JOHNATHAN Thurston will perform a traditional Aboriginal war dance this weekend as NRL superstars rally to support embattled Sydney Swan Adam Goodes.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal some of leagues top indigenous athletes, including Thurston and South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis, are planning indigenous dances as the controversy surrounding Goodes splits a nation.
And supporting the move is rugby leagues top Aboriginal official, ARL Indigenous Council chair Linda Burney.
Speaking on Wednesday, Burney labelled the Goodes booing furore bloody ugly and urged NRL players of all colours to shake a leg in support of the 2014 Australian of the Year.
Thurston, for one, is in.
It think its a great initiative and I am happy to support it, the reigning Dally M medallist told The Daily Telegraph.
Ill show my respect for Adam, indigenous athletes and all the indigenous people with a little move on the weekend if Im lucky enough to score.
Burney urged players to take action this weekend.
I know Adam well and this whole situation, its bloody ugly, Ms Burney said.
I think (the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome. You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up ... and this happens.
Thats why I hope players will shake a leg to support Goodsey this weekend. And not just indigenous players either.
Id like to think a number of NRL players out there will join in. That would be a wonderful show of solidarity. A wonderful tribute to Aboriginality.
A huge supporter of the Indigenous All Stars concept, Thurston heads a list of several NRL players who could potentially perform a Round 21 dance for Goodes, who has already ruled himself out of Saturdays SCG match against Adelaide.
Yet while the Swans great will be absent, his importance is sure to be felt throughout the afternoon with indigenous leagues Thurston, Ben Barba, Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday all involved in Saturday games.
And while the North Queensland skipper, who faces Canberra in Townsville, is the first player to go public with his dance pledge, its understood the idea is being widely discussed among other players including Souths megastar Inglis whose post-try Goanna celebration is already something of a trademark.
Ms Burney, who is also NSW Deputy Opposition leader, said the Goodes issue cut deeply with indigenous athletes as the football field had always been the place where the felt equal.
Have a look at what the Aboriginal community has brought to both league and the AFL, she said. And not just the players, but the love. The passion.
Both these football codes, theyve become part of contemporary Aboriginal culture. Football fields are the one place where indigenous people have always felt they will be treated as equals.
And thats exactly why this is so hurtful.
Ive given this a lot of thought and can never ever remember it happening in rugby league or anywhere else. Players like Anthony Mundine have copped stick before, but this is something different.
This booing, its become like a chant, like some ugly ritual.
And you have to wonder what motivates a crowd of people to boo a man who has been the Australian of the Year. Who has spoken for all Australians and represented all Australians.
How has this become a ritual? What does it say about the psyche of Australia?
The Goodes issue has divided Australia, with public shows of support by athletes like Thurston countered by critics such as radio king Alan Jones. Speaking on national TV yesterday, Jones accused Goodes of always playing the victim and suggested the Swans great change his behaviour if he wanted the booing to cease.
