By Wayne Heming
November 21st 2009 @ 2:19am
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Dell gets All Star farewell in Indigenous side
Wendell Sailor will get a rugby league farewell alongside four members of Australia’s triumphant Four Nations Kangaroos who were named in the NRL Indigenous All Stars side announced on Friday.
Melbourne’s golden boot winner Greg Inglis, North Queensland halfback Johnathan Thurston and Brisbane teammates Justin Hodges and Sam Thaiday were part of Australia’s big Four Nations victory over England this month.
They have been included in a 20-man squad to be captained by Gold Coast utility Preston Campbell when the Indigenous All Stars play an NRL All Stars side at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on February 13.
St George Illawarra winger Sailor, who announced his retirement from the NRL earlier this month, was voted into the side by the public.
It’s the greatest collection of indigenous players selected in a single team and was announced jointly on Friday by NRL chief executive David Gallop, Queensland Minister for Sport Phil Reeves and Indigenous All Stars coach Neil Henry.
The team was announced by ARL Indigenous Council Chairman William “Smiley” Johnstone at Parliament House.
Almost 20,000 rugby league fans voted for the side which includes eight players with State of Origin experience.
“The fans have picked an incredible team,” said Gallop.
“There is going to be a huge sense of anticipation building around who is selected in the NRL All Stars team.
“There is no doubt that this will be a spectacular start to season 2010.”
More than 16,000 tickets have already been sold for the clash.
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oikee said | November 21st 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Good onya big Dell, give us one final dark side of the moon to leave us with a lasting memory.
Mick from Giralang said | November 23rd 2009 @ 8:13am | Report comment
Boy that’s a strong indigenous side.
Carl Webb (Nth Qld), Cory Paterson (Newcastle), Daine Laurie (Penrith), George Rose (Manly), Greg Inglis (Melbourne), Jamal Idris (Bulldogs), Jamie Soward (St George Illawarra), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane), Joel Thompson (Canberra), Johnathan Thurston (Nth Qld) Justin Hodges (Brisbane), Nathan Merritt (South Sydney), PJ Marsh (Brisbane), Preston Campbell (capt, Gold Coast), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra), Travis Waddell (Canberra), Wendell Sailor (St George Illawarra), Yileen Gordon (Bulldogs).
Coach: Neil Henry (Nth Qld).
How do you go about organising defensive patterns against that lot?
The NRL is surprised at how strongly this match has captured the Australian sporting public’s imagination with ticket sales from all over the country including Perth, Darwin and Adelaide.
And I’ve gotta get one of those indigenous jumpers to add to my collection …they’re sensational.
oikee said | November 23rd 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
I was thinking the same as you Mick, a must have Jersey.