JOHNATHAN Thurston is determined to leave the ultimate legacy with the champion playmaker lobbying for an Australian war cry to match New Zealand’s famous haka.

On the eve of Friday night’s Anzac Test, The Courier-Mail can reveal Thurston has held talks with Kangaroos hierarchy to revive an indigenous chant last used by Australia 47 years ago.

Thurston has privately consulted Kangaroos teammates, including Corey Parker, on whether they would support bringing back a war cry that defined the national team for six decades.

media_camera Jonathan Thurston is hoping to leave an indigenous legacy for the Kangaroos.

Thurston and Greg Inglis were key figureheads in a stirring tribal dance that spearheaded the indigenous All Stars’ 20-6 victory over their NRL counterparts in February.

Now the indigenous duo want the Kangaroos to make a permanent pre-match statement. Five nations — New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and PNG — will belt out war cries this weekend during the NRL’s gala representative round and Thurston says it’s time for Australia to follow suit.

“I’d definitely love to see it happen,” Thurston said.

“Look at the rep round we have this weekend — we are the only nation that doesn’t have a traditional dance.

“You look at Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG, they all have their dances that mean something and the Kiwis have their haka.

“Out of the six nations playing this week, we don’t have anything.”

Thurston was hoping to dust off the Kangaroos’ war cry against the Kiwis on Friday night, but time constraints are likely to leave the dance dormant for another year.

The Kangaroos pivot turned 32 last Saturday and admits performing an indigenous war cry in green-and-gold would be a burning dream before he retires from rugby league.

Australian touring teams performed a tribal dance for 60 years before shelving it after a winless three-game series against France on the 1967-68 Kangaroo tour.

The initial war cry derived from “the warriors of Stradbroke Island”, with words including: “We are a race of fighters, descended from the War Gods … The Kangaroo is dangerous when at bay.”

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media_camera Thurston is hoping the Kangaroos can draw on Australian heritage just like the Kiwis.

Test selector Bob Fulton represented Australia in 1968, just months after the war cry was scrapped, and supports Thurston’s push to reignite it.

“It’s something as a playing group we would have to drive,” Thurston said.

“Australia has a rich and proud culture and there are six indigenous boys in this year’s team.

“I’m not too sure on the protocols, but I would love to see it become a regular thing with the Kangaroos.”

Parker said Thurston was so passionate about a Kangaroos war cry he recently consulted him.

“JT actually spoke to me last week about it,” he said. “He asked my opinion on it and I said, ‘Mate, the Aussies used to have a war dance.

“I said, “If that’s what you want to do, to bring back that heritage, it’s a legacy we can leave’.

“It used to be part and parcel of Australian Test matches. It would certainly create interest.”

An NRL spokesman said: “The NRL has an open mind on the issue and it is something we will discuss with the players going forward.”