By MARK CASHMAN

Warringah hooker Jack Nettleton always suspected that there was something special about his family heritage as he worked his way through the ranks to his run on debut for the Rats against West Harbour at Pittwater Rugby Park on Saturday.

A little over four years ago Nettleton discovered that the family line on his mother’s side was First Nations, from Bunjalong Country at Shark Creek near Yamba on the far north coast of NSW.

“When we were younger we always thought that there was something there, but when we found out we were stoked,” Nettleton told Rugby News.

“My brother Kyle and my grandma Andree did some research into it and found the family line to Shark Creek up near Yamba.

“My mum (Stephanie) was part of the Stolen Generation and the more we look into it the more we find out which is great.