Indigenous Dragons

[Ben_Kusto_magic]

david nui. halfback - 5-8, from dragons juniors , schoolboy rep, very solid player for the dragons before the merge, he played most of his juniors with Jeff hardy, involved in USA rugby league for many years, since he moved there, he played for the national side. american eagles

Good player! Not sure he's indigenous Australian though? I thought I read somewhere he had a Fijian background? I could be wrong

 

[getsmarty]

Blacklock wants Indigenous welfare officer at every NRL club
Adam Pengilly
September 10, 2020 — 7.45pm
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Nathan Blacklock wants the NRL to have an Indigenous welfare officer at every club as one of St George Illawarra's most celebrated players leaves the door ajar for a return to the club one day.

Blacklock, who revealed in the Herald he was driven away from the joint-venture club by racism, has made his pitch for further support systems to be put in place for Indigenous players within their club environment.

Nathan Blacklock wants an Indigenous welfare officer at every NRL club.Credit:Getty

The winger joined former Broncos great Steve Renouf in describing instances of racism within the game during their playing days.

While NRL clubs have been crippled financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blacklock wants them to consider following a model used at the Panthers where Glen Liddiard works as an Indigenous welfare officer, who has helped mentor Brent Naden and Daine Laurie.

"I know there are guys there now and it would work well with a lot of guys away from home," Blacklock said. "I reckon it would be a great idea for them. It's just someone they can approach about every day things that might be affecting them.

"A coach has a lot on and there might be groups in a team, but sometimes you might need someone else to talk to. They're just somebody you can contact."

A coach has a lot on and there might be groups in a team, but sometimes you might need someone else to talk to.

Nathan Blacklock
Blacklock has been overwhelmed by the reaction to his revelation he left the club for the first time in 2002 due to racism.

He had a brief stint in rugby union with the NSW Waratahs before returning to the Dragons, where he had earlier forged his name as a prolific try-scorer, topping the NRL charts three seasons in a row.

St George Illawarra issued a statement on Sunday "apologising unreservedly" for Blacklock's treatment at the club.

He said he always wanted to be a one-club player, but "there's only so much you can take". And he left the door ajar for a return to St George Illawarra one day in an official capacity.

The Dragons have apologised to Nathan Blacklock for racism during his time at the club.Credit:Action Photographics

"It just shows its weighed on his shoulders for a long time and he feels a lot better," said Dean Widders, one of the game's biggest Indigenous advocates.

"It's disappointing around that time there wasn't the support and people weren't aware of what was being said and how they used their language and how they spoke and how it affected people.

"Across the wellbeing management teams at the clubs there's a sprinkling of Indigenous people involved in various roles, but it's not mandatory. Penrith have had a bit of success with Glen Liddiard and they're a club that's doing it really well."


Blacklock's former coach Andrew Farrar, who was in charge of St George Illawarra between 2000-02, said his former player's revelation "came as a surprise".

"I thought our team was very aware of any kind of racism or picking on other blokes," Farrar said. "They were a good group.

"'Mun' [Anthony Mundine] was there as well, Amos Roberts was a young bloke coming through and there were a couple of other Indigenous players in the lower grades as well. It wasn't as if him and 'Mun' were the only two.

"It was only the early years of the joint venture and Illawarra had some history with Indigenous players as well. By him coming out with it I hope he's got a weight off his shoulders."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bl...fficer-at-every-nrl-club-20200909-p55tzp.html

 

[getsmarty]

NRL 2026, All Stars, Māori All Stars, Indigenous All Stars, Josh Kerr | Dragons

Josh Kerr credits All Stars for kickstarting his NRL career and the 2025 Indigenous captain has urged rookies in the February 15 fixture to use the opportunity to showcase their talent.

www.dragons.com.au

 

[Old Timer]

Blacklock wants Indigenous welfare officer at every NRL club
Adam Pengilly
September 10, 2020 — 7.45pm
Leave a comment

Nathan Blacklock wants the NRL to have an Indigenous welfare officer at every club as one of St George Illawarra's most celebrated players leaves the door ajar for a return to the club one day.

Blacklock, who revealed in the Herald he was driven away from the joint-venture club by racism, has made his pitch for further support systems to be put in place for Indigenous players within their club environment.

Nathan Blacklock wants an Indigenous welfare officer at every NRL club.Credit:Getty

The winger joined former Broncos great Steve Renouf in describing instances of racism within the game during their playing days.

While NRL clubs have been crippled financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Blacklock wants them to consider following a model used at the Panthers where Glen Liddiard works as an Indigenous welfare officer, who has helped mentor Brent Naden and Daine Laurie.

