All-Stars Thread

[tommy]

Well with Maranta out, a Bronco will replace him and it seems Thurston is pulling out alongside with Farah.

Why is Thurston pulling out . He has always said what a great honour it is to play for and represent his people.

 

[GCBRONCO]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/188d9cd7d77e0b0b45b6876357e0e71a

THE Indigenous All Stars have copped a hit with star halfback Johnathan Thurston withdrawing from the match.
Thurston has opted to focus his energy on the World Club Challenge the Cowboys will play in the following week in England.
Thurston collected his fourth Dally M Medal last year on his way to leading North Queensland to its historic first premiership.
The 32-year-old has represented the Indigenous All Stars fives time and said he was disappointed to miss the Suncorp Stadium clash on February 13.
“I will always have great affection for the All Stars match and I am already aiming to be back for next year’s game,” he said.

“But this is a unique opportunity to win the World Club Challenge and I want to do all I can to help the Cowboys achieve that goal.”

Greg Inglis has been named captain of the Indigenous All Stars in place of Thurston.
“It’s an incredible honour to captain the Indigenous All Stars,” Inglis said.
“It is always a special time for me — not only is the game itself something to remember but the week is always a highlight.
“Whilst it’s unfortunate that ‘JT’ won’t be out there with us, I fully understand his decision to add the World Club Challenge to his resume.”

 

[Unbreakable]

The Indigenous All Stars squad is now as follows:

1. Greg Inglis - South Sydney Rabbitohs
2. Alex Johnston - South Sydney Rabbitohs
3. Will Chambers - Melbourne Storm
4. James Roberts - Brisbane Broncos
5. Dane Gagai - Newcastle Knights
6. Ben Barba - Cronulla Sharks
7. Tyrone Roberts - Gold Coast Titans
8. Ryan James - Gold Coast Titans
9. Ray Thompson - North Queensland Cowboys
10. Sam Thaiday - Brisbane Broncos
11. Greg Bird - Gold Coast Titans
12. Joel Thompson - St George Illawarra Dragons
13. Chris Grevsmuhl - South Sydney Rabbitohs

14. Andrew Fifita - Cronulla Sharks
15. Tyrone Peachey - Penrith Panthers
16. Edrick Lee - Canberra Raiders
17. Jack Wighton - Canberra Raiders
18. Craig Garvey - Canterbury Bulldogs
19. Jamie Soward - Penrith Panthers
20. Wade Graham - Cronulla Sharks

Ben Barba starting over Soward is a good laugh.

 

[Super Freak]

That halves combo..

Bahaha.

 

[Rhino1001]

Anyone know who's replacing Maranta?

 

[Super Freak]

Adam Reynolds, (South Sydney), Jeremy Smith (Newcastle Knights), Michael Ennis (Cronulla Sharks), Jordan Kahu (Brisbane Broncos) and Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers) have been added to the World All Stars squad ahead of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars, at Suncorp Stadium on February 13.

They will replace Trent Hodkinson, Tyson Frizell, Robbie Farah, Lachlan Maranta and Sam Burgess, who have withdrawn from the match.

Paul Gallen has been shifted to lock in place of Sam Burgess, with Tom Burgess promoted to the front-row from the interchange bench.

The World All Stars squad is now as follows:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - Warriors
2. Semi Radradra - Eels
3. Jarrod Croker - Raiders
4. Josh Morris - Bulldogs
5. Antonio Winterstein - Cowboys
6. Gareth Widdop - Dragons
7. Adam Reynolds - Rabbitohs
8. James Graham - Bulldogs
9. Cameron Smith - Storm
10. Tom Burgess - Rabbitohs
11. Jeremy Smith - Knights
12. Simon Mannering - Warriors
13. Paul Gallen - Sharks
14. Michael Ennis - Sharks
15. Kane Evans - Roosters
16. Jordan Kahu - Broncos
17. Chris Lawrence - Wests Tigers
18. Nene Macdonald - Titans
19. Trent Merrin - Panthers
20. Martin Taupau - Sea Eagles

Kahu Added To World All Stars - Broncos

 

[Huge]

Some five years( maybe six )ago when the indigenous game was started I forecast that it would only last 3 or 4 years and then the coaches would start to restrict players entering fearing losses in a pointless game. I wasn't exactly right, it has lasted longer than I thought but the recent rumblings about it seem to indicate it's imminent demise. I think the reasons given are not in line with my thoughts either but seem to be about the financial side of things.

I didn't like it particularly as I wasn't in favour of an event that was race based and couldn't think of another event that was based on race. Perhaps there is and I'm ignorant of its existence. Irrespective of my thoughts the future of the game is certainly clouded.

 

[Sproj]

Yeah I live in Melbourne so it is hard to gauge but from my circle of friends who live in the more enlightened northern states, this game has about no one caring about it.

