Is the All Stars game now officially a joke??

[joshreading]

Whilst I am still a little skeptical on some grounds the positives for indigenous football and wider is clear. The football was great. I have sooooo been hanging out for the footy, cricket is killing me (and don't mention soccer)

Could the concept be expanded wider?

 

[StormChaser]

Fantastic start to the season and totally shone a light on the NRL's most talented players and why the fans love this game so much. Well done everyone involved.

 

[Hindyscrack]

Had a great morning, not a bad stream from the NRL site plugged straight into the plasma... sweet sounds of rabs back on the TV.

Was impressed with the intesity of the football, if the quality lacked at times.

Great concept, orchestrated by one of the best in the Business (M.Searle... real sports businessman)

PS Preston Cambell you're a champ... And the Dell, I hated you in the maroon and at the broncos but you're now a champ in my books. The game needs more characters like you!

 

[Loudstrat]

Saw bits and pieces of the game as I was out at a kids barbie. What I saw (apart from the f*cking stupid second chance try crap) was quality stuff. Reminded me of City v Country.

Another filip for Rugby League. Next year - piss off the stupid rules and make it fair dinkum.

Congrats to all involved.

 

[Cerne Abbas Giant]

Didn't watch the game, but did the Allstars put in a half-hearted effort?

 

[Eelectrica]

Bet the AFL do it within a year or two then claim they created it!

 

[Serc]

Was at the game, Indigenous team was very heavily supported...and Dell brought the house down with that try early in the game!

Feeling I got from the people around me was that it was a great concept. Only thing that I really didn't like was the silliness from the NRL All Stars every time when they went for the double try, first time was funny but after that they should've tried something a little more serious!

 

[natheel]

i think its a good concept.....NFL gridiron has a similar thing but they have it as the 2 point conversion....but i doubt this concept will wokr in NRL though

 

[fourplay]

Didn't watch the game, but did the Allstars put in a half-hearted effort?

Most of the All-star players particularly Sam Burgess tried their guts out and you could see the fire that they were playing with.

Then their was Cameron Smith who had a smile on his face every time the camera was on him. It looked like he was just out there for a laugh and a bit of exercise.

 

[Willow]

Its another PR stunt to make non-indigenous people feel good about themselves.

Load of rubbish.

Didn't watch the game

Surprise, surprise...

----------------

I went to the game and saw a tremendous event. 26,000 people, fantastic atmosphere.

The defence from the Indigenous side won them the game. Apart from the third quarter, they were rock solid. At times I had to remind myself that it was just an exhibition match. Both sides were giving it to each other. A few dust ups towards the end and stakes went up. Would love to see it become an annual event.

The crowd was right into it. At one point a chant of 'Dream Time' went up in the southern stand behind the goal posts, and this moved into the south-eastern stand for a brief period. It showed that the nickname was adopted and this team had serious barrackers. Lots of merchandise was sold.

Overall, a great advertisement for rugby league... and a top game of rugby league... and a positive step towards the bigger picture of reconciliation.

 

[100%green]

What a fantastic game and a awesome concept. It's really great for our game.

I can't understand anyone not loving it. But there will always be those who love to complain.

Next year I would scrap the double try. Good idea but just not right for the game.

Also have a Rookie All Star game for the Toyota Cup players.

Wouldn't mind seeing a celebrity Oz Tag game for the fans to. Could be a great days coverage for Fox Sports.

I think this has real potential and will be a great asset to the game.

Congrats to all involved.

Also for all those questioning the NRL teams desire in the game, go back and watch it. Most of the team busted their backsides in the game. Also it's a pre season game, relax.

 

[fourplay]

It's interesting how differently The SMH report the game to the Daily Telegraph in their headline story.

SMH opening paragraph:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ious-beginning-20100213-nymc.html?autostart=1
Indigenous win marks ferocious beginning

Indigenous All Stars 16 NRL All Stars 12 Thirty years ago, an hour's drive up the road from the Gold Coast at Lang Park, a punch by Arthur Beetson on his Parramatta clubmate Mick Cronin gave fire-breathing birth to State of Origin. The NRL All Stars concept has arrived with similar unbridled ferocity, with a thundering tackle from Newcastle and Indigenous second-rower Cory Paterson on his club captain Kurt Gidley leaving no doubt about where allegiances lay on a historic evening at Skilled Park.


Dailytelecrap:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...historic-victory/story-e6frexnr-1225830078626
A MOMENT of sheer brilliance from Johnathan Thurston may not be enough to save the NRL-Indigenous All Stars concept after last night's magnificent exhibition was marred by injuries to Test stars Darren Lockyer and Kurt Gidley.

 

[Tigger Madness]

Haters will hate

 

[Eddie Lab]

agree with the above, There is already an article on The Roar suggesting the All Star match should be canned.

 

[matt]

piss this mickey mouse sh*t off.

 

[bubblesunlimited]

The Football itself was a lot better than i thought it would be, it was a great game to watch.

But please keep the politics out of it, you would swear that only one team was playing out there.

No more apologies.

It was very good.

 

[Nightward]

I've honestly never watched a game before where I didn't mind who won. It was strange, just being able to sit there and enjoy it; ordinarily I like one team more than the other and want them to win, but this time I was happy either way- in fact, I even found myself hoping for a draw.

The opening exchanges were what I expected- the Indigenous side wanted the win, and the All-Stars were going to put on a demonstration. After about ten minutes, everyone decided it was serious, which was great.

There was plenty of good action out there, in attack and defence. That Burgess bloke was a bit of a revelation; if Johnny Lang can get Dave Taylor organised and Burgess produces like that all the time, opposing teams aren't going to have much fun

The Power Play was also interesting; not sure I'd like it in all the time, but for this game, where the razzle-dazzle is on, it seems appropriate.

The only thing I'd have changed if I could would have been to see that Preston Campbell got the medal named in his honour. Other than that, a great night, and I hope it does become an annual event.

 

[Willow]

The Football itself was a lot better than i thought it would be, it was a great game to watch.

But please keep the politics out of it, you would swear that only one team was playing out there.

No more apologies.

It was very good.

bubbles, the match was played in recognition of the apology. Second anniversary of Sorry Day. A big deal was made about it by the speakers. Plus a moment's silence for the Stolen Generation. It's a little hard to ignore that.

But it wasn't a negative experience. Rather than think of it as politics, I saw it as bringing people together and a celebration. Nothing wrong with that.