Before the start of the 2017 season, I declared that the Indigenous All Stars match – in its form at the time – was a “careless misuse of players and borders on being insulting to the very Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians that it is meant to be celebrating.”
I suggested that to properly celebrate the impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on the game of rugby league, they needed to play a team that had equivalent pride and passion.
The World All Stars were clearly a random gathering of mercenaries with no history, support or real passion.
The obvious solution was to play a New Zealand Maori side and it’s great to see that the NRL has taken on this idea. On February 15, at AAMI Park in Melbourne, the two sides will clash.
There is sure to be superb passion on display from both sides, in what I truly hope is a fantastic match.
My second suggestion was that this game should be treated like the NFL Pro Bowl, in that it should take place after the season proper. That way, if a player gets injured there is the longest possible time for them to recover before their actual team needs them to play again.
It is just common freaking sense.
Scheduling this game – or any preseason fixture – before the start of the NRL season is a reckless use of players on the part of the administration. The risk of injury at this time shows little regard for the players or clubs.
It seems that every season at least one player gets injured in one of these profligate preseason fixtures – be it All Stars, Nines or World Club Challenge – yet still the people running the game keep throwing our precious players at them like General Monro hurling the Australian 5th Division into the wire and machine guns at Fromelles.
Ok, that’s a hyperbolic analogy, however it will make me apoplectic with rage when Jesse Bromwich or Joe Tapine or Kalyn Ponga or Dane Gagai or Latrell Mitchell or Tyrone Peachey go down injured on the AAMI Park turf and miss some – if not all – of the season.
Jesse Bromwich (Image: NRL Photos)
Their club will then have to get by without them, weakening their fans’ chances of euphoric celebration at season’s end.
If the game was held the weekend after the grand final, then so many of these concerns would be mediated due to the time players would have to recover.
Further, we would be unlikely to see the inevitable plethora of player withdrawals. By the time the announced teams actually make the field, they rarely bear any resemblance to those that were ‘selected’. All sorts of injuries suddenly flare up – usually then to miraculously disappear by season’s start.
Already Greg Inglis, Ryan James and Jordan McLean have withdrawn. They will not be the last. This oh-so-predictable pulling out of star players devalues what should be a magnificent event.
While State of Origin and internationals also expose players to injury, they desperately want to play in those fixtures and any club that tried to stop them would find recruitment and retention very difficult.
Players would also want to feature in this game between two fierce and proud peoples if it was at the right time of the year. Only scheduling the game in early March could be worse than the present date.
Yet the NRL keeps ploughing on virtually every year, scheduling fixtures at this absurd time.
The final insult is making us vote for who we condemn to play in these sides. That’s right: they actually expect us to select which players we risk to injury. They even try to make it sound like a good thing!
Mark Deweerd from the NRL put it like this: “The chance for fans to have an input into the selection of the teams is the only opportunity across the game that allows fans to vote for who they want to see play.”
At the reaping ceremony in the Hunger Games, Effie Trinket puts it like this: “Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!”
The comparison between Suzanne Collins’ fictional event and getting selected for this match isn’t that far apart.
There is no way that I am ever going to vote to voluntarily risk one of my team’s precious Maori or Aboriginal players if the match is scheduled for this stupid time of year.
In fact, I did the opposite. I voted for the players from the other teams. I encouraged my friends to do the same. I was very upset when one of my team’s players was named.
Hopefully he’ll pick up a niggle before game day though…
It shouldn’t be like this – and it doesn’t need to be.
The NRL got it together eventually to have the Indigenous All Stars play an appropriate team to partly ensure the event was the spectacle it should be.
However, until the game is played after the grand final, it will never truly become the celebration it deserves.
