Plan B Forum

Among the most anticipated fixtures on the rugby league calendar, the third instalment of the annual Indigenous All Stars game kicks off this weekend to herald the impending arrival of the 2012 NRL season.

The concept first floated by former Gold Coast star and proud Aboriginal Preston Campbell back in 2009 has struck a chord with rugby league fans by allowing them to vote their favourite players into each side, and this year’s clash promises to be the most intriguing yet.

Needless to say, attack will be the name of the game at Skilled Park this Saturday night with the Indigenous side in particular boasting a star-studded backline that wouldn’t look out of place representing the green and gold. Among those named in the side in 2012 are Bulldogs fullback Ben Barba and South Sydney’s Nathan Merritt – who finished equal first on last year’s NRL try-scoring list with 23 apiece – plus Test centres Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges and Australian and Queensland winger Jharal Yow Yeh. They also boast high-profile Parramatta signing Chris Sandow in the No.7 jersey, representing the Indigenous All Stars for the first time, alongside Johnathan Thurston in the halves.

The NRL side is equally impressive, with Kiwi captain Benji Marshall and Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk leading a backline that also features Canberra fullback Josh Dugan, Penrith’s Michael Jennings and Manu ‘The Beast’ Vatuvei. They will be ably supported by a devastating forward pack that includes fearsome ball-runners Anthony Watmough, Frank Pritchard, Adam Blair, Paul Gallen and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

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.

The Australia Aboriginal rugby league team (also known as the Indigenous All Stars or Indigenous Dreamtime team) is a rugby league football team that represents Australian Aborigines. The team was first formed in 1973 and currently plays in an annual All Stars Match against a National Rugby League All Stars team.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous ... _league%29

The NRL All Stars team is a rugby league football team formed by professional players in the National Rugby League. These players are selected by fans in a vote on NRL.com. However, fans are only allowed to select one player from every team to join the Australian rugby league team captain and the New Zealand national rugby league team captain. Two other players are selected by the NRL All Stars coach. This team plays in the annual NRL All Stars Game against the Indigenous All Stars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRL_All_Stars_team