An examination of the NRL All Stars teams
Roar Guru
By ScottWoodward.me, 1 Feb 2010 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Indigenous All-Stars, NRL, NRL All Stars, Rugby League
Storm player Billy Slater skips away from Andrew McCullough during the Rugby League, NRL Round 2, Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium, Friday March 20, 2009. Broncos won 16 - 14. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
Our first taste of real Rugby League in Australia for 2010 is the much-hyped NRL All Stars game to be played at Skilled Park on February 13.
Below is a list of the likely line ups and a heads up on my early thoughts.
NRL All Stars:
1. Billy Slater – Melbourne Storm
2. Israel Folau – Brisbane Broncos
3. Michael Jennings – Penrith Panthers
4. Matt Cooper – St George Illawarra Dragons
5. Manu Vatuvei – NZ Warriors
6. Darren Lockyer* – Brisbane Broncos
7. Benji Marshall* - Wests Tigers
8. Adam Blair* – Melbourne Storm
9. Cam Smith* – Melbourne Storm
10. Dave Taylor – South Sydney Rabbitohs
11. Anthony Watmough – Manly Sea Eagles
12. Gareth Ellis – Wests Tigers
13. Luke O’Donnell - North Queensland Cowboys
Others
14. Kurt Gidley – St George Illawarra Dragons
15. Anthony Tupou – Newcastle Knights
16. Nat Myles – Penrith Panthers
17. Alan Tongue – Canberra Raiders
18. Luke Bailey – Canterbury Bulldogs
19. Josh Morris – Brisbane Broncos
20. Jarryd Hayne – Parramatta Eels
* Indicates automatically selected players
PSYCHOLOGY: The general consensus is that the Indigenous team has the advantage as this game means more and they will play the game of their lives. I don’t accept that. Every one of the 20 All Stars are world class, and many have a rare opportunity to play with a childhood hero and be coached by the master Wayne Bennett.
Do you really think Billy Slater will not try his heart out knowing that he has Hayne and Gidley on the bench? Folau has topped the voters poll and Vatuvei is excited to be representing his club, while Benji Marshall achieves a life time goal by playing with his idol Lockyer. I have no concerns with a team that includes Gidley, Myles, Tongue, Bailey, Ellis, Watmough and O’Donnell not being revved up.
TEAM SELECTION: Jennings and Cooper are both left centres, and so bench-man Morris will play out of position unless Folau is handed his preferred position of right centre, which would mean Hayne will start at left wing. It’s a very mobile pack and not oversized with an imbalance of too many left-side runners.
Indigenous All Stars team:
No. Player Club
1. Preston Campbell* – Gold Coast Titans
2. Wendell Sailor – St George Illawarra Dragons
3. Greg Inglis – Melbourne Storm
4. Jamal Idriss – Canterbury Bulldogs
5. Nathan Merrit – South Sydney Rabbitohs
6. Jonathon Thurston – North Queensland Cowboys
7. Scott Prince – Gold Coast Titans
8. Carl Webb – North Queensland Cowboys
9. PJ Marsh – Brisbane Broncos
10. George Rose – Manly Sea Eagles
11. Sam Thaiday – Brisbane Broncos
12. Tom Learoyd- Lahrs – Canberra Raiders
13. Joel Thompson - Canberra Raiders
Others
14. Jamie Soward – St George Illawarra Dragons
15. Cory Patterson - Newcastle Knights
16. Daine Laurie – Penrith Panthers
17. Travis Waddell – Canberra Raiders
18. Yileen Gordon - Canterbury Bulldogs
19. Jharal Yow Yeh - Brisbane Broncos
20. Blake Ferguson - Cronulla Sharks
* Indicates automatically selected players
PSYCHOLOGY: No problems as this game will be like a grand final for the passionate Indigenous team, and in fact will be the swansong for champion Wendell Sailor.
TEAM SELECTION: The three wingers all prefer to play on the right-side. Thurston and Prince are likely to be the next Maroon 6 and 7′s but are both weak in defence. The forwards offer a size advantage but lack workers. Marsh and Waddell are a mismatch against Cam Smith
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matt said | February 1st 2010 @ 6:39am | Report comment
i support nothing based on race, this game just hypocrisy, i will not watch this, have not voted… it is plain in simple reverse racism
Ken said | February 1st 2010 @ 9:03am | Report comment
I understand what you’re saying and at an extreme level you’re right. When faced with the paranoia over racism that pervades our current society and the tip toeing around politically correct lines we’re all expected to do it’s tempting to take an attitude like yours. A big chance to say ‘stuff you’ to the usual extremists that love to cry racism about every little thing. What good ever comes from the extreme ends of these arguments though?
Anything that celebrates differences in good spirit is OK in my book regardless of which set of extremists it annoys (preferably both!)
I’m looking forward to this match, mostly because of the talent on show and that I’m starved of footy, but if it makes other people feel good about who they are then that’s great too.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 1st 2010 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
It is hard to argue with Matt’s comments but Ken’s response is 10/10.
Mushi said | February 1st 2010 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Reverse racism, or positive discrimination, is generally not something frowned upon but encouraged especially when celebrating the identity or contribution of a minority that on the whole doesn’t have it as good as the majority.
It is celebrating the contribution of the indigenous to the game.
