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There was a moment in the Dolphins\u2019 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\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cculture elevates culture\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know I had to do a speech, I\u2019d never been a captain before so I didn\u2019t realise I had to get up on stage,\u201d Kerr jokes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shaking and stuff \u2013 \u2018oh, thank you, Harvey Norman\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Kerr\u2019s pride in his Indigenous roots had not always been so obvious.<\/p>\n
Growing up, he reveals he simply wanted to fit in at school, and was not so willing to express his cultural background with admiration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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,\u201d Kerr says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen you get older, and you realise the impact you can have on the younger generations, that\u2019s what made me really want to dive in and be a great leader to my family and cousins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kerr will enter this week\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
As an ambassador for Deadly Choices, the 29-year-old has cast a keener eye on issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture \u2013 namely the angst generated this year regarding Welcome to Country.<\/p>\n
The prop cuts a more frustrated demeanour when discussing his anger at social media critics of the ceremonies \u2013 \u201cI\u2019m sick of hearing \u2018why do I have to listen to Welcome to Country?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
But while he laments it\u2019s \u201ccrazy that there\u2019s still a lot of that going on in the world\u201d, he stresses his role as an Indigenous leader and advocate was to help educate the \u201carrogant\u201d sceptics of the impact racial vilification has caused.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t 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 \u2018how can we do better?\u2019\u201d Kerr says.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything seems impossible until it\u2019s 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\u2019re not ashamed, and they\u2019re very proud of who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Josh Kerr is fighting for a new deal.Credit: NRL Photos<\/p>\n
Kerr will enter Saturday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
He will instead return to the Dragons, where he played his first 68 games, on a two-year contract.<\/p>\n
While Kerr was ushered into the Queensland Maroons\u2019 fold for their State of Origin game three preparations, Woolf said in July the squad\u2019s plethora of injuries \u2013 including forwards Daniel Saifiti, Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler and Max Plath \u2013 had opened doors for other prospects to make their case for extensions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt [the salary cap] is evolving all the time, what this year has given us with the injuries we\u2019ve had is a real opportunity for other guys to step in and have a presence, and put their own mark on the team,\u201d Woolf said, while expressing hope they could squeeze Kerr into their roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome guys have put their hands up to say they need to be in this club going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He now stands a key pillar in his side\u2019s finals charge, averaging 85 running metres a game off the bench at a time when he and his fianc\u00e9 welcomed their first child \u2013 Atlas \u2013 into their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had this drama before where I\u2019ve been in contract negotiations and I start really overthinking things,\u201d Kerr admitted last month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI start trying to do things in games. At the start of these contract negotiations I said, \u2018what\u2019s the go\u2019 and I started not playing too good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got my family \u2026 [but] I know what it does to my head if I think about it, or it\u2019s on my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n