Playing in an ‘All Stars’ game is seen as the pinnacle of recognition for professional athletes, but for Australia’s proud Indigenous rugby players, it means a lot more than just highlighting individual talent. This recognition runs through their blood and into history, so you can expect to see emotions running high in tomorrow night’s match.
Clear your evening’s schedule, because Commbank Stadium in Sydney will host the annual Harvey Norman All Stars game for the first time on Saturday February 12, 2022.
The event features the Indigenous All Stars against the Māori All Stars across three games – men’s rugby league, women’s rugby league and touch football.
Last year the men’s game ended in a 10 all draw, while the Māori All Stars women scored a thumping 24-0 victory over their Indigenous rivals.
The men’s All Stars match was established in 2010 by former Dally M medalist Preston Campbell. For seven matches the game featured the NRL’s best Indigenous players against the world’s best NRL players.
New Canterbury Bulldogs recruit and Indigenous All Stars captain Josh Addo-Carr believes the game is a way to educate the public about Indigenous culture and he wants to help put an end to racism and the suffering of future generations of Indigenous children.
The flying winger received wide-spread praise in the 2020 All Stars game after his tribute to St Kilda great Nicky Winmar, who lifted his jersey to point at the colour of his skin with pride and passion in response to racist abuse from the crowd during his career.
“It’s just educating younger generations to show we are a beautiful culture. We are human, like everyone else,” Addo-Carr told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“It’s about educating about a culture that was taken away from us. We have it on the big stage now where we can show everyone how beautiful our culture is and how much it means to us.”
Gold Coast Titans and Indigenous All Stars forward David Fifita is leading a new, younger generation of Indigenous talent after the baton was passed down from Indigenous legends such as Preston Campbell, Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges.
“It’s a privilege to play in these type of games, to represent my mum’s heritage and my nan and make them proud. To do it with a mad group of boys, I’m really looking forward to it,” Fifita said.
Fifita believes the Indigenous All Stars team is a special group of players who are all proud of their culture.
“I’ve been in camp for a few years now. We’re different to other cultures. We’re a proud culture, both Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander. Our bond, our laughter, is what brings us together and we play a different kind of footy to other people.”
For some players, the chance to represent the Indigenous All Stars is a career highlight and is the ‘biggest game of the year.’
Former Parramatta Eels utility and current Titans player Will Smith, a proud Anawain and Gumbaynggirr man, said by playing in the game he had the chance to honour “my family, my culture, my people, where I’m from and the next generation” of Indigenous Australians.
“It’s the biggest game for myself and I know that a lot of other Indigenous players would say the same thing. For me, it’s the biggest game of the year,” Smith said.
“To get named in this team, I’m excited. It’s a privilege. I can’t wait.”
Neither can we, Smith.
