Commentators provided by the ABC Grandstand commentary team of David Morrow, Gerry Collins, Tim Gavel and Quentin Hull.
Venue: Skilled Park, Robina
Referee/s: Jason Robinson, Ashley Klein, Gerard Sutton, Phil Haines
Man of the Match: Nathan Merritt (Preston Campbell Medal)
Final score: NRL All Stars 36 - 28 Indigenous All Stars.
The concept first floated by former Gold Coast star and proud Aboriginal Preston Campbell back in 2009. Now in its third year with one win apiece following the NRL side’s 28-12 success in 2011 (the Indigenous side won 16-12 in 2010), this year’s fixture takes on even greater significance following the announcement that they will be competing for the new Arthur Beetson Trophy. Beetson, who passed away on December 1 after suffering a heart attack, was the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport, is rated among the game’s finest ever forwards and was arguably the man most responsible for sparking the huge success of State of Origin football following his passionate display for Queensland in the first game back in 1980.
This year’s All Stars game will see a raft of new rules and interpretations trialled for the first time in what shapes as a fascinating subplot. They are:
• The ‘Power Play’;
• Tackle count restarted for infringements in the play-the-ball; and
• 20/50 kicks.
The Power Play, designed to encourage attack, is by far the most ambitious of the new rules. A Power Play can be used at any stoppage of play and when taken by the side in possession will see the defending side forced to drop two players from the field of play for a period of five minutes or until a try is scored. Only one side can use their power play at any one time – and the defending side will nominate which two players they banish to the sideline. Each team has one Power Play available per half (a total of two each during the game).
The other notable rule to be trialled will see the match officials signal six again (starting on the zero tackle) rather than stopping play when a differential penalty is called against the defending team in the tackle. This means that if a player holds down for too long, or pulls the leg of the man playing the ball, play will simply continue with the tackle count returning to zero. The basic premise here is to reduce stoppages, while tired defenders won’t be able to regroup by deliberately giving away a penalty. (This rule does not apply to foul play, dropped ball situations or when the attacking team infringes.)
The 20/50 rule is simply a new take on the 40/20 rule – allowing kickers to earn the scrum feed from deeper within their own territory (Organisers originally planned a 20/40 rule but this was tweaked after experimentation at training). In what is an exciting innovation for this year’s game, match officials will be able to explain the new rules to the crowd over Skilled Park’s PA system while the game is in progress.
Indigenous All Stars Team:
Ben Barba (Bulldogs; Goreng Goreng)
Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos; Margany)
Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs; Dunghutti)
Justin Hodges (Broncos; Indigenous tribes of the Cairns region)
Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs; Wiradjuri)
Johnathan Thurston – captain (Cowboys; Gungarri)
Chris Sandow (Eels; Bigambul/ Gubbi Gubbi)
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders; Indigenous tribes of Tweed area)
Travis Waddell (Raiders; Torres Strait: Badulaig)
George Rose (Sea Eagles; Kamilaroi)
Sam Thaiday (Broncos; Torres Strait: Iama (Yam Island)
Jamal Idris (Titans; Worimi)
Greg Bird (Titans; Kamilaroi)
Interchange:
Andrew Fifita (Sharks; Wiradjuri)
Cory Paterson (Cowboys; Indigenous tribes of the Blue Mountains region)
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys; Binthi and Dhaarrba)
Scott Prince (Titans; Kalkadoon)
Anthony Mitchell (Roosters; Waka Waka)
Joel Thompson (Raiders; Wiradjuri)
Nathan Peats (Rabbitohs; Biripi nation)
Coach: Laurie Daley (Wiradjuri)
NRL All Stars Team:
Josh Dugan (Raiders)
Jason Nightingale (Dragons)
Jack Reed (Broncos)
Michael Jennings (Panthers)
Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
Benji Marshall – Captain (Wests Tigers)
Cooper Cronk (Storm)
Kade Snowden (Knights)
Aaron Payne (Cowboys)
Luke Bailey (Titans)
Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels)
David Taylor (Rabbitohs)
Paul Gallen (Sharks)
Interchange:
Adam Blair (Wests Tigers)
Frank Pritchard (Bulldogs)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
Brent Tate (Cowboys)
Luke Lewis (Panthers)
Nathan Fien (Dragons)
Coach: Wayne Bennett