Passion v excitement in All Stars NRL Match
Roar Guru
By ScottWoodward.me, 11 Jan 2010 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Adam Blair, Alan Tongue, Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Watmough, Ben Creagh, Benji Marshall, Billy Slater, Cam Smith, Darryn Lockyer, Dave Taylor, Gareth Ellis, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Morris, Kurt Gidley, Luke Douglas, Luke O’Donnell, Manu Vatuvei, Nat Myles, NRL, NRL All Stars, NRL Indigenous All Stars, Petero Civoniceva, Rugby League
104 Have your say
My mate Jeff reckons the NRL Indigenous All Star guys are “morals” against the NRL All Stars because they will be more passionate. The build up for this game, to be played on the Gold Coast at Skilled Stadium on Feb. 13, has been enormous and promises to be a sell out and a TV ratings bonanza.
I always enjoy a debate (or argument) with my mate as we are both opinionated and it is not easy to dig our feet from the sand.
I take Jeff’s point about how passionate the Indigenous All Stars will be and I am sure they will not require a pep talk prior to running on, but it is also hard to imagine that the NRL All Stars will not be revved up also.
For the first time ever and probably never to be seen again, the Australian Captain Darryn Lockyer and the Kiwi skipper Benji Marshall will play alongside each other. That prospect has even excited the composed coach Wayne Bennett.
“One of the exciting things to me is that they (Lockyer and Marshall) can all play together for the first time in their careers.
“I spoke to Benji recently and I’ve got to say that he was so excited about the fact that he would be playing with Lockyer and I know that Lockyer is excited about getting to play with him.
“Just those two alone, I just want to spend a week with them and enjoy their company and watch them play football.”
Given that Benjy was an automatic selection his club team, the Wests Tigers can field another player and we may have the prospect of English International Gareth Ellis playing which would be an added twist to this game, and a treat for his forward team mates who he was against in the recent 4 Nations.
I think the NRL All Stars squad of 20 will look something this:
1. Billy Slater
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Israel Folau
4. Josh Morris
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Darryn Lockyer
7. Benji Marshall
8. Adam Blair
9. Cam Smith
10. Petero Civoniceva
11. Anthony Watmough
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Ben Creagh
Others
14. Kurt Gidley
15. Luke Douglas
16. Luke O’Donnell
17. Alan Tongue
18. Anthony Laffranchi
19. Dave Taylor
20. Nat Myles
The Indigenous All Stars will need more than just passion for my mate to be right.
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- Adam Blair, Alan Tongue, Anthony Laffranchi, Anthony Watmough, Ben Creagh, Benji Marshall, Billy Slater, Cam Smith, Darryn Lockyer, Dave Taylor, Gareth Ellis, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, Josh Morris, Kurt Gidley, Luke Douglas, Luke O’Donnell, Manu Vatuvei, Nat Myles, NRL, NRL All Stars, NRL Indigenous All Stars, Petero Civoniceva, Rugby League
Brett McKay said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Isn’t there a selection guideline for the All-Stars team that says only one player per club (Lockyer and Marshall aside)?? That being the case, you couldn’t have Slater, Smith, and Blair all in the team…
Foxy Loxy said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
20 players, 16 clubs. They’ve included the Kangaroos and Kiwis captains and vice captains.
Brett McKay said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:46am | Report comment
yeah thanks Foxy, I’ve just read that in the voting rules….
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Smith and Blair are VIice Captains of their countries to are auto selections.
Hoy said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Has Kurt Gidley got naked pictures of everyone in the world? How does this bloke make 1) official teams, and 2) people’s teams? Is it just because he is a utility player?
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:52am | Report comment
I reckon. Gidley is a shoe in for most overated player.
I still remember when Matt and Kurt where playing a Sunday TV match, both Gidley’s kept on knocking on the ball, didn’t take long before Ray Warren saw another knock on, and says “It’s a Gidley-a-thon!”.
Jay said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Im a knights supporter and I openly admit that Gidely is overrated.
But Matt Gidley was a class centre.. even big dell said he was the best centre that he’s ever played outside of in union or league.
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Matt Gidley had a way of gettign the ball away even though well covered. Kurt has heart, but heart only gets you so far, and I think SoO is just one step too far for the poor little bugger.
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Aye, Gidley should still be Australian centre.
I think Gidley would be the best choice for the Knights spot. The other back is Mullen and it is doubtful that he would get a shot, so I picked Gidley.
Mushi said | January 14th 2010 @ 11:13am | Report comment
When Matt Gidley ran it looked like an old lady with a zimmer frame could fo chased him down.
Springs said | January 15th 2010 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
Well than put that old lady on the wing.
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
The fans pick and he will be the most popular.
Ken said | January 11th 2010 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Looking forward to this match – some great teams and matchups. Not willing to hazard too much on the result but I’d prob lean with the Dreamtime team mostly for the passion they will have for their jersey.
I reckon this 1-sided passion will mean this contest is destined to not be an annual contest though. The Dreamtime team has ready made passion for both players and fans (Aboriginals of course but I’m sure plenty of non-aboriginals would enjoy seeing this team do well too). The All-Star team though doesn’t represent anyone and, if it were an annual event, would even have little player continuity year to year. Imagine if it were an annual contest, all would be fine if the Aboriginal team was winning but what happens when the All-Star team wins a couple of years in a row…
M1tch said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:14am | Report comment
I’ve got my ticket for this match, cant wait for it.