Springs said | February 1st 2010 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
I have the same philosophy based on all serious aspects of life, that includes looking past nationality, religion and race to see that we’re all human before we are Australian or Muslim or Aboriginal. But this is a game. With that attitude I could refuse to watch State of Origin or International football because it is based on separation of races through national borders. But I don’t, because I know every player is proud to represent their country or race, just like the Indigenous All-Stars are proud to represent their Aboriginal and Torres Strait ancestors. If they do not have a problem with it, then why do you?
Mick from Giralang said | February 1st 2010 @ 6:40am | Report comment
Thurston’s defence is adequate — at least as good as Benji’s. PJ Marsh in my view is one of the game’s most underrated players and will be competitive with Smith. Waddell is one of the game’s rising stars and if he gets some game time will impress. Interesting point about passion — sometimes too much of it can work against a team.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 1st 2010 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
Mick my comment was not a bag for PJ or Waddell only that they are both not starting number 9s and Smith is the best in the world.
I simply said it is a mis match.
To be honest I expected more from Waddell last year and he needs to step up in 2010. The Raiders have a class 6 and 1 and cannot afford to be weak in 7 and 9.
ilikelollies said | February 1st 2010 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
At it’s heart this game is no different to any other representitive game, where people are included (or excluded) based on place of birth, age, etc.
“But this is different, its selected on race” some may shriek, to which I say, well a person’s race must be a bigger issue to you then it is too me.
Mushi said | February 1st 2010 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Has something happened with the teams on the reserves?
ScottWoodward.me said | February 1st 2010 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
Define “Teams on the reserves”? Dont understand your question.
Mushi said | February 1st 2010 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
The NRL clubs listed beside the reserves for the all stars squad
Brett McKay said | February 1st 2010 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
yeah, when did Gidley, Tupou, Myles, Luke Bailey and Josh Morris all change clubs??
ScottWoodward.me said | February 1st 2010 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
Hows thus?
14. Kurt Gidley – Newcastle Knights
15. Anthony Tupou – Cronulla Sharks
16. Nat Myles – Sydney Roosters
17. Alan Tongue – Canberra Raiders
18. Luke Bailey – Gold Coast Titans
19. Josh Morris – Canterbury Bulldogs
20. Jarryd Hayne – Parramatta Eels
Hard to find good help these days….hahahaah
Dogz R Barkn said | February 2nd 2010 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
A nice way to usher in the new year (so to speak).
The race question is a difficult one – there certainly are legitimate grounds for arguing that it’s counter-productive – but ultimately, indigenous groups should be free to decide whether it’s a positive thing or not, and proceed from there.
I can’t recall a bad word coming from any indigenous group on this event.
ScottWoodward.me said | February 2nd 2010 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
There is no doubt it will be played in the right spirit and everyone is 100% behind it.
I remember another life ago when i was attending a Board meeting and the CEO had a memo that all Boards should be advised that all companys should consider the employment of a number of different groups including the gay community.
My retort to the Board was that to hire someone simply because they are black, yellow or gay was the height of discrimination and employment should be based on the best person qualified for the job regardless of anything else.
The wonderful aspect of Rugby League and indeed sport in general in this country, is that everyone gets a fair go. Without our Indigenous and Polynesian friends most NRL clubs could not field a team
Crosscoder said | February 3rd 2010 @ 5:55am | Report comment
I really can’t see a problem of a racial issue with this event After the 200 year treatment of the indigenous people of this country,it is only a flow on recognising they are on an equal footing as the rest of the country.
A celebration of being the first real “settlers”,a celebration of their contribution to society via arts/sport/academia,and the valuable influence they have on the great game of rugby league.
The fact they have a Dream Team is indicative,they have reached the top in their
sporting endeavours.In other words completetely qualified for the taskahead,as are their opponents.
I see two quality teams going full on, colour never enters the equation and neither it should do.To me they are 26 of the best players in the game.
Mick from Giralang said | February 3rd 2010 @ 7:11am | Report comment
I think the last word on the racism issue should be left to the indigenous players themselves. And to a man they have spoken of their pride at being able to represent their people in this game.
J said | February 3rd 2010 @ 7:31am | Report comment
This is such a thorney issue, but in a way i do agree with matt, i mean what would happen if an all white team was selected, based just on ethnicity and race? i mean are we not all from this country, we should play and celebrate together without getting race and culture involved
Springs said | February 3rd 2010 @ 9:29am | Report comment
All other peoples have opportunity to represent their heritage by playing for England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or whatever European country their ancestors came from. And their are also ‘Australian’ Maltese, Italian and other such teams that played in a championship in Sydney last year. The Lebanon team at the 2000 WC were entirely Lebanese Australians.
mushi said | February 4th 2010 @ 8:23am | Report comment
Yes we are all from this country hence when internationals are played everyone dons the green and gold.
Both Queensland and NSW are states of Australia yet they play against each other based conceptually on which state they originate. Why because there is obviously some pride or attachment derived from representing the culture and heritage of your state.
City and country teams are divided based on arbitrary proximity to the capital of NSW yet they play against each other without the flag at half mast. Why because there is obviously some pride, especially from the Country lads, in the distinct cultural differences.
Clubs initially sprung forward to represent subcultures and communities within cities and they played week in week out and lead to the current competition which is now played based on a 6 figure contract.
So we can have Australian’s compete against Australians week in week out for money or our cultural attachment to arbitrary determined state, city or suburban borders but to allow aboriginals to do it for pride in their heritage, well that’s just a step to far don’t they realise they are aussies just like the rest of us?