Is it time to rethink the All Stars concept?

Roar Guru

11th February, 2015

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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)

Walter Penninger

Roar Guru

11th February, 2015

With ticket sales slow for this year’s game is it time to rethink the concept behind the All Stars game?

While the game has good support among the indigenous community the NRL All Stars team does not seem to have a natural supporter base.

Ideas to improve the game have flowed freely during the build-up to this year’s game, including moving the 2016 event away from the Gold Coast, or swapping the NRL All Stars side with players from the Pacific Islands or New Zealand Maoris, a suggestion reportedly backed enthusiastically by Kiwi prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

I would advocate something more radical.

The Nines has been a successful tournament and has prospered in its home at Eden Park. The success of the Auckland Nines should be replicated with a separate Nines competition in Sydney, with eight teams of different ethnic denominations.

The Indigenous All Stars, along with NSW and Queensland (minus indigenous and overseas players), New Zealand Maoris, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa could comprise a solid eight teams with the competition completed in one day. Later you might also be able to consider an English or French team.

Another advantage is that with only nine a side each team would be star packed and there would be substantially less wear and tear on the players than the 80 minute All Star game.

I am sure that with the Origin nines teams, New Zealand, Maoris, Fiji and Samoa there would be a good crowd and strong support for each team involved. This would also help to promote the sport in the Pacific.

Well it’s an idea, and I do not want to detract from the game on Friday which has two good squads on display:

INDIGENOUS ALL STARS:
1 Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs), 2 Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs), 3 Will Chambers (Storm), 4 Justin Hodges (Broncos), 5 Josh Hoffman (Titans), 6 Ben Barba (Sharks), 7 Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys), 8 George Rose (Dragons), 9 Ray Thompson (Cowboys), 10 Ryan James (Titans), 11 Tyrone Peachey ( Panthers), 12 Kyle Turner (Rabbitohs), 13 Chris Grevsmuhl (Rabbitohs).
Interchange: 14 Tyrone Roberts (Knights), 15 David Fifita (Sharks), 16 Dane Gagai ( Knights), 17 Tyson Andrews (Sea Eagles), 18 Jack Wighton (Raiders), 19 Kierran Moseley (Titans), 20 Brad Tighe (Titans).

NRL ALL STARS:
1 Matt Moylan (Panthers), 2 Manu Vatuvei (Warriors), 3 Jarrod Croker (Raiders), 4 Dylan Walker (Rabbitohs), 5 Antonio Winterstein (Cowboys), 6 Kieran Foran (Eagles), 7 Mitchell Pearce (Roosters), 8 James Graham (Bulldogs), 9 Nathan Friend (Warriors), 10 Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), 11 Beau Scott (c) (Knights), 12 Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys), 13 Paul Gallen (Sharks).
Interchange: 14 Jesse Bromwich (Storm), 15 Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers), 16 Joseph Paulo (Eels), 17 Trent Merrin (Dragons), 18 Corey Parker (Broncos), 19 Jeremy Smith (Knights), 20 Dave Taylor (Titans).

It should be a tough match, with some great players, but maybe it is a bit much to expect high skill levels to be on display and for that reason the Nines Format is worth thinking about.

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