michael holland
Guest
I think the Indigenous All Stars game is a good idea & is at the right time as its a good opener to the season, Indigenous ironically is a word for first & I don't see a better way then to start the season off with two teams with equal pride & history fighting out on the football field, both teams will give it all they have & I believe it could become a success. The All Stars was ok but being non aboriginal I was confused as to who I should support as I like the Indigenous team to win but the game didn't have a meaning as the other team was just random players but now having two teams with the equal pride will be awesome to watch I'll be supporting the locals from OZ so this is Australia v New Zealand in reality as well. I would love to see the Indigenous team at some time tour Great Britain & Europe the only time I can see that is maybe in mid January & finish off with an All Stars game, The 2 All Stars teams or 1 team could play against Wales, Ireland, Scotland & Finish off with France, then Fly back to either Australia or New Zealand for the Indigenous All Stars game against each other, then give these players a few weeks rest before the season starts by giving them limited time during the trials or benching them until season start, That would be up to the clubs & players to decide I guess. If the All Stars could also take a U20's youth team with them on the tour to play it would be a great experience for young Indigenous youth to travel to Europe & play against teams from Europe & also promoting their culture to Europeans by displaying before the games would give a great spectacle for the audience with a lesson & a great game that fans would enjoy, just a thought I'm starting to believe that the NRL should take a month off during the mid season so the SoO is the focus of that month by having 3 stand alone weekends in a row with a pacific 4 nations competition involving Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, PNG played over a 4 weeks with the first round being played the same weekend as city & country 2 weeks before the SoO while New Zealand play a test series 3 weeks in a row maybe in the US in 3 different cities then the 4th weekend is rest time then back to season the next week after. To finish the year off with the world club challenge 2 weeks after the grand final Then a test series between Australia & the winner out of England & New Zealand while the loser plays the winner out of the Pacific 4 nations. The NRL should cut the season down to 20 rounds over a 26 week period & fill the gapes with International while clubs can rest there injuries & the club fans can build there apatite back up when the season gets back on the way. Example Rep Week #1 Fri night City v Country - Sat Tonga v Fiji - Samoa v PNG (play in their Countries) - then A league Grand final on Sunday 3 weeks later Rep Week #2 Sat Fiji v Samoa - PNG v Tonga Sunday morning game #1 England v New Zealand - Sunday night SoO game #1 with U20's & Women's state of Origin as a curtain raiser Rep Week #3 Sat Samoa v Tonga - PNG v Fiji Sunday morning - game #2 England v New Zealand - Sunday night SoO game #2 etc Rep week #4 Sat Pacific 4 Nations top 2 finalist - Sunday morning - game #3 England v New Zealand - Sunday night SoO game #3 etc Week #5 every body rest Week #6 Season commence round 11
Wal
Roar Guru
Players get injured at training, no one suggesting a ban on training. Preseason fixtures are played by clubs knowing the risks of injury.
Wal
Roar Guru
As a fellow middle-aged white guy, I'll stick my neck out. Most selection based teams are arbitrary in nature. The ties to culture are individual. As stated elsewhere for every withdrawal there will be a very proud indigenous player lining up. It would be very easy to argue ties to a culture that has been supplanted but stretches back hundreds or thousands of years, is far more valid than an imaginary state line. Or nations created in the last 200 years.
Westernred
Guest
Looking forward to the game. The gf is the apex of the season. Far more important than origin and only internationals should be played after it. Origin is for non rugby league supporters to entice them to the greatest game.
jimmmy
Guest
Exactly. This game will be a highlight of the pre season. Yeah there is a risk of injury . Just like the world club challenge. Just like the charity shield. Just like any other trial match. Enjoy it for what it is. A celbration of two different cultures that have given so much to RL. Sometimes Timmy your negativity is well , just too negative..
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Pro Bowl is just Mickey Mouse rubbish. It's pus. At least with the All Stars, the players are making it a proper contest. If it becomes anything like Pro Bowl, no one will watch it.
Nat
Roar Guru
I get where you're coming from but if this spectacle has an opportunity to survive/thrive we must give to a footy hungry audience, supported by it's best players who are itching to play. Injuries are a likely outcome in this game any other. However, I think moving it to the end of season will incur a higher attrition rate of players and would be playing 2nd fiddle the GF.
Tom Gibbs
Roar Rookie
Would also like to point out the Pro Bowl losing players get $39k and winners get $67k. That’s why those players don’t withdraw!! Unfortunately that’s how it is in sport now, put money on the table and they will play.
Tom Gibbs
Roar Rookie
I complete agree wth this. As an NR yragic who is also a sports nuff in the off-season, I’m really being on how NRL is scheduled and covered on TV etc. And I particularly love the two week build up to the SuperBowl with the Pro Bowl the week before, and also the NBA and NHL AllStars before playoffs. I also love the build on how players get voted in, particularly in NFL as more teams get eliminated from the competition. Furthermore, it just builds the anticipation leading to the Grand Final, which doesn’t seem to have the all day buildup on TV as I’ve seen with NFL and AFL, and I’d really like it two. I also love all the events during the week that they do in America in the lead up to Pro Bowl/All Stars, like the skills showdown, and the Dunk competition. Similarly with the WCC. As a Roosters fan, why can’t it just be at the end of the season when the teams are the same, and just like in NFL, whoever plays in that just becomes ineligible for AllStars. Just a thought.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But I can't wait to watch this match, because I am a desperate Rugby League tragic. And the off season is way too long for me ! I even watched three live Super League matches from England last week, I was so starved for my footy !