"I know there are guys there now and it would work well with a lot of guys away from home," Blacklock said. "I reckon it would be a great idea for them. It's just someone they can approach about every day things that might be affecting them.

"A coach has a lot on and there might be groups in a team, but sometimes you might need someone else to talk to. They're just somebody you can contact."

A coach has a lot on and there might be groups in a team, but sometimes you might need someone else to talk to.

Nathan Blacklock
Blacklock has been overwhelmed by the reaction to his revelation he left the club for the first time in 2002 due to racism.

He had a brief stint in rugby union with the NSW Waratahs before returning to the Dragons, where he had earlier forged his name as a prolific try-scorer, topping the NRL charts three seasons in a row.

St George Illawarra issued a statement on Sunday "apologising unreservedly" for Blacklock's treatment at the club.

He said he always wanted to be a one-club player, but "there's only so much you can take". And he left the door ajar for a return to St George Illawarra one day in an official capacity.

The Dragons have apologised to Nathan Blacklock for racism during his time at the club.Credit:Action Photographics

"It just shows its weighed on his shoulders for a long time and he feels a lot better," said Dean Widders, one of the game's biggest Indigenous advocates.

"It's disappointing around that time there wasn't the support and people weren't aware of what was being said and how they used their language and how they spoke and how it affected people.

"Across the wellbeing management teams at the clubs there's a sprinkling of Indigenous people involved in various roles, but it's not mandatory. Penrith have had a bit of success with Glen Liddiard and they're a club that's doing it really well."


Blacklock's former coach Andrew Farrar, who was in charge of St George Illawarra between 2000-02, said his former player's revelation "came as a surprise".

"I thought our team was very aware of any kind of racism or picking on other blokes," Farrar said. "They were a good group.

"'Mun' [Anthony Mundine] was there as well, Amos Roberts was a young bloke coming through and there were a couple of other Indigenous players in the lower grades as well. It wasn't as if him and 'Mun' were the only two.

"It was only the early years of the joint venture and Illawarra had some history with Indigenous players as well. By him coming out with it I hope he's got a weight off his shoulders."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/bl...fficer-at-every-nrl-club-20200909-p55tzp.html

Andrew Farrar's statement says it all really.

f**king clueless.

 

[Old Timer]

What's happened to the all- inclusive ideal? I don't get why indigenous players need 'special needs' treatment over over Islander players who are particularly family orientated and more likely more isolated from their cultural families....or even non-indigenous youngsters from interstate, etc.
Maybe run courses on how to use video-calling, or even how to make phone calls like the rest of the world. Until they stop acting like they're some sort of extra needy *removed by moderator*, how do they ever expect anything to change for the better?
Just wondering if European Football (soccer) has African Round or Asian Round.....or American Football has Ingenous Round (Indian) or Black America Rounds. Infact does any other sport on the planet have Indigenous rounds?......*removed by moderator*

Your post shows your complete lack of understanding, so if you don't get it now, then no good of anyone explaining it to you, because you're never going to get it.

Discrimination is a scourge and is unfortunately well entrenched in our society and your post especially your last sentence shows your ignorance,

Are you related to Farrar?

 

[Bayside Dragon]

Your post shows your complete lack of understanding, so if you don't get it now, then no good of anyone explaining it to you, because you're never going to get it.

Discrimination is a scourge and is unfortunately well entrenched in our society and your post especially your last sentence shows your ignorance,

Are you related to Farrar?

With the utmost respect, I think you're missed the whole point of my post.

I'M THE ONE who is arguing for non-discrimination in our sport!!

Arguing that one group deserves special consideration over any other group is the very definition of discrimination. Buy yourself a dictionary. I am pleading the case for 'inclusivity'.....which is the exact opposite of discrimination!! It's the very basis of the One Australia concept. Is that too hard to understand?

We ALL have needs -as human beings- for support, understanding and acceptance "regardless of colour, race or creed." Picking up a phone is how most people start.

When anybody pulls on a footy shirt, why do they have to have be singled out as being so different that they have to have special designated rounds and the club guernseys painted up as if nobody has ever seen Aboriginal art before?

It's actually insulting, patronising & demeaning when you think about it. Better to give respect and dignity by treating them as equals. That means no 'special treatment' in most moderate thinking.

Oops, silly me. It's all about merchandising and money making for the NRL. (how could I have forgotten that?)

Please re-read my original post and try to stick to the questions I posed. Can you do that?

Have yourself a great week. Without discrimating, I think we all deserve that!

 

[WepnutV]

Your post shows your complete lack of understanding, so if you don't get it now, then no good of anyone explaining it to you, because you're never going to get it.

Discrimination is a scourge and is unfortunately well entrenched in our society and your post especially your last sentence shows your ignorance,

Are you related to Farrar?

