Zac Fulton, the grandson of rugby league legend Bob Fulton, will make his debut for the Indigenous All Stars on Friday night in Townsville. Zac will honour his Kamilaroi heritage and his grandfather’s legacy of promoting Indigenous culture through rugby league.
Bob Fulton’s gesture of solidarity
Bob Fulton, or ‘Bozo’ as he was affectionately known, was one of the greatest players and coaches in Australian rugby league history. He was also a vocal supporter of Indigenous rights and recognition, especially in the sport he loved.
In the 1970s, when non-Indigenous allies were rare for Australia’s First Nations people, Bob Fulton made a small but powerful gesture of solidarity. He led a line of legendary rugby league players, including Graeme Langlands, Arthur Beetson, Eric Simms and Bob McCarthy, to visit a group of Indigenous footballers who were preparing for a historic tour to New Zealand.
The Indigenous team, led by Lionel Morgan, the first Aboriginal player to represent Australia, was the first to perform a war cry before a match. The war cry was a traditional way of expressing pride and identity, and challenging the opponents. It had been performed by the Kangaroos, the Australian national team, until 1967, but was then abandoned.
Bob Fulton was among those who advocated for the revival of the war cry, saying it would be “fantastic” to see the Test side doing it again. He also supported the creation of the Indigenous All Stars team, which first played in 2010, and the recognition of Indigenous players in the NRL Hall of Fame.
Zac Fulton’s debut for the Indigenous All Stars
Zac Fulton, who plays for the Manly Sea Eagles, the club his grandfather coached to three premierships, will get to perform the war cry that his grandfather endorsed, when he makes his debut for the Indigenous All Stars on Friday night.
Zac, who is a utility forward, said he was proud to represent his Kamilaroi heritage, which comes from his mother Leanne’s side of the family. He said he would also honour his grandfathers on both sides, Bob Fulton and Francis Tappin, who passed away in 2021 and 2019 respectively.
Zac said his grandfather Bob was always supportive of his rugby league career, and taught him a lot about the game and life. He said he hoped to make him proud by playing well and respecting the Indigenous culture.
Zac will be joined by his Manly teammate Josh Schuster, who will also make his debut for the Indigenous All Stars. The team, coached by Laurie Daley, features some of the best Indigenous players in the NRL, such as Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton and David Fifita.
The Indigenous All Stars will face the Maori All Stars, coached by David Kidwell, who have also named a strong squad, including Jahrome Hughes, Brandon Smith, Reimis Smith and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
The All Stars match, which celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of the NRL, will be played at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Friday, February 16, at 8:10 pm AEST.