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah...poor choice of words on my part...I meant more along the lines of it’s less important what a middle aged white guy (me!) thinks or feels about the game than how the indigenous and Māori players and fans feel about the game. The Indigenous versus all stars games had more of a carnival and celebration feel to them than hard edged competitive games - which I know turned some people off but which I enjoyed at that time of year. I hope this doesn’t get too competitive...I don’t think that’s the intent of these games. Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed the Indigenous games over the years and I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Spot on Baz ! Whilst plenty want to ham up this "great concept' of dividing us up on race lines and sending us into battle as some sort of noble pursuit, I suspect the players mostly treat this as just a needed pre-season hit out, whilst the fans only excitement is that the game heralds the end of the far too long off-season ! Worrying about injuries is ridiculous as some will always occur every year , whether in this exhibition game or the couple of following club pre-season games, and if injury is avoided here, good luck getting through the first 3 rounds unscathed. Injuries will happen at anytime. If the game was moved to October, there would be even more withdrawals and just like the Pro Bowl would be another so so exhibition game for those who didn't have any better option at that time of year.
Birdy
Roar Rookie
There are so many games that should be played throughout the year .It would be an administration headache to do the right thing by everyone. In my opinion we must make internationals great again, we must increase the amount of games we play against PI nations including NZ. All this while moving our preseason games all around country Australia.. Playing the indigenous game in February or October will have its own pros and cons. If only 1 white kid buys an indigenous jersey or goes to the game and cheers for them, it should be considered a success . Bring it on.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi Tim, Your argument is flawed mate Two days after the All Stars match the Sydney Roosters take on Wigan in the World Club Challenge. Did you know that no team has ever travelled back from the UK and won the Premiership this century? We have this wonderful All Stars initiative, World Club Challenge, State of Origin that we all salivate over and the NRL Premiership. We are in the entertainment business and all these events are show pieces. Scheduling a month prior to NRL kick off is perfect. Enjoy it, should be some game. Forwards v backs!
Big Daddy
Guest
A lot of indigenous players put more stead in playing in the Koori knockout than playing in these All Star's matches. Surely there's some way that there can be a happy medium. Remember that in the Koori knockout they play for nothing so its not a money thing.
Peter Piper
Guest
"On the other hand, maybe I have no right to feel any way about it" You have every right to feel however you do about it, that is your right and your choice just like it is a players right to feel passionate about representing his culture. Personally, I find this match more interesting than the previous all stars concept and its silly voting process. Thank goodness that is gone. I may even pop down to Ammi Park and watch it.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I see where yup are coming from, but not playing the game in Feb due to risk of injury doesn't make sense. Players get injured all the time, next we'll have to call of the NRL in case players get injured. As fro end of season, well good luck pulling premiership winners out of GF celebrations to play this game. End of season, players are ready to wind down, get away from footy. I don't see many of them being to keen on this game. I'd say play it middle of the year but yup have indigenous players who could play Origin too. It's already a crowded schedule and until Origin is reduced to a one off game, these other types of fixtures will ways take a back seat.
Ants Pants
Guest
This is purely the NRL squeezing as much juice out of the lemon as they possibly can. A nothing game for a fair majority of fans , and as pointed out by Tim , it could be a catastrophic outcome for any given player. I also feel it has the potential of diluting the honour of playing for your country in the future. Which begs the question. Is this regarded as a representative game ? If not ,it seems a bit tokenistic.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Literally dozens (more) pull out of the NFL Pro Bowl game - played essentially at the end of the season. And those guys get paid. Infact if you win the Pro Bowl you get about $70,000 - more than if you lose the Superbowl. Yet the list of withdrawals is always long. There appears no perfect solution for games that are over and above a players club commitments.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It ain’t ever gonna happen in October either. The best players in the game have played semi final footy and are likely going into post season tests, they’re not going to shoehorn another game in there and there will be mass withdrawals if they do. Plus players go for their clean up surgeries to fix niggling injuries at that time of year. Players have withdrawn from test matches for that reason. I think the fixture would be just as impacted (if not more) by withdrawals in October than February.