Indigenous round is a chance for Jono Wright to break down barriers

FOUR decades ago there were no boots that told hand-painted stories about the men who wore them.

FOUR decades ago there were no boots that told hand-painted stories about the men who wore them.

There were no commemorative jerseys, mouthguards or pre-match performances.

And there wasn't an entire round of football dedicated to indigenous health issues.

There was only a $140 insult. That's the pittance the first all-Aboriginal touring team received from the ARL for its historic voyage to New Zealand in 1973.

They paid the remaining $13,860 themselves and proceeded to win seven of nine games against local Maori teams around the Shaky Isles.

Given the giant strides of reconciliation with indigenous players since, it was a worthwhile investment.

Just ask Victor Wright Sr.

He's the proud father of Bulldogs winger Jono Wright and one of the 30 players to make that landmark journey.

"There was a barrier," Wright Sr recalled. "It was a barrier between nationalities - and also fitness.

"Our people didn't have the fitness to cope with top-flight football and that was part of the reason for the tour.

"We wanted to push our people to better themselves in all those departments.

"We came back and eventually indigenous players were able to be put on a pedestal. They knew they had what it took to make it."

It took thick skin and defiance. On top of refusing to provide sufficient funding, the ARL prevented the tourists from wearing green and gold.

They instead wore maroon and blue jerseys that reflected the two league-dominant states, but the division was palpable.

"I feel it's an insult," one selector said at the time. "We've really been let down.

"Wearing the national colours, we would've thought we'd be representing our country. Instead we are going to be representing ourselves - the Aboriginal race."

So many of the tributes and celebrations associated with this weekend's Close the Gap round are reminder of just that.

Wright will be one of the many indigenous players wearing dedicated boots, but his pair are of intense personal significance.

Jonathan and Tom Wright

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the death of his older brother, Tom.

Aged just 36, Tom passed away from a heart attack just days before Canterbury faced North Queensland in the corresponding round of 2011.

A grieving Wright took the field and scored the match-winning try.

A few days later he carried Tom's coffin and the pain hasn't subsided since.

Nevertheless, Wright and his father are determined to emphasise Tom's experience as part of this weekend's occasion.

That's why the dots on Wright's boots tell a story.

It's the story about two brothers growing up from boys to men.

And along the way they made mistakes.

But, sometimes, it takes the worst possible outcome for the rest of us to learn from those mistakes.

"Tom didn't have the best lifestyle," Wright said.

"He drank and he smoked a fair bit.

"But it's not just Tom - it's a lot of the men in my family.

"It's also a lot of indigenous men who are either too proud or scared to get themselves checked.

"If we don't do anything it will just be a cycle, repeating over and over and over again.

"We have to change that - close the gap.

"We have to get out there and break down those barriers."

Just as Victor did 39 long years ago.