The NRL are embarking on another Indigenous Round and one of the major highlights of the weekend are the jersey every club releases from their individual designs.
Every year the jersey designs seem to get better and they are always popular among fans.
2021 was no exception with some of this year's drops standing tall with the best ever designs.
The Broncos jersey was designed by celebrated Aboriginal artist Elaine Chambers-Hegarty.
Ms Chambers-Hegarty said the design began with a football shape in the centre, representing rugby leagueâs far-reaching ability to bring people together.
âLine markings show our journeys through life, and circle meeting places are also represented to acknowledge those people we meet along the way that build us as a person,â said Ms Chambers-Hegarty.
âThese communities represent our homelands that we go back to and have our stories from. Throughout the artwork there are stars to represent âexcellenceâ and âachievementsâ and there are six main white stars to represent the Clubâs six Premiership wins."
The Raiders explained the meaning behind their jumper on their website, with the design conjured from several key inputs coming together.
"The jersey was designed by artist Rayne Huddleston, a Ngandi and Nyiyaparli man from Urulah Cultural Art, and was based on initial concepts from Justine Brown, a Ngunnawal woman from Mulleun Dreaming, and students in the NRL School to Work program at Queanbeyan High School.
"The wedge-tailed eagle (Mulleun) represents the Ngunnawal people who are the Indigenous people of the Canberra region and its first inhabitants. It also depicts the Ngunnawal Dreamtime story of Mulleun."
The Bulldogs jumper is a stunner, the meaning behind it is three-fold.
"The artwork on the Bulldogs Indigenous Jersey incorporates three stages of everyday; the past, the present and the future.
"The two hands on the front of the jersey both âreflectâ history: history of an Aboriginal Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs player and the history of the Dharug Country, the traditional Aboriginal Country in which the Club and Belmore Sports Ground are based."
The Sharks jersey is one of the best designs this year.
"A striking design, the Sharks will wear the jerseys in their round 12 clash against the Gold Coast Titans to be played in Coffs Harbour.
"The concept and design were done in collaboration with local Elder Aunty Deanna Schreiber and the Sharks Indigenous players, Andrew Fifita being very involved in the design process, with the jersey now available and on sale through the Sharks store."
"First Nations Titans players met with a group of local NRL School to Work students last December and brainstormed ideas for the club's 2021 Indigenous Round jersey.
"Using input from the likes of Jamal Fogarty, David Fifita and Tyrone Peachey, Mabel Park High School graduate Ash-Leigh Banks designed the strip that will be worn in Sunday's clash with the Sharks."
"The jersey has been designed by respected Indigenous Artist, Lee Hampton, of Koori Kicks Art, and features Sea Eagles Senior Partner Poche Indigenous Health Network branding across the main front.
Hampton has previously designed the Sea Eaglesâ Indigenous jerseys in 2019 and 2020."
The Melbourne Storm jersey was designed by Krstel Petrevski and will be worn on two occasions. Melbourne will wear the predominantly white strip in Rounds 12 and 20.
A statement from the Storm explained the details in the jersey.
"The art on the front panel is in the shape of the state of Victoria (turned sideways). The circles represent the QLD bubble from the 2020 season and AAMI Park and the people that play their part â players, staff, family and members. This all represents the journey home.
"The circles are joined by lines which represent the many cultures that link together in making up the Melbourne Storm. A curved purple line represents the Yarra River and how it runs through the city of Melbourne.
"Footprints represent the journey a player takes from joining the club to leaving as a better person. The handprint represents the 5 values of the club: family, accountability, hard work, respect and passion.
"Melbourne Storm past and present Indigenous players are listed on the lower back. Pattern on the lower right back panel represents all the other cultures to have represented the Storm to show inclusivity."
The Warriors jersey is understated and striking.
The jersey will however be held back as there is a clash with their opponents North Queensland this weekend.
They will instead wear the jersey against the Storm in Gosford on June 13.
