NRL players have added their voices to calls for more Indigenous coaches within the game's ranks.
It follows NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo indicating his organisation might consider a version of the NFL's "Rooney Rule", which mandates interviewing ethnic-minority candidates when filling senior football operations positions, including head coach.
Abdo told reporters at Wednesday's NRL's Indigenous Round launch the league would consider fast-tracking Indigenous coaches into senior roles.
He said the NRL needed to do more to create opportunities in leadership and management positions.
South Sydney winger and Saibai country man Alex Johnston said retired Indigenous players should be encouraged to move into coaching.
"I don't know if many are putting their hands up, if that's the problem or not," he said.
"But we've got a lot of talent and a lot of guys that could possibly coach.
Canberra forward and Wiradjuri man Adam Elliott said more could be done to get Indigenous people into coaching and other off-field roles after their playing careers finished.
"I think there's a stat out there that around 13 per cent of NRL players are Indigenous, but I think it's a lot less than that in the staff and clubs in general, whether it's coaches or not," Elliott said.
"There definitely is room to improve there and things could be put in place, but it's definitely not me who should be making those calls."
Canberra will have no shortage of Indigenous players this weekend, with Elliott joined in the side by Jack Wighton (Wiradjuri country), Seb Kris (Mabuiag and Saibai Island), Xavier Savage (Birri Gubba, Gunggandji and Erub Island) and Jamal Fogarty (Mununjali).
Elliott said he was only too proud to share stories of his culture with his teammates.
"Between me and Jamal, I think many of the boys in the team don't get a rest from it," he said with a laugh.
"We can talk with the best of them and it's cool to be able to talk to the other boys in the team about the jersey and what it means and they know how special it is."
AAP
