The Brisbane Broncos are preparing to celebrate Deadly Choices Round at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, as the Club's NRL and NRLW teams come together for a double header as part of NRL Indigenous Round.
Deadly Choices - an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health brand - has maintained a long-standing collaboration with the Broncos, the partnership using the reach of rugby league to encourage Indigenous people to make positive choices for their health.
An initiative of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), Deadly Choices is Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health program.
The initiative aims to empower Indigenous peoples to make healthy choices for themselves and their families such as eating healthy, being physically active, not smoking or vaping and connecting with a Community Controlled Health Service for a 715 Health Check - a specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health check focused on key areas of risk.
Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said Deadly Choices Round had become an important part of the Club's calendar and took on even greater meaning alongside the game-wide celebration of Indigenous Round.
"Indigenous Round is a really important time for rugby league and Deadly Choices Round gives us an opportunity to celebrate that here at the Broncos in a way that is meaningful to our Club and our communities," Mr Donaghy said.
"To have our NRL and NRLW teams both playing at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night makes it particularly special and gives us a fantastic platform to celebrate the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our Club and our game."
The Deadly Choices Round celebrations began at Red Hill on Tuesday, when members of the IUIH All Abilities team visited the Clive Berghofer Centre to watch the Broncos' NRL squad train.
The team will also play mini league on Suncorp Stadium as part of Saturday night's action alongside Deadly Choices teams from ATSICHS Brisbane, Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health, Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement and Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare.
IUIH CEO and Torres Strait Islander man from Mabuiag and Yam, Wayne Ah Boo, said Deadly Choices Round was an important opportunity to celebrate community and the partnership, while encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to take control of their health.
"We are excited to celebrate our 15-year partnership with the Brisbane Broncos at this year's Deadly Choices Round," Ah Boo said.
"This particular round is about platforming our community for their commitment to making healthy choices, celebrating our culture and inspiring the next generation's health journey.
"This same [jersey] design has been repurposed for a Deadly Choices health check shirt, meaning Mob will be able to visit their local participating Community Controlled Health Service and receive this deadly shirt when completing a 715 Health Check."
Similar to previous years, Broncos Major Partner Kia Australia is se to donate its front-of-jersey position to Deadly Choices, putting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander preventative health brand front and centre on one of rugby league's biggest stages.
The gesture continues the long-running collaboration between the Broncos, Kia and Deadly Choices, which has used the reach of rugby league to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to make positive choices for their health.
"Kia giving up the front of the jersey for Deadly Choices is a powerful demonstration of what this Round is all about," Mr Donaghy said.
"That position is one of the most prominent assets in our partnership, and for Kia to step aside and put Deadly Choices front and centre shows a genuine commitment to the cause and to creating an impact beyond rugby league.
"It means an important health message will be carried onto Suncorp Stadium by our players and seen by members and fans across the country.
"We're extremely proud of our relationship with both Kia and Deadly Choices and what we've been able to achieve together."
The Broncos NRLW side will take on the Sydney Roosters on Saturday before the NRL team faces the New Zealand Warriors.
The double-header kicks off at Suncorp Stadium from 5:15pm.