Best afield in Friday night's NRL Magic Round opener between the Dolphins and Sydney Roosters will be presented the Artie Legacy Medal - in recognition of the club's shared histories with rugby league Immortal Arthur Beetson.

It coincides with Queensland Rugby League and Rebel launching a limited edition ball featuring artwork by Beetson's niece Biance Beetson and nods to the last football great's story.

The balls are available at Queensland stores, with 50 percent of profits going towards the Arthur Beetson Foundation - set up in honour the footballers honour and namesake to empowering closing the gap and health, education, sport, employment and business outcomes for Indigenous people.

"Our family is immensely proud of my dad's achievements both on and off the field, and he would be proud of the ongoing work that our Foundation has done in his name," Brad Beetson said.

He's the Immortal's son, QRL Indigenous Advisory Committee member and board member of the Arthur Beetson Foundation.

"We're excited about this new collaboration with rebel and the QRL, and are encouraging all footy fans to get behind this and pick up the ball at their local rebel store."

Starting his career in his hometown of Roma, close to 500km west of Brisbane, Beetson moved to the capital with Redcliffe before moving to Sydney, first to play at Balmain before arriving at Eastern Suburbs.

Beetson also spent time playing with Parramatta and in the UK, but is best known as a Dolphin and Rooster between the two states.

Considered among the best forwards of the post-war era, Beetson was the first Indigenous man to captain an Australian representative sporting side when he led the Kangaroos against France in December 1973.

After representing Australia, he captained his home state in the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980.

"Arthur Beetson is etched in Australian sporting history as one of the greats, but equally his standing as a proud First Nations man and cultural icon cements his legacy as one of the most important Australians in our history," Rebel general manager of retail operations Meg Zalewski said.

QRL chief executive Ben Ikin, who also played for the Maroon and Kangaroos added: "The name Arthur Beetson is synonymous with our game, especially in Queensland."

"We thank the Beetson family and rebel for driving this fantastic initiative, which will raise money for a very important cause," he said.

For the Dolphins, Felise Kaufusi was presented the inaugural Artie Legacy Medal when the newly-entered club won their first game in the national competition in round one of the 2023 season.

Roosters Billy Smith and Sam Walker won the honour in 2024's two matches featuring the sides.