Maroons pay tribute to legend Artie
THE spirit of the late, great Arthur Beetson lives on.
The Maroons have paid tribute to Beetson, Australian sport’s first Aboriginal captain, by yesterday unveiling an inaugural indigenous Queensland jumper in the lead-up to Origin I next Wednesday night.
Beetson captained Queensland in Origin’s first game at Lang Park in 1980 and while he passed away in 2011, his legacy as an indigenous leader endures in a new Maroons training jersey.
Queensland’s entire team – including indigenous trio Dane Gagai, Will Chambers and skipper Greg Inglis – will train in the jumpers for the first time on Sunday at Sanctuary Cove.
Thirty per cent of Queensland’s 196 Origin players have indigenous blood and while the jumper will not be worn in Game One, Gagai hopes to one day wear it in the interstate battle.
“I’d love to see us wearing an indigenous Queensland jersey in an Origin game,” he said.
“I’m sure a lot of the boys would support that. There is a big push for it and it would recognise the traditional owners of the land and the Aboriginal people.”
The designs were provided by indigenous artists Jyi Lawton and Ronald Henry-Monaei. The artwork is a visual representation of respect and culture.