Indigenous round so special: David Peachey

“That’s the special part of Indigenous Round – for people to see who we are and where we come from.”

Words from rugby league legend and Indigenous star David Peachey as the NRL’s Indigenous round saw the Cronulla Sharks open their stadium for the club’s Deadly Choices First Nations Community Day on Friday.

The Sharks joined forces with Deadly Choices and the Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network to host more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members at training ahead of the NEL clash against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday.

Peachey played 232 matches for Cronulla (1994-2005) and scored an 110 tries He was at the event with another former Shark Edrick Lee, who now works for Deadly Choices.

“Each and every time, getting invited back for certain occasions definitely brings back a lot of memories,” Peachey told Sharks.com.au

“The Sharks are going well and I think that’s both on and off the field.

“(Indigenous Round) is a special time. For these young kids coming through, it really highlights where they’re from and what they bring to the game individually.”

The team wore Deadly Choices shirts – underlining the strength of a partnership between the club and the Indigenous health organisation dating back to 2018 – before signing autographs and taking photos at the end of the session.

Free 715 Health Checks – designed for early intervention and better health outcomes – were provided through the local Vitalis Family Medical Practice.

Anti-smoking organisation Na Joomelah, youth mental health foundation Headspace and the Rotary Club of Caringbah, which provided a BBQ lunch, also had stalls.

Sharks NRLW star Jada Taylor had been instrumental in organising the Community Day.

A proud Gamilaroi woman, she has been delivering the Deadly Choices education program to local students for three years.