'Mum was very emotional about it': Family focus on Titans Indigenous jersey

The 22-year-old winger spent his early years on the Northern Rivers and made his NRL debut with the Gold Coast last year.

The jersey has been designed by his mother Sylvia Khan, with a specific focus on Alofiana and NRLW player, Jaime Chapman.

Sylvia Khan is a Northern Rivers artist and Aboriginal woman with strong cultural ties and connections to the Bundjalung tribe.

She is from Box Ridge mission, Coraki and is an artist of the Bomsy Studio.

"I love representing Lismore and learning more about my culture," Alofiana told Titans media.

"Mum was very emotional about it, which is a good thing because I saw how much pride she had and the work she was going to put into it."

The main theme of the artwork surrounds each of the players, Jullabee's (Spirit Totem).

Spirit totems are known in Aboriginal cultures as connection to spirituality and ancestral ties that guides and provides protection to one's sense of cultural connection to tradition, Aboriginal practice, tribe, belongingness, and Country.

The artwork depicts Alofiana's Jullabee connection to the Junru Junur (White Owl) and Jaime's connection to Kaputhin (Wedgetail Eagle).

Each player's Jullabee are displayed on the front of jersey as a strong representation of connection to Country.

The players' home countries are acknowledged in a display of the country's symbols and lines of cultural connections with yarning circles.

"I was very excited to do it as an artist and it was around creating a unique storyline of two very talented, inspirational and determined young koori players," Sylvia said.

"It was a way to go through this cultural journey with him, take back those storylines and showcase how these two players are going on their cultural journeys.

"Having a connection to Country and a sense of belonging is so important."

"It's about our cultural identity and our roles and responsibility coming from a strong line of Aboriginal women who engage in community events to ensure our mob stays strong.

"All the family are very proud of Alofiana and it brings us pride and joy to see him connect with his elders."

Khan-Pereira has Samoan, Aboriginal, Maori and Pakistani heritage.

He moved to the Gold Coast when he was nine and played most of his junior rugby league in Queensland.

He earned selection in the Australian Prime Minister's XIII last year, at the end of a remarkable rookie NRL season which saw him score 20 tries and smash the Titans record for tries in a single season.

He has now played 30 NRL games and aiming to lock down a permanent spot on the wing in the team.

The young flyer has made the position his own in recent weeks as the Titans battle on through a number of injuries.

The NRL side will wear the jersey when they take on the Brisbane Broncos for NRL Indigenous Round on Sunday May 26, at Suncorp Stadium, while the NRLW side will wear theirs at a home game later in the season.

Gold Coast centre Brian Kelly has been in form lately and has been named for the clash.

He is from Ballina and has been part of the jersey design in recent years.

Meanwhile, Casino product Cody Walker was set to play in South Sydney's Indigenous Round clash against Parramatta this weekend.

A calf injury will see him on the sidelines and could impact his chances of being selected at five-eight for the NSW Blues in the State of Origin series. He played in the third game last year.