Indigenous All Stars: A great concept that could be even better

Now that the men’s 2022 Indigenous All Stars versus Maori All Stars match has come and gone, with a 16 points to 10 victory to the Maori team, it’s an opportune time to review the concept, some of its history and how it could be improved in the future.

The Indigenous All Stars concept got off the ground in 2010 on the back of the success of the Indigenous Dreamtime team which played a NZ Maori line-up as a curtain raiser to the 2008 World Cup match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In a high scoring match, the Dreamtime team won the day 34-26, and a number of that team went on to represent the Indigenous All Stars in later years.

In 2010, Preston Campbell, one of the prime instigators of the concept, captained a star-studded team against the NRL All Stars, running out victors by 16 points to 12. The Indigenous All Stars matches have been held every year since 2010, with the exceptions of 2014 and 2018, but the opposition hasn’t always been the same.

The Indigenous team played the NRL All Stars from 2010 to 2013, and then again in 2015, then played the World All Stars in both 2016 and 2017, and have been playing against the Maori All Stars since 2019.

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

In the 11 games played to date, the Indigenous team has emerged victorious on five occasions, with their biggest wins being 32-6 against the NRL All Stars in 2013 and 34-8 against the World All Stars in 2017, while their biggest defeat was 28-12 at the hands of the NRL All Stars in 2011. The 2021 game resulted in a 10-all draw.

The Preston Campbell Medal is awarded to the player of the match and decided by public vote, and it’s probably no surprise that Johnathan Thurston is the only player to have won this medal twice.

Nearly 90 players have worn the Indigenous All Stars jersey since 2010 and they include some of the best in the business like Greg Inglis, Thurston and Greg Bird, but there’s also been a number of lesser-known players who you may have forgotten, including Beau Champion (2010), Ben Jones (2010), Joel Moon (2011), Joel Romelo (2013), Jake Foster (2013), Kieran Moseley (2015), Tyson Andrews (2015), and Zac Saddler (2020).

The unavailability of star players each year has always been an issue for the team, often resulting in them calling on lesser-known players like these to make up the numbers, a prime example of this being the selection of the virtually unknown and untested Shaquai Mitchell in the 2022 team.

To illustrate the strength of the Indigenous All Stars team when they’re able to choose from all of their eligible players, here’s what I believe to be the best of the best of those who have represented the team since 2010:

1. Matt Bowen
2. Dane Gagai
3. Greg Inglis
4. Latrell Mitchell
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Johnathan Thurston
7. Scott Prince
8. Andrew Fifita
9. Connor Watson
10. Sam Thaiday
11. Wade Graham
12. David Fifita
13. Greg Bird
14. Preston Campbell
15. Carl Webb
16. Ryan James
17. Joel Thompson

That’s an awesome side that would give any opposition a run for their money. The strength of the side is underlined by looking through the players who were eligible, but missed out.

Players like Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Jharal Yow Yeh, Blake Ferguson, Justin Hodges, Timana Tahu, Jack Wighton, Alex Johnston, Will Chambers, Tyrone Peachey, James Roberts, Jack Bird, Kotoni Staggs, and Corey Thompson. Enough for another quality line-up.

The Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars games are an important part of the rugby league calendar, and a great opportunity for players to represent their culture, history and families, but if it’s going to be played, it should be given the importance it deserves, with everything done to ensure that the best of the best take the field each year.

Anything less than that cheapens both the game of rugby league and the Indigenous selection concept.