It’s a round Josh Curran looks forward to every year and the Bulldogs forward hopes that with each event that more people are being educated on one of the longest-standing cultures in the world.
Curran, a proud Darug man, has relished the opportunity to return to Sydney this season after a five-year stint in New Zealand.
His move to the Bulldogs has allowed the 24-year-old to reconnect with the land where he was raised in Castle Hill and help others be educated on Indigenous history.
“Indigenous Round and All Stars week are my favourite weeks of the year,” Curran said.
“It all starts with All Stars. If I can play in that game every year I will. It’s so powerful and there’s so much history on Aboriginal culture that you’re learning every day.
“We represent our family but it’s the most exposure we can get to represent our elders past and present. If I can learn more it can help me and my future children.”
Curran conceded he wasn’t educated enough on his own Indigenous heritage as a child but was introduced once coming through the grades in rugby league.
He believes more needs to be done in schools to educate the next generation.
“We definitely need to invest more in that space,” he said.
“Leaving school and going into the NRL that’s where I started to pick up on it. I always knew I was Indigenous but I didn’t look too much into it.
“It was a sensitive subject with my pop around the stolen generation so it didn’t filter down as much as it could and that’s understandable.
“If we can learn more in schools and drive it through younger generations I feel like it will put more respect there and will show how far back our traditions and culture goes back.”
Curran is one of three Indigenous players in the Bulldogs top 30 squad who will represent the Club proudly against the St George Illawarra Dragons on Thursday May 23rd, the first official match of the NRL's Indigenous Round.
Match: Bulldogs v Dragons
Round 12 -
home Team
Bulldogs
12th Position
away Team
Dragons
13th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Bulldogs teammate Jacob Preston, a non-Indigenous man who will line up next to Curran, added the importance of Indigenous Round.
“The boys are very proud of their heritage and you get a cool insight this week into their background,” Preston said.
“It’s a great week to be a part of and the rest of the squad learns a lot from the experience.”
Curran has become a cult figure at the Bulldogs with his long locks and friendly personality quickly a hit with the Belmore faithful.
“I’m loving the move… it was a perfect fit for me and easy decision,” Curran said.
“My hair has become a thing now and I get kids come up to me saying they’ve grown my hair because of me.
“I can’t see myself with short hair anymore. I remember when I was a young boy I wanted to go to the fence and touch an NRL player… just how much it meant to me. It’s my way of giving back to the fans.”
