Wests Tigers 2025 Indigenous Jersey Youth

Tigers are proud to officially unveil the club’s 2025 Indigenous jersey - a deeply meaningful design inspired by the stories, aspirations and personal journeys of five young Aboriginal athletes from South West Sydney Academy of Sport (SWSAS).

Led by Indigenous Athlete Program Coordinator Brodee Mate, this project gave a group of emerging athletes the opportunity to share their personal hopes and dreams through Aboriginal art. Each young person created their own unique piece of symbolic art that reflected their sporting goals, cultural identity, and the influence of role models - including the Wests Tigers’ Indigenous players whose journeys have inspired them.

The jersey was shaped by a focus on individual journeys, and the design elements were representative of the goals of the young athletes, with the hope that they can one day follow in the footsteps of those who came before them. The jersey’s design reflects their admiration for players such as Jahream Bula, Jack Bird and Heath Mason, and the belief that one day, they too could represent their culture at the professional level with pride.

Mate has proud connections to Dharawal country, where she lives, and is an Aboriginal woman whose ancestors come from Yuwaalaraay country. She is a respected mentor within the community and brought forward the idea of creating a jersey that would showcase the artwork of these young athletes on the NRL stage. She also reflected on the “you can only be what you can see” concept; a reminder of the importance of representation, and of the role professional athletes hold as cultural leaders for the next generation.

The design brings together individual artworks that represent each athlete’s personal journey, featuring symbols such as meeting places, journey paths, stars, totems and protective figures, all woven into one unified piece of art. The jersey serves as a visual representation of identity, ambition and inspiration.

Wests Tigers NRL Head Coach Benji Marshall welcomed the young artists to the Zurich Centre for a special presentation, encouraging players to tune in and listen to the stories being shared. The moment was a cultural milestone for the club, reinforcing the importance of connection to Country, to heritage, and to each other.

Fullback Jahream Bula thanked the young artists for sharing their stories through the jersey design, acknowledging the time, care and cultural meaning embedded in every brushstroke.

Set to be worn during this year’s Gadhu Gathering, held during the second week of the NRL’s Indigenous Round, the 2025 Wests Tigers Indigenous jersey stands as a vibrant celebration of identity, culture and shared inspiration; honouring not only the stories of those who will wear it on the field, but those whose dreams are just beginning.