Entertainment
10 July, 2026
Special jerseys make players proud
BASKETBALL will take centre stage in Cairns this NAIDOC Week with elite Indigenous athletes taking to the court in specially designed First Nations jerseys celebrating culture, community and connection.
Cairns Basketball has unveiled its NBL1 North First Nations round jerseys, created by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist Beau Pennefather Motlop, ahead of a week that also features the Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) All Stars taking on New Zealand’s Poitūkohu Māori Aotearoa at Trinity Ford Stadium.
The jerseys, to be worn by The Industry Estate Agents Cairns Dolphins and The Ground Australia Cairns Marlins during First Nations round, feature woven patterns symbolising strength and connection while intentionally representing both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Pennefather Motlop, whose grandfather was a Torres Strait Islander and who spent much of his youth playing basketball at the local courts, said the project was deeply personal.
“It kept us off the streets,” he said.
“Most of my time before age 18 was spent down on the outdoor courts, staying out of trouble and doing something positive. It’s cool to be able to create artwork for an organisation that did that for me.” He said it was important to represent both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
“A lot of the time when we do these things, we’re really just representing one and calling it Indigenous,” he said.
“It’s important for me to also represent the Torres Strait, because that’s the other flag we hold up. It was a pleasure to do it again, and I’m always happy to create artwork for a Cairns team.”
The celebration continues with the 2026 IBA All Stars, featuring some of Australia’s leading Indigenous basketball talent, including Cairns Marlins players Amarco Doyle and Kobe McDowell-White, alongside Women’s National Basketball League players Jessica and Hayley McDowell-White and Cairns Dolphins representatives Leichan Williams and Taryn Bond. The teams will face New Zealand’s Poitūkohu Māori Aotearoa during the annual Trans-Tasman showcase presented by VicHealth.
IBA basketball operations Manager Tyson Demos said the event was about more than basketball.
“Our annual All Stars event presented by VicHealth provides a platform for the country’s premier Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander basketball players to proudly represent their culture on an international stage,” he said.
“The event is about much more than basketball. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous and Māori culture, bring communities together, and inspire the next generation through sport.”
Marlins player Kobe McDowell-White said wearing the First Nations jersey held special significance. “The first look at the jersey is sick, and the meaning behind it is even more special,” he said. “I can’t wait to put it on and play for my people, my culture, and represent everything I’ve come from.”
Dolphins player Leichan Williams said wearing a jersey reflecting her heritage filled her with pride.
He said he was proud to wear a jersey that incorporated his culture.
