This week marks a half-century of celebrating NAIDOC Week and as a result, it’s appropriate that we reflect on the impact Indigenous players have had on rugby league over the past 50 years.
In partnership with the NRL, Nine.com.au is spotlighting some incredible athletes.
Fans can vote on who they believe are the best Indigenous players of the past 50 years in both the men’s and women’s game.
In this piece, we’re focusing on the creative geniuses and clutch match-winners in the men’s game, as we take a look at the top Indigenous spine players.
Johnathan Thurston
There aren’t enough superlatives to explain how good Johnathan Thurston was, even if his record on both a team and individual basis makes it fairly clear.
From his early days at the Bulldogs, a talented yet small halfback clearly existed - but it wasn’t until he moved to North Queensland that his game fully flourished.
Thurston’s elite pass selection and astute kicking game was matched by his toughness and desire to take on the line, with his trademark show-and-go setting up or scoring countless tries across his stellar career at club and rep level.
In his first season with the Cowboys, the champion playmaker won the first of his record-setting four Dally M Medals, leading his side to a grand final berth.
It wasn’t until a decade and countless close calls later that Thurston etched his name into NRL folklore, nailing a field goal in golden point extra time to give the Cowboys their maiden premiership in a dramatic grand final for the ages against Brisbane.
Epic Grand Final moments: Thurston delivers
On the biggest stage the game has, Thurston dominated Origin like few others and came up with clutch moments a mile long for the Maroons, playing a major role in the eight-straight series victories in his 37 appearances.
Thurston also tasted World Cup success in 2013, taking out Man of the Match honours in the final, proving once again his ability to stand tall under pressure.
After retiring, Thurston has remained entrenched in the Indigenous community and is a respected voice on Nine’s broadcast of major matches.
All that waits for JT - arguably the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of boots - is taking his inevitable spot as a rugby league Immortal.
Laurie Daley
He’s copped a hammering due to his coaching recently, but as pointed out by Phil Gould, there has perhaps been no NSW player better than Daley on the Origin stage.
Regarded as one of the best ball-running halves in history, who could also slot in at centre with ease, Daley was a superstar of the successful Raiders team in the late-1980s and early-1990s, winning three premierships with the Green Machine.
His size, compared to other five-eighths in his generation, made Daley a threat for defences, but he also had the sleight-of-hand to set up his outside men.
Daley was a staple of both the Blues and Kangaroos teams throughout the ’90s and brought his winning ways from Canberra to the biggest stages.
94. Laurie Daley - Hall of Fame
Anthony Mundine
Younger sporting fans would know him more for his boxing exploits, but there were few more exciting players than Mundine on the footy field.
Mundine was a proud St George junior and came through the lower grades with plenty of hype, before bursting onto the scene in first grade as a teenager.
A brilliant five-eighth with blistering speed and dazzling footwork, Mundine played in two grand finals with the Dragons, but fell short in both.
He received limited opportunities at representative level, managing just three matches for NSW, before he quit rugby league at 25 to pursue boxing.
“Choc” then made a seamless transition to the squared circle, becoming a multi-division world champion and featuring in Australia’s most heated boxing rivalry with Danny Green that spanned more than a decade and two epic fights.
Cody Walker you superstar
Cody Walker
A fiery character who tiptoes and sometimes steps over the line, Walker has plenty of detractors - but the one thing you can’t argue about is his talent.
Walker has been likened to a modern-day Cliff Lyons for his vision and ball-playing ability, setting up countless tries over his career with South Sydney.
The five-eighth was a late bloomer, only debuting for the Rabbitohs in his mid-20s, but he has made the most of his decade in the NRL.
He looks set to continue for another year in 2027 and the only thing eluding Walker at this stage of his career is premiership glory with Souths.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
The best may be still to come, but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has cemented himself as one of the greatest Indigenous players of his era or any other.
The way he glides through open space is a thing of beauty, but Tabuai-Fidow has become an incredibly well-rounded player in recent years.
The 24-year-old has put the Dolphins on his back since their inaugural season and with the Redcliffe-based club now entering premiership contention, it will be their marquee fullback who gets them there - whether this year or in the future.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Try
“The Hammer” is already a State of Origin great having scored 13 tries in 12 games, putting him on pace to snap Greg Inglis’ all-time record.
He has also created an iconic try celebration, where he raises his hand above his head to make a shark fin gesture which is his cultural totem.
Full spine players list
Matt Bowen, Preston Campbell, Laurie Daley, Cliff Lyons, Anthony Mundine, David Peachey, Scott Prince, Johnathan Thurston, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton.
