What I want from the All Stars v Indigenous game

Expert

5th February, 2013

1006 Reads

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With players opting out of the All Stars match for fear of injury or burnout, what is the game's future? (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Tim Prentice

Expert

5th February, 2013

1006 Reads

Football is back very soon and as a rugby league fan I am excited – I take it you are too. Our favourite game is played on Saturday, the NRL v Indigenous All Stars fixture, at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

OK, so it’s not club rugby league, the so-called ‘be-all-and-end-all’. Not much hangs on the result. But I believe we will learn a heck of a lot about season 2013 and beyond if we take some time to watch and digest.

There are a number of things I want to see. You, undoubtedly, will have yours. So here is my list and you are more than welcome to add to it:

* I dearly want to see some razzle-dazzle football, RL style. Tennis, cricket and all those summer sports have had their fling. I want my rugby league, almost as much as some wanted their MTV a few decades ago!

* Is the South Sydney halfback, Adam Reynolds, up to the task? Dally M Rookie of the Year, and the young man widely touted as a potential NSW Origin No 7. If he fires up in this elite company, Blues fans should get excited. Very excited. I don’t think Mitchell Pearce can win us an Origin series. Is Reynolds the Real Deal?

* Willie Mason and Timana Tahu are clearly in the veteran class. Have they got lots more to offer or are the selectors playing selectors’ games with them (and us)?

* Benny Barba. One of the most exciting players I have ever seen. He won almost every individual award in 2012. Was last season a one-off, a fluke, or is this highly impressive young man an Origin/Test superstar of the future? I’m tipping him to get ever better and that is a scary prospect, Roarers.

* There are many standouts from both teams but from the Indigenous, my eyes will be closely trained on the likes of David Shillington, Reece Robinson, Blake Ferguson, Joel Thompson, Jake Foster and Jack Wighton.

Mmm. Six Raiders. If they are picked to play at this (medium rep) level, perhaps we should all take a good, hard, look at the Canberra Raiders for a premiership finals berth. After all, they were thereabouts last year. They look more than a tad dangerous in 2013.

* Aidan Sezer – naturally, they are calling him Julius – is a very special talent and I want him to do really well in this game. Don’t be surprised if he is right up there with the superstars when they are counting Dally M votes in September. This boy can play.

* The game has a new Referees boss (Daniel Anderson) and his men will be on show. Please, please guys, keep your whistles in your pockets. This is not a scenario for you – charities benefit, the crowd is up for player action, there will be a huge TV audience tuning in for football. Not a refereeing exhibition.

* I would like to see some television extras, some of the stuff we might warm and thrill to as 2013 unfolds. Can there be an on-field camera, for example, perhaps in a player’s headgear?

* From the All Stars line-up, for lots of reasons, I really want to check the early form of Jarryd Hayne, Shaun Johnson, James Tamou, Tim Grant, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen and Feleti Mateo. These guys are crucial to their respective teams in 2013. If they don’t aim up, perhaps there will be some cause for concern.

I am an ardent fan of this game and will howl down any of its detractors. It is a terrific entree to any rugby league season, and I believe it will grow in stature as time goes on.

C’mon time. Go a little faster if you can. I crave my rugby league. The off-season sucks.

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