Sydney Roosters star Connor Watson has declared the Gadhu Gathering has the power to unite rugby league fans in a unique celebration of Indigenous culture.
Seven Sydney clubs will come together for four games at Allianz Stadium across three days this weekend, with the Roosters kicking off the event with a Friday-night blockbuster against the Bulldogs.
Watson is eager to see the Gadhu Gathering develop into a showcase event on the rugby league calendar and said it has the power to unite all Australians.
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“It’s a great initiative,” Watson told NRL.com. “It’s great for the club to want these other clubs to come and play here. It’s been a bit of a talking point this year so it’s cool that everyone’s happy to put those things aside this weekend for a special occasion.
“Hopefully it goes well and it becomes an event like Magic Round where everyone looks forward to it. It can be a big community gathering for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to get a three-day ticket to come and watch the Sydney teams and learn more about Indigenous culture.”
Club rivalries will be put aside for the three-day celebration of Indigenous culture, with the Roosters hoping to crack 30,000 spectators for their clash with the Bulldogs.
South Sydney will play Parramatta on Saturday night, before the Wests Tigers host a double-header on Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers women will play St George Illawarra in an NRLW clash, with the men to take on Manly in an NRL match.
The concept was borne out of the Roosters’ desire to turn their Indigenous Round game into a marquee event, with Venues NSW, the Rabbitohs and Tigers quickly jumping on board.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said it’s important to put club rivalries aside to celebrate an important week in the rugby league calendar.
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“We have Anzac Day and our Emergency Services Round and we wanted to create another marquee event,” Kelly said. “Indigenous Round is a landmark week for our club, our game and our city.
“To see six Sydney teams come together over three consecutive days at Allianz Stadium during the NRL’s Indigenous Round is a powerful statement of unity, respect and strength of our rugby league community.
“This weekend is about paying tribute to the rich culture and excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We’re proud to play our part in honouring their contribution to the game and our country.”
The Roosters will continue their long-standing partnership with the Kari Foundation on Friday night, with the Indigenous charity to act as the match-day partner. The foundation’s logo is displayed on the side’s Indigenous jersey.
The relationship between the two groups extends beyond this weekend, with the club running community programs in the Eastern Suburbs and Central Coast in conjunction with the organisation.
Kari has long been a partner of the Sydney Roosters Indigenous Academy, an under 19s team that plays in the Tarsha Gale Cup.
Kelly said the partnership highlights the importance of year-long initiatives to support Indigenous communities.
“We’re proud to partner with Kari and the NSW Government to deliver what will be an unforgettable experience,” Kelly said. “Our relationship with Kari marks a meaningful step forward in our game’s ongoing commitment to reconciliation, representation and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“There’s a lot of events throughout the course of the year that celebrate Indigenous culture, with Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. They are part of our annual program of recognition of Indigenous people.”
History could happen on and off the field this weekend, with Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston closing in on the NRL’s all-time try-scoring record.
The Indigenous star requires three tries to draw level with Ken Irvine’s mark of 212 tries, with four taking him past the legendary figure.
The pursuit has given the Rabbitohs something to celebrate amid a challenging season on the field, with Tallis Duncan eager for fans to pack Allianz Stadium in anticipation of a history-making event.
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All-time record in his sights
“It would be mad if fans celebrated the record,” Duncan said. “I know when Buddy Franklin was mobbed next door [at the SCG], that was pretty cool to watch.
“It would be amazing to see him break the record so I hope we do something special and it’s celebrated.”
Rabbitohs legend Greg Inglis will lead the side on to the field on Saturday night, with the NRL Hall of Famer to fill multiple roles throughout the weekend.
Inglis will return to Allianz Stadium on Sunday as an assistant coach of the Tigers NRLW side, with the squad looking to upset the Dragons.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said the club quickly jumped at the opportunity to be involved in the Gadhu Gathering when the idea was first floated.
“When the opportunity came up to participate in Gadhu Gathering, we wanted to support it and put our hands up to be involved,” Richardson told NRL.com.
“We celebrate all cultures at the Tigers and this was a particularly important opportunity to celebrate Indigenous Round. We’ve been supportive of Greg Inglis and the Goanna Academy and celebrate that every week of the year.
“Greg has just launched the Stick With It campaign to support mental health. We know there are massive challenges with mental health in Indigenous communities and Goanna Academy is working hard to expand further into Queensland and WA. Indigenous Round is a great celebration of culture and we want to support it as much as we can.”