February 18, 2019
League camp brings indigenous stories together
Indigenous rugby league teams from both sides of the Tasman clashed on the playing fields of Melbourne on the weekend, but off field there was a sharing of culture and stories.
Rusty Matua, the coach of the victorious Māori Ferns women’s team, says the players were moved by the smoky welcome to the country they received, including history lesson from Wurundjeri elder and educator Uncle Bill Nicholson.
There was also a performance for the teams from Aboriginal singer Archie Roach.
"He won an Aria Award for a song he wrote about the Stolen Generation, the stolen children. He spoke to us about the personal experience of being two years old and being stolen from his parents, being adopted out to Pākehā foster parents and then he started singing but it was so emotional, it moved many of us in the room to tears. It was a wonderful experience to learn so much about their culture. At times we think Māori did it hard but they did it a lot harder than us bro," he says.
Rusty Matua says the 8-4 key to his team’s win was a rigorous fitness regime starting in November, and the women are looking forward to repeat matches in the next few years.
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