Australia’s first Indigenous Rugby League Test player Lionel Morgan will be honoured this weekend with the First Nations Goannas playing against the Knights for a trophy in his name.
Morgan, 75, has also been named as an Ambassador for the inaugural Festival of Indigenous Rugby League alongside modern-day hero and recently retired Bronco Scott Prince, 33.
The pair joined the First Nations Goannas in camp this week ahead of their trial game against the Knights at Hunter Stadium this Saturday, with the match marking the culmination of the week-long cultural festival which is being held in place of the Rugby League All Stars program that is being rested in 2014 post World Cup.
Scott, who has played in all four All Stars matches that have been contested since its inception in 2010, said: “It’s a massive honor and I feel very proud to be named alongside Uncle Lionel.
“I am very passionate about the All Stars concept and the Festival in Newcastle is a great way to still acknowledge and recognise the role Indigenous people play in our game.
“This will be an amazing experience for the First Nations Goannas players, just as All Stars was for us. I can say with confidence that all the players really enjoyed the time outside of training in the community driving home the importance of education to children. The game itself was the cream on top of the cake.”