Bo plans cultural gathering as old friends come to town

Apart from getting her first crack at her former Wests Tigers teammates, this weekend's Indigenous Round clash at McDonald Jones Stadium also holds cultural significance for Knights fullback Bo Vette-Welsh.

Signed to the Knights after two-time Karyn Murphy Medal winner Tamika Upton return home to Queensland to play with the Broncos, Vette-Welsh has brought her own style and flair to the No.1 jersey.

“It's pulled me out of my comfort zone," she said. “I've had to move my life up to Newcastle and although it's only two hours away from Sydney, it's still a big challenge for me.

“It's been a challenge that I've absolutely loved and have taken with both hands.

“You want to be winning when it comes to footy, but if you're winning in life and you're enjoying the environment then you thrive regardless.

“I've been waiting for this game since I left the Tigers, I can't wait.

“They're competing and they're giving it their best, and it's good to see some of the young girls coming through.

“Lucy (Lucyannah Luamanu-Leiataua) debuted at Magic Round, she's one of the young girls that I was coaching last year, so it's cool to see the young girls get their time and get their spot to shine.

"It's really exciting to see some of the young talent that are coming through and being able to hold their own in a space like this with grown women, it's awesome.”

This week’s game also marks another special occasion for the Māori All Stars representative, with the NRLW celebrating Indigenous Round across two weeks for the first time this year.

With the New Zealand-based Warriors celebrating the Māori Indigenous culture  of those in their club with the men's and women's teams wearing their own special jerseys, Vette-Welsh said as a Māori woman playing in Australia, it was also an important round for her.

“I’m so excited, moving from New Zealand to Australia, I thought that the culture and the learnings of culture and stuff would be a lot more, I guess, present and happening," she said.

"In New Zealand we get to learn about the Māori culture and we're immersed in culture and when we moved to Australia, I expected the same (prominence).

“So now, to be able to represent that our Indigenous brothers and sisters (through this round) and go back to the community and showcase what it means to be in a country that has such a rich culture is awesome.

“We've got some young girls from Rutherford High School, they're doing a couple of the girls' boots, so we're going to have the Indigenous jersey, we have the get-up, we have the boots.

“We're going to be celebrating culture throughout the week and really giving this week a purpose and a meaning to the girls.

“When you're part of a culture and you're proud of who you are and proud to represent such strong, passionate and talented people, I think it's an honour.

“(For me to) celebrate two very strong, staunch and passionate and proud people being able to showcase who they are and their culture on a stage like this is the biggest blessing, but honestly as a player, it’s the pinnacle in your career that you can have.”