Im his nephew

 

[WepnutV]

Your post shows your complete lack of understanding, so if you don't get it now, then no good of anyone explaining it to you, because you're never going to get it.

Discrimination is a scourge and is unfortunately well entrenched in our society and your post especially your last sentence shows your ignorance,

Are you related to Farrar?

Sorry bra but I think your post shows you have a complete lack of understanding.

 

[Victoire]

What's happened to the all- inclusive ideal? I don't get why indigenous players need 'special needs' treatment over over Islander players who are particularly family orientated and more likely more isolated from their cultural families....or even non-indigenous youngsters from interstate, etc.
Maybe run courses on how to use video-calling, or even how to make phone calls like the rest of the world. Until they stop acting like they're some sort of extra needy *removed by moderator*, how do they ever expect anything to change for the better?
Just wondering if European Football (soccer) has African Round or Asian Round.....or American Football has Ingenous Round (Indian) or Black America Rounds. Infact does any other sport on the planet have Indigenous rounds?.......*removed by moderator*

Yikes. You've either stumbled into the wrong forum, or the mouth-breathers at One Nation haven't figured out how to build one yet. This is some fragile boomer all-lives-matter bullshit.

Fancy telling a people who've lived harmoniously on this continent for 60,000 years they need to "change for the better". Two of this game's Immortals are first nations people, and Nathan Blacklock is one of the greatest, most joyful players ever to grace the red V. Frankly, I'd pay more respect to the turd in Blacklock's Tingha toilet than I would to the vile filth you've angrily typed into your dandruff-covered keyboard. This is why your grandkids stopped visiting the retirement home, pops. Be better

 

[Flinstone]

Blacklock was great to watch, really looked like he enjoyed doing what he's doing.
Had speed, did his job on the wing scoring plenty of tries and came in the middle in support looking for the ball.
Didn't sit on the wing waiting.

 

[Old Timer]

I think your post shows you have a complete lack of understanding.

FYI

If your alter ego had of posted

“How sad is it that in 2026 we are discussing racism and that a true legend of our club and the game of rugby league has confided in us something deeply personal and confronting.

As it is a lived experience for this man we should be taking note and acting upon his recommendations and resist our natural white man urge to argue with him and “tell” him why his requests are ill founded.

It is to be hoped that one day a person of Aboriginal heritage can say that our indigenous people no longer suffer discrimination and racism and there is no longer a need for mentoring”

Such a post would show understanding and empathy of a most difficult situation but instead your alter ego under the thin veil of inclusiveness highlighted what they get that others don’t and topped that off with his 3% of the population have 60% of the land statement and if that’s not the catch cry of a racist I haven’t heard one.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

FYI

If your alter ego had of posted

“How sad is it that in 2026 we are discussing racism and that a true legend of our club and the game of rugby league has confided in us something deeply personal and confronting.

As it is a lived experience for this man we should be taking note and acting upon his recommendations and resist our natural white man urge to argue with him and “tell” him why his requests are ill founded.

It is to be hoped that one day a person of Aboriginal heritage can say that our indigenous people no longer suffer discrimination and racism and there is no longer a need for mentoring”

Such a post would show understanding and empathy of a most difficult situation but instead your alter ego under the thin veil of inclusiveness highlighted what they get that others don’t and topped that off with his 3% of the population have 60% of the land statement and if that’s not the catch cry of a racist I haven’t heard one.

You do know that the article is from 2020, its not in the last week?

 

[Old Timer]

You do know that the article is from 2020, its not in the last week?

Yes I was aware of that.

I am also aware that discrimination and racism is alive and thriving in our community.

 

[WepnutV]

FYI

If your alter ego had of posted

“How sad is it that in 2026 we are discussing racism and that a true legend of our club and the game of rugby league has confided in us something deeply personal and confronting.

As it is a lived experience for this man we should be taking note and acting upon his recommendations and resist our natural white man urge to argue with him and “tell” him why his requests are ill founded.

It is to be hoped that one day a person of Aboriginal heritage can say that our indigenous people no longer suffer discrimination and racism and there is no longer a need for mentoring”

Such a post would show understanding and empathy of a most difficult situation but instead your alter ego under the thin veil of inclusiveness highlighted what they get that others don’t and topped that off with his 3% of the population have 60% of the land statement and if that’s not the catch cry of a racist I haven’t

FYI

If your alter ego had of posted

“How sad is it that in 2026 we are discussing racism and that a true legend of our club and the game of rugby league has confided in us something deeply personal and confronting.

As it is a lived experience for this man we should be taking note and acting upon his recommendations and resist our natural white man urge to argue with him and “tell” him why his requests are ill founded.

