The ‘Dindima’ team was officially launched at a gala event at the International Hotel on Saturday night ahead of the carnival which is being held at Leichhardt Oval this year. 

A team whose name means ‘group of stars’ in Wiradjuri, Dindima is a reincarnation of the old Wagga Crows and will be led by veteran playmaker Jay Little.

“We’ve got a couple of stars. I’ll just be barking some orders - I’ve given myself number 25 for this run,” Little said with a laugh.

“What we’ve done is we’ve rebuilt with a couple of senior players in Group Nine, all from different clubs which is unique in itself – you get to play with your mates instead of against them sometimes.”

The team includes Junee trio Clifford Morris, Pat Sagigi and Peter Little and veteran Wayne Goolagong lining up for another Koori knockout. 

After a season playing Australian rules, Tristan Dickson will return to rugby league for the carnival in a squad that also features Glendon Morris, Arthur Little, Brock Dunn, Harold Kirby, Pete Rose, Jermaine Packer, Matt O’Neill and Damien Mostyn.

They’ll face a challenge against some big name teams including defending champions Redfern All Blacks - who are hosting the event this year after winning last year’s event at Dubbo in a thrilling golden point finish.

“There are a couple of big teams - Newcastle All Blacks who come second to Redfern last year, the Walgett side’s always pretty strong, they’ve all got that flavour of the NRL,” Little said.

He said Cronulla’s trip to the NRL grand final might even the field with the Griffith Three Ways side likely to be weakened with Andrew Fifita and some Sharks teammates now unavailable.

The new-look Dindima jumpers, produced by Whiteline Designs, were presented by former boxer Tony Mundine who was brought to Wagga by the International Hotel to give the team’s launch genuine star backing.

“I think it’s great for us. Tony doesn’t need any introduction, a champion himself, and we all know how his son (Anthony) played football and he’s been great. But Tony - the original man - coming to support us is a great thing,” Little said.

Mundine remains an inspiration with his approach to health and fitness. Now in his mid-60s, the boxer who held Australian titles in four different weight divisions - and was undefeated against Australian boxers in a 16-year career - looks as fit as ever. He said he starts most days with a regime of 850 exercises in the gym.

Little said a similar message is behind their drive to have a local team up and running in the knockout.

“It’s a community initiative from some of the senior players to try to create a pathway for the younger people in the community. We know the battles that they face with drugs and alcohol,” he said.

“We’ve made a real effort to get out in the community, hold community days and play touch and stuff like that. It’s grown from that. What we want to do is create pathways for kids to get off the streets and get into sport, get out of trouble and not specifically indigenous kids but kids in general.”

Little, at 39, said he hopes to hand over the leadership of the team after this inaugural captain-coaching role. He’s been playing at Koori knockouts for nearly a quarter of a century after starting out as a 15-year old.

“I think what makes it so big is for Indigenous people just to showcase their culture. And everyone’s invited to it, it’s not Indigenous-specific. But at the same time it’s like our traditional Corroboree. We don’t sort of do the ceremonies and dances much but it’s a way we catch up and there’s a lot of people there you don’t see for years and it’s a great way to catch up,” he said.

More than 100 teams will compete at the carnival across women’s, men’s and junior competitions.

Little thanked the team’s sponsors for helping get the team off the ground.

“Any new things like this need good backing and if we didn’t have Joel Berrigan from the International getting on board and leading the way, I don’t think a lot of sponsors would’ve understood what we’re trying to do for the community,” he said.

“Joel understood where we’re coming from and he’s been a great support.”