On February 13 at Skilled Stadium on the Gold Coast the Indigenous All stars will play the NRL All Stars before a sold out stadium.
The Indigenous team, selected by over 17,000, fans is:
Carl Webb
Cory Patterson
Daine Laurie
George Rose
Greg Inglis
Jamal Idriss
Jamie Soward
Jharal Yow Yeh
Joel Thompson
Jonathon Thurston
Justin Hodges
Nathan Merrit
PJ Marsh
Preston Campbell(c)
Sam Thaiday
Scott Prince
Tom learoyd- Lahrs
Travis Waddell
Wendell Sailor
Yileen Gordon
It is not a bad lineup at all.
The team will be called the Dreamtime team. Their jersey was designed by former indigenous NRL player Sid Domic, a Kalkadoon man.
Scott Prince, also a Kalkadoon man, has said it is very special and a privilege to represent the indigenous people of Australia.
Preston Campbell of the Nuccorilma clan of the Kamilaroi clan said there is nothing bigger than representing his family, his clan and his community.
The game will raise over $1.5 million which will be delivered to rugby league’s One Community charities with over half to be spent on indigenous projects.
There will be no more important game on the 13th February 2010 across Australia.
Rugby league’s deep community connections are its salvation. It is a game of redemption, after all just ask Wendell.
Curtis Kinchela
Guest
How come there is not an Aboriginal Flag on the Jersey??? Isn't this supposed to be an Indigenous Team!!!
Midfielder
Guest
Westy Without doubt RL is a leading sport in its relation with the Indigenous community and for all the bad their players may do for this they should be praised... But less headlines or maybe does not sell enough papers...
mikey
Guest
So that's 10 NSW and 10 Queensland players. Queensland has eight of those players with State of Origin experience (the other two are rookies) while NSW has... none? What about the captain, did he ever get picked? They've got dally-m winners, prime minister's XIII players, city origin, highest point scorers... c'mon NSW, how suss are your selectors?
westy
Guest
bever fever it is for once all positive. The estimated $1.5 million raised will be channelled half into specific indigenous programs and the balance into rugby league one community program both of which will involve community visits and hours from all NRL clubs. All codes are trying but rugby league have got this one right . The point I am trying to make is this goes beyond rugby league....this was what preston campbell reinforced in the interview...but to give credit where it is due rugby league has provided the vehicle.
bever fever
Guest
You are unbelievable !!.
Norm
Guest
Nothing like a bit of cheap racial stereotyping to use as an insult.
bever fever
Guest
Let us hope that the players or NRL or whatever make available funds to visit communities so more kids can be encouraged to break the life cycle that many aboriginal kids live in.
westy
Guest
Thanks Midfielder. I thought they deserved some affirmation for doing something that is very right and uplifting whatever ones personal opinion about the game or its participants. It is here where they find some traction
Midfielder
Guest
A good story Westy....
Mick from Giralang
Guest
A great team. Although a Raiders fan I had no idea Joel Thompson had koori blood in him. Good to see, I wish we'd get more Aboriginal kids into the Raiders system from surrounding NSW country areas, particularly the Riverina. Canberra would not be such a great step for these kids to move to, compared to bigger cities like Sydney.
westy
Guest
Diet Simon actually it was a simple typo. You will note I went from "Nuccorilma clan of the Kamilaroi clan" when it should have been " Nuccorilma clan of the Kamilaroi nation". thanks for picking it up. To late to edit.
westy
Guest
Diet Simon . I took down the words from a live interview of several players. Getting a bit old or my hearing is not as good as it used to be.. I accept responsibility for noting it incorrectly and apologise. I only checked the spelling. My lack of accuracy however does not I think detract t from what i think is positive about the game.
Diet Simon
Guest
There is no "Kamilaroi clan". The Kamilaroi are a nation of 16 tribes. Each of those 16 tribes has clans. You've made the biggest unit into the smallest. It's like saying all the Irish in Australia are a clan.