I think the all-stars will win, but it will be a close game.
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:23am | Report comment
Oh, I just realised I am on holidays on the 13th Feb. Maybe I should fly to the Gold Coast for the weekend and watch the match.
M1tch said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Better get your ticket soon
Bay35Pablo said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
It should be pretty exciting, much like a Barbarians game of rugby. Real throw it around entertaining stuff.
I certainly think it will rate well, and will hopefully continue on in future years. More like origin than World Sevens if you know what I mean!!
And as a one eyed Tiges fan – what about Robbie Farah!?!?!?!!
M1tch said | January 11th 2010 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Anyone is a chance, i would love to see Taniela Tuiaki
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 10:38am | Report comment
I didn’t vote for Farrah, how could you not want to see the Pommy play!
Bay35Pablo said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Farah = guru
He was robbed of an SoO jersey by the selectors in favour of Buderus for years!!!
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
No point in voting for Farah as Cam Smith will be hooker.
Mick from Giralang said | January 11th 2010 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Where’s Siva?
Foxy Loxy said | January 11th 2010 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Working on his ARU Indigenous team. He got as far as Beale, but then drew a blank.
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 11:28am | Report comment
The thing about selection that annoys me is the rule that only one player from each club can be selected. First, there are going to be THREE Melbourne players in the side (since when was Blair VC? What happened to Asotasi?). Second, the popularity of some players is too great to leave them out of the side. We saw this when three Eels players were in the top 4 selected in the first round of voting, each with over 8000. Overall it means the All-Stars name isn’t true, as there are going to be too many stars left out.
For the next All-Stars match cut the one player per club rule and have only the Captains from Australia, New Zealand and maybe even PNG. Also allow the Captains to be selevted anywhere. So we are able to select our favourite 6/7/9.
I think Indigenous should win, Inglis was the reason Australia won the Four Nations and QLD won the State of origin. The Lockyer-Marshall combination is risky. Two five-eighths? With totally different games.
Foxy Loxy said | January 11th 2010 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Asotasi wasn’t in the NZ team at the 4N.
Why get hung up over selection criteria for this sort of a match? The qualification rules should remain fluid every year.
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
Yes but Asotasi was NZ Captain and only wasn’t because of injury. I’m sure Lockyer would get picked if he was out of the Four Nations.
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:19pm | Report comment
Springs the Indigenous team will have 2 half backs in Prince and Thurston plus Preston Campbell.
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Thurston is a better 5/8th than half back.
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Aye true, but Thurston has played a lot of five-eighth, given Marshall has played half but it never really worked out. Campbell is playing fullback.
Ken said | January 12th 2010 @ 9:55am | Report comment
They’ve also got the Dally M 5/8 of the year in Soward so they’re pretty stocked on halves
Jay said | January 11th 2010 @ 11:38am | Report comment
what happens in the future if the aussie captain or vc is an aboriginal or torres strait islander? and to throw another spanner in the works – who would someone like Brent Webb play for (torres strait islander playing for NZ)??
Foxy Loxy said | January 11th 2010 @ 11:58am | Report comment
Nothing. Just change the selection criteria. The world won’t end. It’s not a representative match.
Mushi said | January 14th 2010 @ 11:17am | Report comment
Why would playing for NZ matter anyway? It isn’t ATI versus NZ
Corey said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
This is going to be an awesome game, and hopefully the broadcaster of this game shows it nationally- LIVE, so all indigenous can see it, not just QLD and NSW.
M1tch said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Channel 9 is showing, only nsw and qld
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:36pm | Report comment
Channel 9 really needs to get it’s act together. Bet they show the WCC into NSW and QLD only, when it’s the Melbourne Storm who are playing. How can you build the audience if you don’t show the product. Then say it doesn’t rate!
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
I thought Fox Sports showed the World Club Challenge? And they showed it at 5am live.
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Channel 9 had shown it in previous years. Just last year that channel 9 decided that it doesn’t rate at 5am in the morning, well apparently not as much as those evangelist programs do.
Jay said | January 11th 2010 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Typical.
The Anzac AFL match is shown live into sydney, yet a match of similar importance is neglected yet again by the nice network.
Bay35Pablo said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:00pm | Report comment
What did the Anzac day game rate in Sydney …
Dogs Of War said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Not a lot.
http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/enews/ten/TEN-Ratings-for-the-ANZAC-Day-AFL-Clash-Essendon-v-Collingwood-270409.html
Sydney (av) 74,000 (peak)150,000 (Total Audience share) 31.4%
Brisbane (av)72,000 (peak) 149,000 (Total Audience share)38.3%
The NRL one is only shown on Fox. It did get 28K at the ground which was pretty good considering it involved the Roosters who were playing very poorly at the time.Can’t be bothered looking up the pay TV ratings, would think it was around the 280K mark, with plenty watching from the pub after the two up.
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
It looks like Super League and NRL will not be shown to each other which is disgraceful if they are serious about growing the game internationally.
There is enormous interest on both sides. Wake up fellas!
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Does this mean Nine is no longer showing ESL?
ScottWoodward.me said | January 11th 2010 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
wots ESL?
My point is that the NRL is a huge rater and to show the Super League games when most teams are made up of 50% Aussies and Kiwis who are well know here would be well relieved.
Im sure the bookies would sponsor it.
It is about growing the pie, but both Executives cannot think beyond their shores.
Springs said | January 11th 2010 @ 6:12pm | Report comment
ESL is European Super League.