All Stars clash: Playing footy for your family's blood

Dave , your completely within your rights to have zero interest in the game. I was interested enough to check the final score last night , but that’s about it . Wal , “ we’ve celebrated white male culture long enough”? Really ? Sounds like something being chanted at an antifa meeting.

Well put Barry. Always enjoy your analysis!

That’s all well and good but last time I checked the roar is an Aussie site, im not particularly interested in what the kiwis think about their own....but good for you. And the match probably will outrank some warriors games, there’s a hell of a lot of chances to watch the warriors and only one to watch the Maori, id be surprised if it doesn’t It’s just the way I personally feel, and obviously a hell of a lot of other aussies of various backgrounds do too. I just don’t care for it and I’m not particularly interested in it

I have to disagree, most New Zealanders are fiercely proud of the Maori culture and history. I'll bet the match out rates a fair few of Warriors games in NZ this season. And there is no reason every Australian shouldn't feel the same about the oldest continuous culture on the planet. The indigenous people are Australian people and should be embraced as such not a "Niche" market.

I think the problem is you've got such a niche market that are emotionally invested in this game, even people who enjoy rugby league for the game it is dont REALLY care about it. On top of that, at its base level its also not very inclusive, if you aren't part of these two races you cant be included in the game "sorry" as opposed to an international fixture where everyone in the country can "theoretically" get amongst it and feel connected to the team, whether they are actually Australian citizens or just living here.

Great article. Can’t wait for the game. The missus went out and bought a pair of rabbit-ears today so we can get TV reception for it! (And the BBL final.)

Not at all mate - all good! “Whilst I understand the point about including Maori, it perhaps also strengthens the celebration by including another indigenous culture” That’s absolutely how I hope it goes.

Cheers Barry Apologies if my post came across as an attack, wasn’t intended that way at all. Whilst I understand the point about including Maori, it perhaps also strengthens the celebration by including another indigenous culture. A general celebration of original peoples. Whilst I agree NZ have perhaps progressed further there is still a long way to go, and I think both nations could learn a lot from each other in how to best embrace cultural celebration. Perhaps in the future, this could become a doubleheader with a Samoan, Tongan match as these 2 cultures have also added significantly to the NRL

I haven’t suggested at all that conventional rep selection means more than selection in these teams. I can completely understand how representing indigenous or Maori teams would be far more meaningful than NSW or Qld or Australia. I think there are differences between picking a team based on race than along conventional lines. Not better. Not worse. Different. In the past we’ve had players of English, Tongan, Samoan, PNG, Italian, Lebanese, Irish, Scottish, etc heritage that wont be taking part in this game. I think the fixture is the poorer for that. I’m not suggesting celebrating white male culture either. I love this fixture. I’m not indigenous but in the past I’ve cheered for either team based on how much I like the players selected. I’ve never been ferociously for or against either team. That’s fine for me for a preseason fixture but it seems there’s plenty of people that need more from a game of footy than that. The game has been a great opportunity to put indigenous culture from and centre. I don’t think we do that very often and I think NZ are far more progressive and progressed than we are in recognising and celebrating their indigenous people. I could be wrong but to me it feels like that celebration of our indigenous culture is diluted by playing against another indigenous selection as opposed to all comers. I’m not suggesting at all that I have the right in the slightest (and that’s unusual for me!) just comparing how I feel about this new version of the fixture versus the old one. Anyway, I hope it’s a cracking game and you enjoy it.

Well done James, good article. The chance for people to represent their culture in events like this one ( and the match you played in.) can only be a positive. I don’t get the negativity. You can be as Australian as vegemite but still take pride in your ancestral culture. The Maori and indigenous cultures are strongly represented in the NRL so let’s all celebrate o I can’t wait for the game myself. The first footy game of 2019. That can only be a good thing.

Whilst I completely get your point of view, I posted in an earlier article (I think in reply to you). Any selection team is arbitrary in its process. Why should a NSW v QLD team mean any more than a Maori or Indigenous? Selection on race is no less troublesome than selection on a state of birth. As you rightly point out a "White" team has some real issues but likewise, for some Indigenous peoples, Australia, NZ, NSW, QLD are all Euro-imposed boundaries with far less meaning. As for the celebration part, I think we have celebrated white male culture long enough that giving some others a bit of look in can hardly be a bad thing.

I don't understand the negativity to be honest. I find this game much more interesting than say Gold Coast v Penrith or Newcastle v Wests in the bowels of winter. That's not a knock at all on those clubs or their supporters, but half the NRL games, who really cares. The sport should revel in the fact that it has an opportunity to play these sort of games.

Rabbits winning 2019 calling it now

Yeah...there’s been some horrific things written about this game on social media this week. Looking forward to a great game and really to me it’s more important how indigenous and Maori fans and players feel about the game than I do.

I made a comment along those lines here recently. I’m not sure if it’s my comment you’re referring to but you’ve missed the mark of why. There’s no questioning the pride involved or what it means for players to represent their culture. I’ve always been a huge supporter of the all stars fixture. I don’t think we do anywhere enough to celebrate indigenous culture and put it at the forefront. That’s what the indigenous all stars game gave us. It wasn’t just about the 80 minutes on the park - it was the week leading up to the fixture where indigenous culture was celebrated. So I feel that making it an indigenous v Maori game dilutes that celebration a little bit. I’m certainly not saying Maori culture doesn’t deserve to be celebrated - I just don’t know that it needed to be part of this. I don’t know that it needs or warrants as much attention from Australians as putting indigenous culture front and centre. I accept a lot of people feel differently to that. Fine. People have complained that the result didn’t matter. Or there has been a lack of intensity. I don’t think that’s a weakness for this sort of game. This is about celebration not about creating a ferocious rivalry. I’m overall not comfortable with the idea or the merits of race v race in a competitive sport environment. I saw some boofhead post on social media this week that we should have a “Anglo” team and a “pacific island” team. Obviously meant as a “joke” but if the fixture was mooted as a “white Australian” vs indigenous game I suggest we’d be far less comfortable. Like it or not, there is an exclusive element to this fixture. In previous iterations of the all star game we’ve had players from many backgrounds taking part to celebrate indigenous Australians. That seems like a better concept to me than a specific race v race game. Congrats on getting the opportunity to play for the Thai team...sounds awesome but representing a nation is different from a race v race game. Not better. Not worse. Different. Anyway. I’m still looking forward to this fixture - always have. I just have a couple of tiny concerns in the back of my mind about the format that I’ve never had before. I’m also going in with an open mind. I loce the passion of the indigenous players and fans. But you can’t say that players and fans showed any passion about the all stars team. The excitement could increase exponentially with two sets of passionate players and fans...