 

[tommy]

People only watch it because it's the off season . If it was on in the regular season no one would bother.

 

[Mitch06]

Regretting buying tickets for this. Jeremy Smith, Chris Lawerence and Nene are starting.

 

[Dash]

Some five years( maybe six )ago when the indigenous game was started I forecast that it would only last 3 or 4 years and then the coaches would start to restrict players entering fearing losses in a pointless game. I wasn't exactly right, it has lasted longer than I thought but the recent rumblings about it seem to indicate it's imminent demise. I think the reasons given are not in line with my thoughts either but seem to be about the financial side of things.

I didn't like it particularly as I wasn't in favour of an event that was race based and couldn't think of another event that was based on race. Perhaps there is and I'm ignorant of its existence. Irrespective of my thoughts the future of the game is certainly clouded.

New Zealand regularly do a Maori side in Union.

 

[Big Pete]

People only watch it because it's the off season . If it was on in the regular season no one would bother.

You could say that about any form of Rugby League that isn't State of Origin. Even then, that had plenty of doubt surrounding it during it's initial few years.

There's a lot of issues surrounding the fixture. Too much pre-season football, selfish clubs, mickey mouse rules, neither side really delivering entertaining football etc. etc.

The initial fixture was fine, but if the NRL wanted to make it an annual event, they needed to do more with the All-Stars line-up. Having Wayne pick the players gave us too many players nobody really wanted to see play (Gidley...) and I think it would have been better if you truly made it the World All-Stars and picked players from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, US, Ireland, Canada, Wales, France etc. etc.

If you play that in a region that doesn't get a whole lot of footy and use it to help out the Indigenous community, I believe it'd be a good event for everyone involved. At least that way, neutral supporters can recognise that it isn't about them and can see the impact the game is having.

Or probably not. Sports fans are generally selfish.

Then again, I believe the NRL could always do more with the Indigenous community. I love the programs the Broncos and Rabbitohs run and would love to see them get more attention as well as all the hard-work ex-players like David Peachey and Dean Widders put into helping those struggling communities.

 

[Dexter]

The Indigenous All Stars squad is now as follows:

1. Greg Inglis - South Sydney Rabbitohs
2. Alex Johnston - South Sydney Rabbitohs
3. Will Chambers - Melbourne Storm
4. James Roberts - Brisbane Broncos
5. Dane Gagai - Newcastle Knights
6. Ben Barba - Cronulla Sharks
7. Tyrone Roberts - Gold Coast Titans
8. Ryan James - Gold Coast Titans
9. Ray Thompson - North Queensland Cowboys
10. Sam Thaiday - Brisbane Broncos
11. Greg Bird - Gold Coast Titans
12. Joel Thompson - St George Illawarra Dragons
13. Chris Grevsmuhl - South Sydney Rabbitohs

14. Andrew Fifita - Cronulla Sharks
15. Tyrone Peachey - Penrith Panthers
16. Edrick Lee - Canberra Raiders
17. Jack Wighton - Canberra Raiders
18. Craig Garvey - Canterbury Bulldogs
19. Jamie Soward - Penrith Panthers
20. Wade Graham - Cronulla Sharks

Ben Barba starting over Soward is a good laugh.

This bloke is indigenous? never would have guessed. Even his name should exclude him from the team

 

[Alec]

So the Indigenies have 2, arguably even 3 players on the bench who are better halves than the starting ones. Possibly all better hookers too.

 

[Nashy]

Are there others like me, who just can't, no matter how hard they try to, give a stuff about this game?

 

[Clintos]

Are there others like me, who just can't, no matter how hard they try to, give a stuff about this game?

Yup!

 

[tommy]

Yeah if it's so important to the indigenous couldn't they just do Koori vs Murri or something?

 

[Huge]

The qualification issue is a pretty emotive one and everyone probably has an opinion. No doubt mine will be at odds with many others. I think there should be a cutoff and the poor excuse that someone 'identifies' with a race should not be accepted. Being one sixty fourth aboriginal ( in this case ) and identifying with the aboriginal race is nowhere near enough reason to qualify. It is a form of racism within itself as it is rejection of the 63/64 part that makes up the whole person. It is plainly ridiculous. That is just my opinion and in no way am I being racist or trying to be racist or implying that there is anything wrong with being aboriginal.

Each case should be considered on its merits. For example, a person may have no aboriginal blood at all but be raised from birth within the aboriginal community and in that case, identifying as aboriginal has a reasonable basis. In a different case, a person may discover ,when a fully grown adult that five generations ago their great great great grandfather or mother had a relationship and there is a tiny part of aboriginal heritage there in the dna. Perhaps this person never had any other contact with the aboriginal community and was a combination of Greek, Italian, Polish, Irish, Welsh and Spanish ...in this case, no, in my opinion they shouldn't qualify..anyway. It's something to think about before a ball is kicked in earnest !!