Greg Inglis organisers NRL-first Indigenous leadership drive
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| Role model ... Inglis is a hero to many Indigenous Australians. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited b |
Held on the eve of the annual NRL All Stars game, the gathering has been organised by Inglis and fellow Queensland and Kangaroos star Johnathan Thurston.
The pair are part of an Indigenous Leadership Group which, despite being operational for almost five years, has promised to be far more proactive and vocal in 2013.
The group - which also includes Sam Thaiday, Matt Bowen and Nathan Merritt - plans to expand in number this year after receiving support from the NRL, which has appointed Dean Widders as an education and welfare officer.
"In most Aboriginal communities, footballers are the biggest role models,'' Widders told The Daily Telegraph.
"But a lot of them, unfortunately, have become disconnected from their culture. They've never been taught about language, dance, hunting, so they tend to shy away from the whole leadership thing.
"But a lot of them, unfortunately, have become disconnected from their culture. They've never been taught about language, dance, hunting, so they tend to shy away from the whole leadership thing.
"So it's our job now to educate them. Empower them. Greg Inglis and JT have really been the driving force for that ... they've basically said 'these are the things indigenous footballers need to know about culture'.
"They want to set a standard for Aboriginal men.''
Involving more than 50 indigenous players, the camp will also be used to strengthen the Indigenous Leadership Group - with potential members including Timana Tahu, George Rose and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.
Widders said a handful of promising Aboriginal under-20s players would also be invited into camp alongside some of the game's biggest names.
"But for that to happen, their NRL coaches are setting them goals to achieve,'' he said.
"It might be a weight they have to get down to over summer. Or a certain skin fold.
"The coach is saying 'you make that and you can attend'. We're trying to teach these younger players that it's a real privilege to be part of this group, that you have to earn the right to be part of it.''
Widders said a handful of promising Aboriginal under-20s players would also be invited into camp alongside some of the game's biggest names.
"But for that to happen, their NRL coaches are setting them goals to achieve,'' he said.
"It might be a weight they have to get down to over summer. Or a certain skin fold.
"The coach is saying 'you make that and you can attend'. We're trying to teach these younger players that it's a real privilege to be part of this group, that you have to earn the right to be part of it.''
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