'Our culture is storytelling': Indigenous leaders light the way for future stars

The game's Indigenous leaders have opened up on the importance of passing their culture down to the next generation as they look to lay the foundation for emerging First Nations players to thrive.

Some of rugby league's biggest names will take centre stage throughout the next fortnight as the NRL celebrates Indigenous Round. 

The sport has a long history of showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands stars, from Lionel Morgan and Arthur Beetson through to the current generation of First Nations players. 

Manly halfback Jamal Fogarty said today's players have a responsibility to build on the foundation laid by past greats as they look to chart a path forward for the youngsters coming through.

"The main part of our culture is storytelling and passing down knowledge," Fogarty told NRL.com. "The stories I got from my older cousins, my nan, my aunties and uncles when I was a young fella, they still stick with me now. 

"It's really important I showcase that and share those stories with my kids because I want them to be proud of who they are and where they come from. If someone does ask them 'where are you from?' or 'what's your totem?', I want them to be confident enough to know where they come from and their totems and be proud to be Indigenous Australian."

The importance of passing culture through the generations was on display on Tuesday afternoon, when some of the game's biggest Indigenous stars and their families gathered at Bare Island.

Fogarty was joined for a photo shoot by Cody Walker, Jesse Ramien, Josh Curran, Jaime Chapman and Mahalia Murphy, with Walker and Ramien's children also present for the event. 

Walker grew up idolising Steve Renouf and Preston Campbell and has developed into a leading Indigenous voice within the NRL throughout a decorated career.

The 36-year-old has long advocated for the need to lay the foundation for future generations and he's eager to continue that work once he eventually hangs up the boots. 

"I'm pretty passionate about helping Indigenous kids reaching their full potential," Walker said. "Especially kids from country areas, I'm one of those kids who grew up in a country area until I was 17, 18. 

"I have some understanding of what the challenges in those regions are like. There are some differences now but it's something I would definitely love to do.

"I really enjoy helping young Aboriginal kids and hopefully I can help get a couple of those kids into an NRL pathway at any club and put them on a journey to have a long and successful career."

Like Walker, Ramien grew up in country NSW with rugby league playing a central role in his childhood. 

The Sharks centre idolised his father as he played in the local competition in Coonamble and simply wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Now a dad himself, Ramien is determined to pass down the lessons his own parents taught him as he looks to instil a strong sense of culture in his children.

"My old man was always my coach when I was younger," Ramien said. "He was captain-coach of our local first grade side in Coonamble and he was all I wanted to be like. 

"Passing on my culture to my own kids is everything. As a young fella, I wasn't too connected to culture myself but as I've gotten older and with the help of the NRL, I've become more connected to culture. I've been able to hand that down to my young fellas and my daughter. 

"Culture teaches culture and being able to pass it down to them, hopefully one day they can pass it down and keep passing it down. That we keep our culture thriving, not just surviving but thriving."