Sunday. The under 21s Jersey Flegg Cup team will play the Sydney Roosters on Sunday 29 May at 3pm at Waverley Oval.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NRL squad for Saturday’s Indigenous Round 12 clash with the Tigers is:
