The inaugural East Coast Tribal League (ECTL) is helping footy-starved fans and players on the NSW Mid North Coast by giving First Nations athletes a chance to represent their region.
The new competition comes after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the annual Koori Knockout, an October long-weekend festival of footy at which friends and family could reconnect through culture, community and country.
Former Balmain Tigers star Paul Davis, a local sporting hero responsible for fostering players such as former South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis, is behind the ECTL, a 12-week competition that started in January.
The Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr man said the idea for the ECTL came from a desire to return Aboriginal identity to country football.
"We wanted to get that cultural belonging back to teams, we thought it was the right time to get rugby league going again," Mr Davis said.
There are six men's and four women's teams in the competition's first iteration, representing the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti and Biripi nations.
Rounds five and six were played last weekend at Coronation Park in Nambucca Heads.
Each team was also allowed to field eight non-Indigenous players.
"We wanted to be inclusive with non-Indigenous people so they can learn about our culture," Mr Davis said.
Games are held carnival-style, from Taree on Biripi land to Nambucca Heads in Gumbaynggirr territory.
Mr Davis said with the Koori Knockout cancelled the last two years, communities had been missing important cultural gatherings.
"The Koori Knockout — that's our modern day corroboree. [The ECTL] is our east coast corroboree," he said.
Current and past stars of the game are involved with Greg Inglis helping out in a management role with the Macksville-based Gumbaynggirr Wall Street Warriors.
The end-of-season awards will acknowledge the talent the region has produced and trophies will be named after the likes of Inglis, Latrell Mitchell and Amos Roberts.
Mr Davis said the awards sought to celebrate rugby league's unique place in Indigenous culture.
"Five or six years ago we formed a committee and said we've had enough … we just decided as Aboriginal people to empower ourselves," he said.
"Aboriginal people love rugby league as well as any other sport — but they really love rugby league."
Proud Gumbaynggirr man Troy Robinson had played senior rugby league on the Coffs Coast for 22 years, and also played first grade for South Sydney.
For him, the new tournament could be the highlight of his career.
"Just giving back and being here for the mob is definitely what I want to do," Mr Robinson said.
"I'm an old timer — I've been around the ropes a few times, but it's just good to be out on the field and sharing it with these young fellas, and some old heads too."
The ECTL is also helping shine a spotlight on the region's breakout female players.
Takeelah Donovan, playing for the Gumbaynggirr Wall Street Warriors, said it had been a lifelong dream to represent her people.
"I was just waiting for them to get a girls team in. When mum told me I was so excited, I just want to be proud and represent my nation."
Mr Robinson said the competition provided a space where Indigenous communities could thrive and celebrate.
"This is just amazing that we can get mobs coming from Biripi country, Dunghutti country — it's great to see that we can come together and have some fun," he said.
"We've got elders here just enjoying the footy, young children running round with footies in their hands. That's what I did back in the day, and what I want to instil in our kids."
