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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| How rugby star daughter's doll captivated Australia | How rugby star daughter's doll captivated Australia |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| North Queensland swept to victory in Australia's National Rugby League final on Sunday, but everyone is talking about the image of an NRL player hugging his daughter and her doll. | North Queensland swept to victory in Australia's National Rugby League final on Sunday, but everyone is talking about the image of an NRL player hugging his daughter and her doll. |
| Cameras captured the intimate moment captain Johnathan Thurston celebrated his team's win with his daughter who was clutching a dark-skinned doll. | Cameras captured the intimate moment captain Johnathan Thurston celebrated his team's win with his daughter who was clutching a dark-skinned doll. |
| The picture went viral on social media. | The picture went viral on social media. |
| Both teams in the final were skippered by an indigenous player - the first time in NRL history. | Both teams in the final were skippered by an indigenous player - the first time in NRL history. |
| Thurston scored the winning goal to beat the Brisbane Broncos 17-16, becoming the fourth indigenous player to win the premiership. | Thurston scored the winning goal to beat the Brisbane Broncos 17-16, becoming the fourth indigenous player to win the premiership. |
| And Australians took to social media to applaud the emotional scenes of Thurston hugging his wife and daughter - with the doll - minutes after kicking the golden point that won his North Queensland Cowboys the premiership. | And Australians took to social media to applaud the emotional scenes of Thurston hugging his wife and daughter - with the doll - minutes after kicking the golden point that won his North Queensland Cowboys the premiership. |
| Speaking before the final, Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council chairwoman Linda Burney said rugby league was about to experience its "Cathy Freeman moment", referring to the Australian athletics star who became the second female Australian Aborigine to win Olympic gold during the Sydney games in 2000. | |
| "It is a very significant moment in the sport of rugby league, but in particular the story of Aboriginal participation in rugby league," Ms Burney told The Australian on Thursday. | "It is a very significant moment in the sport of rugby league, but in particular the story of Aboriginal participation in rugby league," Ms Burney told The Australian on Thursday. |
| NRL welfare manager Dean Widders described it as a "milestone" that demonstrates the league appreciates indigenous players and "can provide a lesson to the wider Australian community". | NRL welfare manager Dean Widders described it as a "milestone" that demonstrates the league appreciates indigenous players and "can provide a lesson to the wider Australian community". |
| Johnathan Thurston was seen consoling the Broncos captain, Justin Hodges, after the NRL final. | Johnathan Thurston was seen consoling the Broncos captain, Justin Hodges, after the NRL final. |
| The Australian Football League (AFL) came under fire two months ago, when Adam Goodes, an indigenous Australian who plays for the Swans, decided to take time out of the game after being plagued with booing whilst he was on the pitch. | |
| Critics say the taunts are because Goodes is not liked, but supporters say the 2014 Australian of the Year is being punished for being vocal on indigenous issues. | |
| The booing came to a head after he performed a "war cry" dance during the May Indigenous round of the AFL, which celebrates the contribution of indigenous players. | |
| His distress over the incident led to an outpouring of support for him. | |
| Nova Peris, the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, and now a senator in the Australian parliament, said at the time that the saga showed Australia "has a problem with the truth of Aboriginal people". | |
| Read more here: | |
| AFL taunts at Adam Goodes reignite racism row | |
| Australian football jeers sound 'wake up' call on race |