The NRL's Indigenous Round is always special for Melbourne Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr, but this year it takes on extra meaning after the death of his grandfather last month.
Addo-Carr lost his famous grandfather Wally Carr last month, with the boxing great losing his battle with cancer the day after the Storm flyer took the field against the Cowboys in round five.
This Sunday the Storm travel to Sydney to take on the Bulldogs as part of the NRL Indigenous Round and Addo-Carr will have a large contingent of his family at Belmore Oval cheering him on.
Addo-Carr said the last month had been difficult as he has come to terms with the death of his grandfather and that this week's Indigenous Round will take on extra significance because of his passing.
"I try and make my family as proud as I can every week, but it has been a tough time for me and my family," Addo-Carr said at AAMI Park on Wednesday during the unveiling of the Indigenous jerseys that the Storm will wear this weekend.
"But I know pop will be looking down on us and hopefully he is proud of me performing the best I can on the field.
"He absolutely loves this club and what we are about, and I think about him every day."
Josh Addo-Carr's tribute to his late pop Wally Carr
Addo-Carr was born in Blacktown and brought up in Redfern and the flying machine admits it has been a mad scramble to organise tickets for all his family members wanting to attend the clash.
"Indigenous Round is a great thing to be a part of and to represent my family," he said.
"It's in Sydney, I am from Redfern and I have asked for about 22 tickets. It will be a blackout.
"The Bulldogs are a very proud team and there is no doubt they will come out firing, so we have got to stick to our game plan, stay aggressive and execute."
Jahrome Hughes has recovered from concussion and has been named at fullback for the clash against the Bulldogs, with impressive youngster Ryan Papenhuyzen moving back to the bench after an eye-catching performance against the Tigers on Thursday night.
Addo-Carr expects Papenhuyzen to get a chance to show his prowess against the Bulldogs and that having competition for spots at the back is only a good thing for the club.
"Jahrome Hughes has been doing a great job for us and it was a very tough decision for our coaching staff," Addo-Carr said.
"Whoever fills that position will definitely do the job."
The 17 jerseys the Storm are wearing on Sunday will be auctioned off online with all proceeds going to the Dardi Muwurrow charity, which focuses on Indigenous family violence support.
The Storm have linked with their official airline, Tigerair Australia, to celebrate Indigenous Round. The airline's six new Indigenous cabin crew members on Wednesday helped unveil Melbourne's Indigenous Round jerseys with Indigenous players Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers, Scott Drinkwater and Nicho Hynes at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
The specially designed jerseys will be worn this Sunday against Canterbury at Belmore and each of the 17 will be auctioned off online with all proceeds going to the Dardi Muwurrow charity, which focuses on Indigenous family violence support.
