General News
18 May, 2023
Re-imagined Goanna hit kicks off NRL Indigenous Round
ICONIC Aussie band Goanna helped to launch this week’s National Rugby League (NRL) 2023 Indigenous Round, with a re-imagining of hit song ‘Solid rock (Sacred ground)’ chosen as the soundtrack for the round.
Goanna founding member Shane Howard, a Dennington native, starred in an accompanying music video which launched the annual round to viewers across Australia.
The legendary song tackles themes of Indigenous land ownership, with the re-imagined version released earlier his year featuring Indigenous artists Moss, Tasman Keith and William Barton.
An accompanying promotional music video was released to celebrate this week’s NRL Indigenous Round, with the musicians joining Mugerra dancers and Indigenous NRL stars Nicho Hynes and Quincy Dodd alongside Indigenous NRL legend Johnathan Thurston.
Goanna released a statement saying their involvement was a celebration of the unique contribution First Nation players have made to Rugby League.
“Goanna are proud to stand with the next generation of talented First Nations artists, Moss, Tasman Keith and William Barton, honouring and re-imagining our iconic song, ‘Solid rock (Sacred ground)’, for the NRL’s Indigenous Round, passing the torch down the generations,” the statement read.
“Along with Channel Nine and the Mugerra Dancers, we offer it as a celebration of the unique contribution that First Nations players have made to NRL; past, present and future.”
‘Solid rock (Sacred Ground)’ peaked at #3 in Australia as the lead single off Goanna’s 1982 album ‘Spirit of Place’, which has gone on to reach platinum status four times over.
The award-winning album and single are considered to be among the most influential releases in Australian music history.
