Liddiard, who attended the NRL indigenous players camp at Hunter Valley on the weekend, said Phil Gould had approached him about the job after becoming Panthers general manager in 2011. With 12 per cent of all players in the NRL being of Aboriginal heritage, Liddiard said he could not understand why more clubs hadn't recognised the need for such a role.

''I feel like I am the pioneer of it all or, at least, Gus is,'' Liddiard said. ''It was his idea. Every club is given $70,000 from the All Stars match to do something with indigenous people in the community and that $70,000 is part of my wage, but I don't just look after players. Western Sydney, where we are, has got the highest population of indigenous people anywhere in Australia so we are out in the community doing a lot of work with kids in boys' homes, kids in schools or any area where they need a bit of help.''

James Roberts, who was sacked by Souths two years ago, is one player Liddiard has worked closely with to help turn his life around and although he is sidelined by a knee injury the 20-year-old is expected to become a superstar.

''I might be a bit biased but the best players in the game are indigenous,'' Liddiard said. ''But if you are not used to being a first grade footballer or an NRL player it is not an easy thing. Back where they come from they were the shining lights every time they ran out on the football field but these days what you do on the football field is about 30 per cent of being a football player.

''It is the other 70 per cent you have to get right, which is turning up to training and training hard and trying to keep your nose clean. But when boys come from the bush to the city, it is a big change in life. They are away from family and get homesick. I am just like an uncle to them, if they have any problems they can come to me.''