The Indigenous All-Stars and Maori All-Stars are back to open the 2021 rugby league season at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in North Queensland. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:10pm (AEDT).
It seems like just yesterday we said goodbye to the 2020 season, after Covid pushed the Telstra Premiership and State of Origin series into November. Now we are back, for hopefully a more stable and “Covid-Normal”, rugby league season that starts with the best Indigenous and Maori players of our game doing battle for the third time.
With the All-Stars concept undergoing a revamp in 2019, the ledger for this one sits one apiece. The Indigenous All-Stars claimed the first win in 2019 in Melbourne, running out 34-14 winners. Last season the Maori hit back on the Gold Coast, coming home with a wet sail to win 30-16, three tries in the last ten minutes.
As it did last year, Covid has affected this one, with seven Melbourne players forced to withdraw after being denied access to Queensland after the Victorian outbreak of the last week. Fan favourite Josh Addo-Carr can’t travel north for the Indigenous All-Stars, but the toll is far greater for the Maori side. The Bromwich brothers, Jahrome Hughes, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Brandon and Reimis Smith have are all out for the Maori.
This game will mark Latrell Mitchell’s return from injury after missing the end of last season for South Sydney, lining up at fullback for the Indigenous side. It will be a good indication of where he is at ahead of the NRL season, a year on from his first appearance in the number one jersey. The Indigenous side has plenty of attacking options in Blake Ferguson, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker and Alex Johnston. They have some variety in the forwards, with Tyrone Peachey and David Fifita dynamic forwards who should be primed for a big season. They may be a little light on for size though, with only two forwards on the bench, they are going to need big numbers from starters Andrew Fifita and Josh Kerr.
The Maori have done their best to cover their losses. They will be looking for a big game from their dynamic halves pairing in Jarome Luai and Benji Marshall. Two players in opposite phases of their career, Marshall in the twilight of his, while Luai is coming of the heights of grand final in his first full season for the Panthers. They need these two providing for the likes of Dylan Walker, Joey Manu and Dallin Watene-Zelzniak out wide, all talented individuals. Their forward pack is similarly dynamic, but with very little experience of the bench, they too will need big numbers from starting props Russell Packer and James Fisher-Harris.
Prediction
This is such a positive way to start the season. This match is always full of colour and culture, with both sides happy to have some fun in the contest, but also compete hard in the name of their heritage. Both matches so far have been free-flowing and high scoring. It is shame that we aren’t seeing some of the biggest stars, with such a short turnaround between seasons, and border restrictions coming into play, but you can expect every player for these two sides to play with passion and pride.
The Indigenous side looks a bit stronger on paper, especially across their backline. The key for them will be a big game from Latrell Mitchell, and Cody Walker doing his thing against tiring forwards late in each half as the warm conditions generate fatigue. But the combination of Marshall and Luai for the Maori is a likeable one. If they can gel and control the game they will go a long way to winning this one. Luai had more try assists than Nathan Cleary last year, but also needs to use his footwork which can be so devastating. Marshall will be treating this very much like a swansong withe curtain coming down on his career.
This will be a closely run thing as both sides go at it in the first proper hit out for the year. I’ll tip the Indigenous side with no real confidence, getting home late.
Indigenous All-Stars by 4.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:10pm (AEDT).
Kick-off: 8:10pm (AEDT)
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
TV: Nine, Fox League
Online: Kayo
Odds: Indigenous $1.50, Maori $2.50
Indigenous
Latrell Mitchell, Blake Ferguson, Jack Wighton, Jesse Ramien, Josh Addo-Carr, Cody Walker, Jamal Fogarty, Andrew Fifita, Reuben Cotter, Josh Kerr, David Fifita, Wade Graham, Tyrone Peachey, Alex Johnston, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Cade Cust, Chris Smith, Tyrell Fuimaono, Josh Curran, Brian Kelly
Maori
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Joseph Manu, Dylan Walker, Reimis Smith, Jarome Luai, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse Bromwich, Brandon Smith, James Fisher-Harris, Briton Nikora, Kenneath Bromwich, Joseph Tapine, Jeremy Marshall-King, Kevin Proctor, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jordan Riki, Patrick Herbert, Bailey Simonsson, Benji Marshall
Kobi
Guest
Latell's best footy was as a centre with the Roosters. Robinson giving him the flick has been proven the right move going by Mitchell's form since moving to souths. Did next to nothing in the allstars game.
