BREAKING! A Special Start to Brisbane Broncos Indigenous Round with Deadly Choices as Kia Australia Passes the Jersey Torch ..See full details

BREAKING!

A Special Start to Brisbane Broncos Indigenous Round with Deadly Choices as Kia Australia Passes the Jersey Torch ..See full details..

 

 

 

In a powerful fusion of sport, culture, and community wellbeing, the Brisbane Broncos have swung open the doors to their 2025 Indigenous Round by early aligning with Deadly Choices, the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health’s ground-breaking preventative health initiative. Through this collaboration, the club reaffirmed its dedication to First Nations culture, while underscoring the critical message of taking positive health actions.

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​ Kia Australia Passes the Jersey Torch

One of the most visually striking gestures this year came from the Broncos’ long-term major sponsor, Kia Australia. On August 13 2025, Kia formally announced its decision to hand over the coveted front-of-jersey real estate during Indigenous Round to the Deadly Choices logo .

The Deadly Choices logo will replace Kia on the Indigenous jersey for the upcoming clash against the Dolphins — a deliberate and symbolic flip that puts health messaging literally center stage.

Kia’s Jol Hurst highlighted how this shift showcases the importance of encouraging health checks and positive lifestyle decisions in Indigenous communities .

This bold move exemplifies corporate partnership at its best—lifting up Indigenous health narratives on a national sporting platform.

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A 14-Year Partnership Anchored in Impact

This year marks the Broncos’ 14th consecutive season partnering with Deadly Choices . Over the past three years alone, approximately 5,000 First Nations peoples have completed the 715 Health Check — a culturally-tailored, preventative health assessment aimed at halting chronic illness before it starts .

Since the program’s inception in 2011, participation in 715 Health Checks in SE Queensland has surged over 4,000%, a testament to the partnership’s reach and resonance .

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Jersey Drop & Cultural Pillars

The Indigenous Round jersey––designed once again by Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins—remains a visual and cultural centerpiece. Aptly named “Ancestor’s Armour: 2.0”, the artwork is rich with references to history, lineage, and intergenerational strength .

The jersey unveiling, hosted at Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), was attended by Broncos ambassadors, Deadly Choices representatives, and the artist herself. Its striking visuals and meaning serve as an incentive: Broncos fans and community members who complete their 715 Health Check receive a replica jersey—a deeply personal and symbolic reward for taking charge of their health .

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Ground-Level Power: Kids, Culture & Community

Deadly Choices Round is not just about what happens on field—it’s about who gets to run onto it. For 2025, veterans of last year’s initiative and new participants continue the tradition:

The Broncos will welcome children from communities like the Torres Strait Islands, Kowanyama, Cherbourg, Rockhampton, and more .

These youngsters have the opportunity to play mini-league, form part of the guard of honour, and join the full squad in their pre-game run-out—literal steps taken onto big opportunities.

Earlier on Wednesday, they’re being rewarded with Asics boots and Deadly Choices gear—tools of the trade for both sport and wellness .

As Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy said last year, “you can’t be what you can’t see” . Sporting participation becomes exposure to broader pathways—education, mentorship, and possibilities that might otherwise feel out of reach.

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First Nations Voices at the Forefront

Deadly Choices Round is not just a sporting celebration—it’s a community conversation led by First Nations role models. This year and previous, players and staff alike have amplified that message.

Athletes such as Kotoni Staggs and Ezra Mam serve as powerful Ambassadors—sharing their stories of cultural identity, healthy living, and self-care. Staggs, a proud Wiradjuri and Tongan man, has repeatedly spoken about reconciliation being “respecting the past and past people” .

Legends like Steve Renouf, living with Type 1 diabetes and advocating healthy living, bring authenticity and relevance to the partnership .

Community leaders and Deadly Choices advocates like IUIH CEO Adrian Carson reinforce the broader goal: eating well, staying active, quitting smoking, and completing health checks—every facet of a healthy life .

These voices ensure branding and procedures are augmented by human faces and heartfelt conviction.

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Reconciliation in Action

The Broncos haven’t just stood beside Indigenous communities—they are walking with them. In July 2024, during Deadly Choices Round, the club launched its 4th Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) alongside its second “Stretch” RAP, establishing institutional commitments for 2024–2027 .

These RAPs weave together relationships, respect, opportunities, and unity. They reaffirm the club’s belief in systemic cultural inclusion—not only wearing Indigenous jerseys, but building programming, leadership, and pipelines that embed reconciliation in everyday operations.

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What Lies Ahead on August 16

This weekend’s Indigenous Round clash against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium will be a crescendo of preparation:

1. Broncos will run out wearing this year’s Indigenous Round jersey with the Deadly Choices logo emblazoned centre chest.

2. Pre-game ceremonies will feature cultural elements—likely a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, traditional dance, and guard of honour led by the visiting kids.

3. Word from Adelene Hurst, Dallas Leon, and other officials suggests Jungle DSM… sorry—this means Deadly Choices messaging will be front and center—not just during the game, but woven into stadium content, PA announcements, program inserts, and community programming.

 

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Why It Matters

Sport meets social change.
With an NRL stage that reaches tens of thousands in person and hundreds of thousands via broadcast, the Broncos–Deadly Choices partnership turns every match into a health-promotion opportunity.

Representation creates inspiration.
Kids from remote communities see role models like Staggs, Mam, and Renouf leading not just in games, but in culture, heritage, and empowerment.

Collaborations amplify impact.
Fourteen years in, with Kia’s front-of-jersey support and RAP commitments baked in, this is no fleeting gesture—but foundational.

Health equity becomes a goal.
715 Health Checks are more than statistics—they’re lifelines. Every check potentially discovers hypertension, diabetes risk, or early signs of chronic conditions. Turned into treatment or support, that’s potential lives saved and futures reclaimed.

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Final Thought

The Broncos’ special start to Indigenous Round—with Deadly Choices at the heart—is testament to what sport can achieve when it genuinely commits to culture, community, and health. This isn’t incidental branding; it’s strategic, intentional, and deeply human. From the jersey swap to the kids on field, each element is a step toward a healthier, more inclusive tomorrow for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

If you’re heading to Suncorp Stadium this Saturday, you’re not just attending a Broncos game—you’re taking part in a powerful moment of culture, unity, and pride.