The Knights jersey has had a few hands involved with players Connor Watson, Edrick Lee and Gehamat Shibasaki involved in the process that led towards the final design.
"The design of the jersey represents the local landscape of Newcastle, the wider region and also incorporates the handprints of the three players," a statement on the clubs website detailed.
"This varied environment, from extensive forested areas to the south-west and north-west of the greater Newcastle area, to the beautiful coast and beaches that stretch from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border, are all a feature of the design."
The North Queensland Cowboys jersey features artwork created by Townsville Artist Jesse James. Jesse says his design represents the strong connections between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.
âMy inspiration was my connection to my Aboriginal heritage and also wanting to represent both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesâ connection to our Dreamtime stories, both united and walking in one direction together."
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"Running through the main part of the jersey are 2 rivers, the Parramatta and Georges River. Paying respect to the Darug people is Parramatta River which was used by the Burramattagal People, who are a clan of the Darug, not only as a food source but a place of gathering for many clans," a Parramatta statement reads.
"The Georges River pays respect to a great Aboriginal Worrier, Pemulwuy who was born around 1750 north of the Georges River. Pemulwuy is a Darug word meaning earth/clay. He was well respected as a âclever manâ who fought for his people and his land."
Released way back in March, the jersey was designed by Natasha Fordham in collaboration with Panthers Indigenous Welfare Officer Glen Liddiard.
"The front of the jersey features the meeting place of BlueBet Stadium on Darug land, flanked by kangaroo and emu tracks, flying foxes (the male totem for the Darug Nation), and the iconic Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains," a statement from the Panther said.
"The setting sun creates an eye-catching silhouette to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land the Panthers community calls home today.
"The lower back of the jersey features the Darug possum totem, with fire on one side and flood on the other, representing the natural forces that impact the landscape and community."
The Rabbitohs jersey is a beauty and had the input of a number of players towards the final product.
"The jersey design was facilitated by Uncle Joe Walker, an Aboriginal artist from northern New South Wales and the uncle of Rabbitohs player Cody Walker, and was designed by seven participants from Souths Caresâ community programs - Imogen Grant, Mia Gregory, Tyreece Lyons, Melodey Roberts, Adrian Scanlon, Jayden Simms and Natalie Travato," a statement read on the clubs website.
The Dragons revealed their jersey last October in a competition that saw artists enter their designs.
The Dragons website explained the details of Johnny Robinson's entry.
"Robinson, a proud Bundjalung man, hails from Tabulam and has lived in the Hunter region for the last 16 years," the statement read.
"Following the tragic loss of his daughter a decade ago, Robinson lost the motivation to paint and only found a passion for it again after the birth of his second child.
"Robinson's design The Gathering represents coming together as one on ancestral Dharawal land which much of the Dragons' catchment covers."
The Roosters jumper embraces their tri-colours and pays tribute meeting places that have and do mean so much to their communities.
Peterwynnscore.com.au are selling the jersey and described it as a way to bring the Roosters' heartland together.
"Titled 'Protection Under the Moon' and designed by Jason Ridgeway, a proud Dunghutti man from Kempsey.
"The Sydney Roosters' 2021 Indigenous Jersey design depicts the moon as a symbol of protection and stability, combined with the meeting places of the Eastern Suburbs, bringing the community of Roosters' heartland together."
Last but not least, the Tigers' jersey was designed by Bree Price who has explained the meaning behind the jumper.
"My painting is about elders teaching the younger generations about culture and hunting different land animals. The dot work represents the watering holes that were used as gathering s and meeting places," said Price.
"I used traditional symbols to represent different objects, such as in the bottom left corner the symbol means meeting place, and the smaller symbols around it means adult and child and spears.
"In the top right corner has the marking of adult and child and also spears, but it also has different animal trails such as kangaroo, possum, general animal trails, emu and snake tracks. I believe tradition and culture is so important in todayâs society, specially when younger generations are just beginning to learn."