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The World All Stars have defeated the Indigenous All Stars with a 12-8 victory after a slow start to the annual fixture.
There was no scoring in the first quarter with Kane Evans coming close only to fall short of the line and separate with the ball.
Konrad Hurrell started the second quarter with a bang, dragging four defenders on his back toward the tryline to open scoring.
The World All Stars continued their strong defence before conceding a try on half-time with Leilani Latu scoring on the right following a concerted effort from the Indigenous All Stars to level the scores at half-time at 4-4.
Semi Radradra continued the scoring early in the second half, before Jack Wighton looked to level the scores but was unable to get the ball on the ground after being held up.
Dane Gagai kept the Indigenous All Stars alive early in the final term crossing on the right flank.
They were unable to level the margin, with the World All Stars taking home the Arthur Beetson Trophy led by Preston Campbell Medallist James Graham in front of a crowd of 37,339.
Final score
World All Stars 12
Indigenous All Stars 8
The World All Stars and Indigenous All Stars will be out to defy the critics in a bid to keep the NRL All Stars format alive when the two sides meet at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
There have been concerns over the future of the NRL All Stars event over the past couple of weeks. However the World All Stars and Indigenous All Stars are set to put on a show to ensure the future of the fixture.
The newly-formed World All Stars will be led by Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith and assisted by England vice-captain James Graham.
The big question surrounding the invitational side is whether their outside backs can keep up, with both Nene Macdonald and Matthew Wright looking out of place in a backline filled with stars including Kiwi international Jordan Kahu, New South Wales Blues representative and former Kangaroo Josh Morris and 2015 NRL top try-scorer Semi Radradra.
Wests Tigers fans will be interested to see how 168-game veteran Chris Lawrence fares in the back row, while the remaining 15 clubs also have at least one representative in the international team.
A massive eleven players will make their debut for the World All Stars with only Graham, Jarrod Croker, Jeremy Smith, Trent Merrin and Beau Scott having participated in last year’s unsuccessful match. Morris, Smith, Adam Reynolds and Michael Ennis have appeared in previous editions of the concept fixture.
The World’s massive forward pack looms as their key to winning the game. England internationals Graham and Thomas Burgess will add size up front and bring plenty of fight into the match, while the all-New South Wales Blues back row of Ryan Hoffman, Trent Merrin and Beau Scott, coupled with Fijian young gun Kane Evans and Kiwi superstar Martin Taupau, will help to dwarf the Indigenous side’s comparatively small forwards.
Johnathan Thurston will be sorely missed by the Indigenous All Stars, but they have been left in good hands with Greg Inglis set to become the third man to lead the team.
Coach Laurie Daley has enlisted plenty of talent, however five clubs will not be represented with the Sea Eagles, Eels, Roosters, Warriors and Wests Tigers all without players in the 20-man squad.
Five members of the team have never played for the Indigenous All Stars before; Edrick Lee, James Roberts, Wade Graham, Craig Garvey and Leilani Latu are all set to make their debuts. Three players – Ben Barba, Joel Thompson and Greg Bird – will be making their fifth appearances, and Inglis and Ryan James will run out for the side for the fourth time.
Thompson and Bird both return to the side having sat out last year’s fixture, as do State of Origin representatives Andrew Fifita and Sam Thaiday. Panthers five-eighth Jamie Soward will also return to the Indigenous All Stars when he comes off the bench.
All eyes will be on 2012 Dally M Medallist Ben Barba, who has a chance to lay claim to the now-vacant fullback position at Cronulla. Barba will have a huge task on his hands to steer his team towards a win, and will need to create space for skipper Greg Inglis to set up match-winning plays.
The invitational teams have played five times since the concept’s debut back in 2010. The Indigenous All Stars have won on three occasions, including last year’s 20-6 victory to take home the Arthur Beetson Trophy. The World All Stars (previously NRL All Stars) have won just two matches, with their last win coming in 2012.
Prediction
The Indigenous All Stars to secure their fourth win and retain the Arthur Beetson Trophy on the back of a strong backline performance.
Indigenous All Stars by 4.
Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
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