Big Daddy
Guest
Jack, you beat me to the punch. This new wave of commentator lacks the Charisma of a Peter Sterling . I think CH 9 missed the boat by not including an indigenous person and a Maori in actually calling the match. We get drip fed Fittler and Andrew John's asking stupid questions . I think CH 9 need to review their whole commentary team as they don't pass muster anymore.
G Len N
Roar Rookie
Correct. Poorly rehearsed similar questions phrased slightly different asked of each interviewee. It’s annoying.
Big Daddy
Guest
Yeah Nat it really was. Just watching Dallin Watene- Zelezniak speak and it was really refreshing to hear him speaking so respectfully about the culture from both sides. Hopefully we can overcome COVID and play this match in NZ sometime in the future.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Not the high scoring game we have seen in previous fixtures, with only 20 points, and 3 tries scored tonight. A draw probably felt like a fitting result. The Maori had plenty of possession, particularly in the first half but rarely looked like scoring, in the end getting one of their tries off an intercept. The Indigenous side got their only try through a neat Latrell Mitchell kick, who never really got into the game how we would have wanted. It wasn't the fast, dry track conducive to the attacking footy we have seen from these teams in the past. They both seemed reluctant to adapt to the conditions and that probably told on the scoreboard. In the end the Indigenous would take a late shot at goal to lock the scores up after an obvious penalty was given away by James Fisher-Harris. Maybe unaware that Golden Point wasn't to follow, you would think that maybe they should have just pressed for the try with a minute left on the clock and nothing to lose. It was a solid first hit out for the season, without much to write home about. It did show that we can expect a quicker product though with less scrums, and more set restarts very noticeable throughout the contest that did also have quarter time breaks. James Fisher-Harris collects the Preston Campbell for best on ground in what was a solid display from the Panthers forward. All in all this game is more than just footy in representing the cultures that are significant in our game every week and the players that belong to it. While not an absolute classic it does raise the curtain on what will hopefully be a more stable season to come
Nat
Roar Guru
15yrs of footy is adequate training.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Not the dry track they would have been after for the game to open up. Good to be back nonetheless, but looking forward to some better games in a few weeks
Nat
Roar Guru
A great game as a representation of culture. Conditions were telling on quality but it's good to watch some footy. :thumbup:
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Doesn't take much to pass for a commentator on Channel Nine does it?
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
Full Time It ends in a draw in Townsville Maori - 10 Indigenous - 10
Panana split
Roar Rookie
That was the dumbest sequence of plays from the Maori.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
80' Maori go long. Indigenous will only get a play or two here. Fergo with a big run, followed up by Wighton. Peachey takes a run but can't find space. Last play. Mitchell gets a quick away but the Maori come up with it and will be caught. It ends in a draw Indigenous: 10 Maori: 10
Joe
Roar Rookie
Wow, both Panthers with brain explosions in the final minutes might gift this to the indegenous. Luai for the kick out on 3rd tackle with 3 mins on the clock than JFH gives away the penalty.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
79' PENALTY GOAL - INDIGENOUS Indigenous taking the kick, but with no Golden Point we have less than a minute to find a winner or it will end in a draw Indigenous: 10 Maori: 10
Rob
Guest
Masters still got some work to do on making a 1 on 1 tackle?
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
79' Fifita rumbles up field. Deep in Maori territory now as Wighton is tackled. Cust goes himself but is handled easily. The Maori are offside and give away the penalty. Indigenous: 8 Maori: 10
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
78' Only a few minutes left now for the Indigenous to snatch it. Luai kicks early but it is out on the full and the Indigenous will get a chance here. Indigenous: 8 Maori: 10
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
76' Peachey comes up with the ball from the short drop-out. Ramien with space down the right and the play is on but the ball slips out of his hands as he looks for support back on the inside Indigenous: 8 Maori: 10
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
75' Curran down injured from the effort. The Maori play it on the last with Marshall kicking for CNK who can't get there but Wighton is tackled in goal and the Maori get another set. Indigenous: 8 Maori: 10
Nat
Roar Guru
Broken rib?