Dalby Diehards indigenous round: Players, supporters witness touching welcome to country ceremony for NAIDOC Week

Dalby Diehard supporters lined the stands of their home ground to witness history, as the club took the field in deadly jerseys as a special acknowledgment to their ancestors and heritage.

GO DIEHARDS: Crowds flocked to the Dalby Diehards home ground for the TRL's indigenous round on July 11. Picture: Sam Turner

Rugby fans and Dalby Diehard supporters lined the stands on the weekend to witness history, as the club took the field for Toowoomba Rugby League’s Indigenous round following a touching welcome to country ceremony.

Taking place at their home ground in Dalby on Sunday, the men’s, women’s and juniors wore their cultural pride on their sleeves for their matches against the Toowoomba Wattles and Toowoomba Brothers.

What captured spectators’ attention wasn’t just the electric style of footy the teams played with, but the ceremony before the reserve grade game, and specially designed jerseys they donned to coincide with NAIDOC Week.

The welcome to country ceremony before the reserve grade game on July 11. Picture: Sam Turner

Reserve grade player Luke Cubby said spoke of the special connection he had with the designs and the club.

“My younger brother (Lionel Cubby) moved to Ipswich, and last year we got in contact to see if he could design the Indigenous jerseys, and what he came up with was awesome,” Luke said.

“We’ve got a lot of history with the club, with my uncle Eddie Cubby being Diehard #4.

“Along the lines I’ve had my dad play here, my older cousins, and my brother and also play here, and we’ve had a good time of it.”

The 18-year rugby veteran has been with the club since he was 17-years-old and raised his family in town, and confessed that he will pretty much play in any position that his team needs.

For the co-captain of the Diehard’s women’s team Sarah Dodd, she said the Indigenous round promoted a strong message about inclusiveness, rather than just footy skills.

“It shows our acknowledgment to our ancestors, and the paths they’ve laid to us, for us to be able to play a game in an exclusive environment, where we’re all equals,” Sarah said.

“The design is from my brother in law, and to be part of the design and putting the day together has been worthwhile to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture.

Dalby Diehard women's co-captain Sarah Dodd. Picture: Sam Turner

“For us to be able to tie it off with the end of NAIDOC Week has been really good.”

Sarah put her body on the line for her team on Saturday, talking to the Dalby Herald with her hand in a sling before the reserve grade game.

The women’s co-captain said she sustained it in a tackle during the first half.

“Once the game’s over I’ll head out to the hospital,” she said.

The Diehard women’s team secured their first win of the season, beating Brothers 12—8, along with the U18s winning against the Wattles Warriors 72—10.

The reserve grade and A grade sides sadly went down 26—6 and 70—4 respectively.