With Aborigines comprising just 3 per cent of the Australian population and 12 per cent of all NRL talent, they are remarkable statistics and follow last season's historic grand final which featured Indigenous captains Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges. Indigenous pride: Cody Walker. Credit:Getty Images In addition, three of the other four skippers in matches on grand final day were Aboriginal, and the Australian team had a record six Indigenous players in last year's trans-Tasman Test at Suncorp Stadium. "I am very proud of my heritage," Walker said ahead of Friday night's match against Wests Tigers. "I know a few of the Indigenous boys in the Gold Coast side and obviously our side as well, so it is something that is pretty special to have been involved in. It is something the game should be proud of." Besides Walker, the Souths team that lost 29-28 in Perth boasted four other Indigenous players in captain Greg Inglis, second-rower Kyle Turner and wingers Alex Johnston and Dane Nielsen.

Gold Coast's Indigenous representation comprised halves Ashley Taylor and Tyrone Roberts, lock Greg Bird, centres Josh Hoffman and Nathan Davis, prop Ryan James and interchange hooker Nathan Peats. Great ambassador: Souths fullback Cody Walker was one of 12 Indigenous players involved in last Sunday's Rabbitohs-Titans match. Credit:Getty Images While no official records are kept, NRL officials said they were unaware of any other game with as many Indigenous players. According to renowned statistician and historian David Middleton, there have been 11 games featuring 10 indigenous players since 2008. The first instance was the round three Brisbane-North Queensland match at Suncorp Stadium in 2008, which featured Reece Robinson, Justin Hodges, Joel Moon, PJ Marsh and Sam Thaiday (Broncos), along with Matt Bowen, Ty Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb and Obadiah Geia (Cowboys).

The previous highest representation was believed to have occurred in the Rabbitohs-Cowboys round-six clash of the 2007 season. David Peachey, Nathan Merritt, Shannon Hegarty, Joe Williams and Dean Widders were in the Souths team on that occasion, while the North Queensland side included Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Johnathan Thurston and Justin Smith. "We have got a very good Indigenous support system at Souths," Walker said. "They asked us to put our hand prints on the Indigenous and it is something we are very proud of. I had my hand print there and my two tribes." The connection between the Rabbitohs and the Indigenous community is one reason Walker last week rejected an approach from Brisbane, extending his stay at Redfern for another two seasons. "Cody is putting a lot back in at the moment and it is paying off for him because he is in a really happy space at the moment," said Widders, who is the NRL welfare manager.

"I think it is because he is settled, he feels part of the community, he is loving his football at Souths and I think he is going to get even better. He is getting more confidence, his future is secure and next season he will be ready to rip into the pre-season." Widders coaches the Redfern All Blacks A Grade team and Walker attends their games, while helping out the under-5s team in which his son Kian plays. "I just give them a hand getting the boys and girls ready for the games. They love it," Walker said. "I also try to get down to watch the A Grade team play whenever I can, I know a few of the boys in the team so I like to support them." After waiting until the age of 26 to make his NRL debut this year with Souths, Walker's priority is trying to cement a regular place in the Rabbitohs team. He jumped at the opportunity to play fullback three weeks ago when coach Michael Maguire decided to switch Inglis to five-eighth. Walker has not played fullback since he was a 16-years-old junior for Casino Cougars but he has been getting advice from Inglis.

"Obviously Greg is one of the best fullbacks in the game and he has been giving me little tips here and there about what I need to do," Walker said. "I am enjoying it because you get a bit more room at the back, I can just float around a little bit. I have got a lot to learn on the defensive side of things but I have been doing a fair bit of work under the high ball and I just try to do my best to get a quick play-the-ball and get us on the front foot after a kick.