NRL Indigenous Round: The story behind Brisbane Broncos' boot and jersey designs

The NRL's Indigenous Round has commenced with the Broncos and Panthers clashing at Suncorp Stadium, home of the Yuggera & Turrbal People.

All across the round, venues will use their traditional custodian land names and games will be preceded by welcome ceremonies and Indigenous performances to celebrate the culture.

Each and every team will also be adorned in specially designed jerseys showcasing local Indigenous art and storytelling.

"Indigenous Round is a time to celebrate culture and community so that our whole game feels empowered to move forward together," NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, said.

MORE: NRL Indigenous Round - Every team's jersey and design

Ever since the initiative was started by the club in 2021, Brisbane players will also wear Indigenous designs on their boots which have been hand painted by students from the Beyond the Broncos Program.

The players’ boots were dispatched to eight different areas within the program including Toowoomba and Moreton Bay with students allowed to design their own concepts with a little input from the players themselves.

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"The emotional bond I made with the designs on these boots is one that I will cherish for a lifetime, something I never thought I would be able to do and being able to do it is something I will never take for granted," Kyrah, the student who designed Jordan Riki's boots, explained.

She noted how through portraits on the boots, she hoped a story of Riki's "diversity, growth and passion are brought to light".

On the right boot, some flowers on top of palm leaves are used to anchor not only the design but also Riki's story.

"Moving to the top of the boot, it looks like a random pattern but, really, it symbolises the sheer number of footballs Jordan has kicked in his career as an NRL player," Kyrah said.

"When you turn the boot to the side, the pattern looks like a football, the meaning behind this can be chosen by Jordan, but to me, it symbolises his first football. His first kick. His first tackle. His first game. His first anything that has helped him start his career in the NRL.

"The totems each don't just represent the tribal places they’re from, but they also represent the various places and people that Jordan has met in his journey to the Broncos.

"Each is also a representation of how far he has come in his career, from starting with the Hornby Panthers to now finding himself with the Brisbane Broncos, it's a message and a goal for him."

"I started with the Sand Goanna which is the totem for the area Patty grew up in (Holland Park)," a student called Charlie, who designed Patrick Carrigan's boots, said.

"On the inside of the first boot, I have painted circles representing Patty's family – his dad, mum and two sisters – and the connection between them.

"This is also painted on the outside of the second boot. The smaller circles represent waterholes to symbolise Brisbane and the Brisbane River.

"On the heel of the second boot is the Aboriginal symbol for ‘man’ representing Patty.

"On the front of the boot is a circle symbolising Patty's life, and the different paths he has taken.

"On the inside I have painted human footprints, in different colours, to represent Patty's rugby league journey and teams he has played for – Easts Tigers, Brisbane Broncos and Queensland."

"The meaning that I wanted to represent in the shoe design is the connection that First Nation people have," a student named Georgina, who painted Staggs’ boots, said.

"This is symbolised by the colours used – red, orange and yellows represent Aboriginal people. The cooler colours – blue, green and teals represent Torres Strait Islander people."

Staggs personally requested to have his post code painted onto his boot, while Georgina added a goanna which is the Brisbane centre's totem.

"I wanted the shoe to represent a sense of unity and community that is the First Nation community," Georgina added.

Brisbane star Selwyn Cobbo worked with fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teammates to create a jersey alongside artist Casey Coolwell-Fisher.

It was launched during the week in the winger's hometown of Cherbourg.

"It's pretty special you know, being able to wear this jersey and be a young leader," Cobbo said.

"Being able to bring that down to Brisbane and try and be a leader for the club and many other communities is really important."

Meanwhile, Riki revealed that this year's jersey carried extra importance to him after recently learning about his own aboriginal heritage.

"I was born and raised in New Zealand, my mum is a proud Māori woman, my biological father is a first nations man," he said.

"I’m proud Māori and I want to be a proud Indigenous person too, so am learning as much as I can.

"Casey did an amazing job designing the jersey. The meaning behind the artwork is young leaders coming through, it is very special.

"We drive that a lot here through the Brisbane Broncos especially through the leadership and Beyond the Broncos Indigenous programs.

"It's wonderful the jersey represents us as players and staff and the kids coming through as well. It is really special."