It is to be hoped that one day a person of Aboriginal heritage can say that our indigenous people no longer suffer discrimination and racism and there is no longer a need for mentoring”

Such a post would show understanding and empathy of a most difficult situation but instead your alter ego under the thin veil of inclusiveness highlighted what they get that others don’t and topped that off with his 3% of the population have 60% of the land statement and if that’s not the catch cry of a racist I haven’t heard one.

I don’t like that Blacklock came out and called the dragons racist. He gave no details on any incidents or explanations just said that the dragon were racist in the 90s. WTF. Racism’s was a bigger problem in the 90s not a dragons one. How dare he???

 

[WepnutV]

I don’t like that Blacklock came out and called the dragons racist. He gave no details on any incidents or explanations just said that the dragon were racist in the 90s. WTF. Racism’s was a bigger problem in the 90s not a dragons one. How dare he???

Have some balls Nathan and name the people. Don’t blame the dragons

 

[Old Timer]

Have some balls Nathan and name the people. Don’t blame the dragons

Typical of your type let’s blame the victim.

No wonder people are reluctant to bring these types of issues into the public domain.

 

[WepnutV]

Typical of your type let’s blame the victim.

No wonder people are reluctant to bring these types of issues into the public domain.

And what is my type? You don’t know me in any way shape or form champ… Why not name the people? It’s an individuals decision to be disrespectful not the dragons. To came out blame the dragons was just shit. I love nathan blacklock but the way he went about this was shit. Iv got indigenous blood, my missus and kids are black as black mate. You don’t know me or who I am you fool

 

[Willow]

Firstly, we cannot name names for numerous reasons. I understand why Nathan Blacklock was reluctant to name names.

Secondly, he made it clear in 2020 that he harbours no ill feeling towards Saints and he actually offered to work with the Club.

Thirdly, the Club knows something happened, that's why they went to great lengths to apologise. They didn't try to deny it and that's a plus.

Now, while we can't name names, anyone with a handle on this reckons they know who made the racist remarks in 2002.

This link was posted in JA in September 2020:

Blacklock says he wouldn't accept apology from former Dragons coach

After revealing a former coaches’ racial slurs led to his exit from the Dragons in 2002, Nathan Blacklock calls for Aboriginal welfare officers to be employed at all NRL clubs to help young players encountering racism in the league.

www.sbs.com.au

Nathan Blacklock calls for Aboriginal welfare officers to be employed at all NRL clubs to help young players encountering racism in the league.

Around that time, NITV's Over The Black Dot (episode 26) interviewed Nathan, it was insightful. And FTR, I posted this on 9 September 2020:

Just watched it on NITV. A very good-powerful episode of Over the Black Dot.

Pretty sure Tingha has narrowed the field there. Probably not intended. But there's a fair bit going on here. I don't think this is over just yet.

He gave Thommo a wrap. "Best friend, always had my back."

It's great that he wants a role in the Club. If our CEO truly wants to resolve this, he should take Nathan's advice.
...
Griffin is also quoted as saying, "there is no racism in Rugby League."

The ex-players on Black Dot panel took aim at this.

Dean Widders: "He has a real lack of understanding to say something like that publicly... if he's willing to put these things in newspapers, what is he saying in his loungeroom...? That's going to be in the back [of the minds] of every aboriginal player that goes to deal with the Dragons or plays with the Dragons... I don't think he understands the real battles that aboriginal people face in this country."

Timana Tahu: "If Griffin is saying those words, then he's calling me a liar... he's calling Deano [Dean Widders] a liar."

I really think the Club and Griffin need to clear the air on this.

https://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/disappointing-blacklock-article.481762/page-4#post-14331454

So yeah, racism is a thing and calling it out is never as bad as racism itself. No large organisation is immune to this, it's how they deal with it that matters.

 

[Old Timer]

And what is my type? You don’t know me in any way shape or form champ… Why not name the people? It’s an individuals decision to be disrespectful not the dragons. To came out blame the dragons was just shit. I love nathan blacklock but the way he went about this was shit. Iv got indigenous blood, my missus and kids are black as black mate. You don’t know me or who I am you fool

I don’t give a stuff whether you are black, white or brindle.

Nathan gave an account of what he and for that matter others experienced 1st hand.

You choose to ignore that and instead defend the club & the NRL.

Because Nathan isn’t willing to say who & where you call him out and malign him basically calling his account of things false and think his suggestions unrequired.

I know plenty of indigenous people who are at odds with their own mobs and deny them and I call them out too so don’t for a minute think your anything special.

I take Nathan & Dean’s version of events very seriously and am of the opinion that racism was around then and is still around now and that we should be listening very carefully to them.

Sad part is the racism and ill treatment isn’t just in the NRL.