As the NRL celebrates Indigenous Round it’s worth asking what more can be done to get First Nations people into more senior roles in the game.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has floated the idea of following the NFL’s lead to mandate that clubs must interview Indigenous candidates when looking to fill senior operations roles, including on the coaching staff.

Apart from Immortal Arthur Beetson, who coached Queensland, the Roosters and Sharks in the 1980s and 90s, and more recently Laurie Daley with NSW in the Origin arena, there has been a stark absence of coaches in senior positions.

Parramatta’s Dean Widders and St George Illawarra’s Jamie Soward in the NRLW and Johnathan Thurston as Maroons assistant coach are leading the next generation of Indigenous coaches. 

The lack of representation of Indigenous and Pasifika people in coaching and senior operations positions means the NRL should definitely explore whatever options are available to ensure events such as Indigenous Round are not seen as token gestures.

Here are all the on-field questions for each team heading into Round 12 of the season.

Thursday

Storm v Sea Eagles at AAMI Park, Home of the Wurundjeri People, 7.50pm (AEST)

Should Brandon Smith be getting more minutes? Whether he’s in the run-on team or on the bench, at hooker or as a middle forward, Smith is only getting 47 minutes per game this season. To be fair, that is bang on with his career average of 46.4 and who is anyone to tell Craig Bellamy how to run his team but with the Storm struggling in the depths of, for them, a lengthy two-game losing streak, getting more out of Smith should be high on the agenda.

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Is the Sea Eagles’ goose cooked? That would be the other, other white meat, like a turducken. Des Hasler and co can claim otherwise until they’re blue in the face, and they should, but Tom Trbojevic’s shoulder surgery is not only season-ending for the player but for the team as well. At 5-6 with the Storm to play twice in the next five rounds, even the prospect of making the finals could soon be slipping out of their grasp.

Friday

Panthers v Cowboys at Blue Bet Stadium, Home of the Dharug People, 6pm (AEST)

Is Dylan Edwards the most deceptive fullback since Brett Hodgson? He shares many traits with the premiership-winning former Wests Tiger – he’s small for a fullback, seemingly not particularly fast or evasive but he manages to make opponents look foolish. Edwards is the NRL’s biggest metre-eater at 191 per game, ahead of a couple of rival custodians with slightly higher profiles and pay packets, James Tedesco (182) and Tom Trbojevic (176).

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Will the Cowboys really miss Jason Taumalolo that much? When you ask a stupid question, your dad will tell you it deserves a stupid answer. But even though their forward leader is out with a knee injury, the Cowboys are better equipped than ever to make up for his absence following the rise of Reuben Cotter, Tom Gilbert and Jeremiah Nanai while Coen Hess and Jordan McLean are having career renaissances in Townsville.

Broncos v Titans at Suncorp Stadium, Home of the Yuggera & Turrbal Peoples, 7.55pm (AEST)

What’s worse – Tyson Gamble’s mullet or his moustache? The obvious answer is the highly contrasting mullet which tries to scream business at the front but yells party at the back. But if you look closer, there’s a wispy thin moustache combination happening which also adds to the ensemble of WTAF that he’s rolling with at the moment.

Tyson Gamble. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Is David Fifita ready for more heavy criticism if he’s not ready to return? The marquee forward has been named on the extended bench as he looks to make a comeback after a month out with a knee injury. Cynics will suggest he’s back early to ensure he gets picked for Queensland. Whether he comes off the bench or starts, he will have a grace period of precisely 60 seconds before questions will be asked if he hasn’t made a break or peeled off a thunderous tackle.

Saturday

Warriors v Knights at Moreton Dailey Stadium, Home of the Yuggera, Jinibara, and Kabi Kabi Peoples, 3pm (AEST)

Will the Warriors be able to keep it together before they return home? There’s light at the end of the tunnel with the team due to play its first match in Auckland in just over a month. But they’ve released Matt Lodge and Kodi Nikorima recently mid-season, Addin Fonua-Blake’s out long term with a foot injury, Chanel Harris-Tavita is taking a sabbatical from the sport next year, Euan Aitken’s joining the Dolphins and there’s smoke over Nathan Brown’s tenure which could develop into a full-blown fire if the team’s form continues in a downward spiral. It’s been a long three years for the club.

(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Can Kalyn Ponga rediscover his 2020 vision? Two years ago he averaged 183.9 running metres and 5.9 tackle breaks, this season he’s down to 149m and 3.4 tackle breaks. He’s sixth among fullbacks in both those key stats and tellingly, trails Warriors young gun Reece Walsh (166.3 and 5.4). If the Maroons choose their No.1 on form, it shouldn’t be the Knight unless he can score a massive points victory in this game. 

Rabbitohs v Tigers at Accor Stadium, Home of the Wann-gal People, 5.30pm (AEST)

Is Cody Walker this generation’s Laurie Daley … at the end of his career? The Raiders legend was still a very effective player in the final two years of his career but with Ricky Stuart at the Bulldogs, he was thrown off kilter. They both retired at the end of 2000 but it’s one of rugby league’s travesties that it was not together in lime green. Walker without Adam Reynolds is giving off a similar vibe. The Rabbitohs are sick of hearing about his departure and the transition to Lachlan Ilias sooner rather than later may end up being the right long-term decision but this team is not going to finish anywhere near the grand final this year.

Cody Walker (Getty Images)

Why have the Tigers let Luke Garner walk? The 26-year-old forward is joining Penrith next year and with fellow second-rowers Luciano Leilua off to the Cowboys and Kelma Tuilagi joining Manly, you would think Wests would have pulled out the stops to keep Garner, a more than handy first-grader who can fill in at centre when needed. 

Sharks v Roosters at PointsBet Stadium, Home of the Dharawal People, 7.35pm (AEST)

Should Wade Graham switch to the middle permanently? He doesn’t seem to have the same oomph (not a measurable metric in the gamut of NRL stats … yet) as an edge forward and Cronulla looked more potent when Teig Wilton assumed that role last week on the left. Graham switched to lock and seemed more at home. The former five-eighth has got the ball-playing ability to make more than a good fist of that position but the Sharks already have Cameron McInnes and Dale Finucane already on the roster performing similar duties.