2011 All Stars Match

I think you'll find Gallen made more errors than he normally would as he appeared to be trying to "put on a show" than play his usual game. He tried to offload in every tackle, that I saw. Some of those are going to go wrong.

Like Snow said, he dropped a pass from Lockyer and then followed that up with a penalty for a high shot but seriously, it was over the shoulder, not high.

Once again, the "Gallen" factor was in effect when the referees decisions were made.

I wouldn't worry to much about a few errors in that game, like I said, I think the emphasis was on entertainment, not discipline.

Wouldn't worry too much it was first game of the year for him.

Last year he made less than double the mistakes of other forwards but more than doubles the tackles and hit ups so I don't think there is anything wrong with how he plays and he is worth every cent and more in inspiration and leadership alone.

Gould is a douche-canoe. I can't take him seriously after his song and dance about the Storm debacle.

Phil Gould is an even uglier version of Jabba The Hut... perhaps only slightly less arrogant and megalomaniacal amidst a cast of equally trite and outlandish caricatures in the Rugby Leagues periphery.

Assign them all to the realm of inconsequence that they deserve and lets get back to focusing on the real spectacle... good footy!

Bring it on!

Allstars Charity Auction

Allstars Charity Auction - Bid Now!
15/02/2011 2:37:56 PM

Rugby league fans will have the opportunity to own some unique memorabilia and support the Premiers Flood Appeal with players from Saturday’s Harvey Norman All Stars donating match-worn jerseys, specially painted boots and a didgeridoo for an online auction.

CLICK HERE TO BID NOW!

The match between the Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars on the Gold Coast is a unique Australian celebration and players believed it was only fitting that the goodwill and spirit from the thousands of fans who will attend and watch the game be rallied towards helping the millions of Australians whose lives have been thrown into turmoil during the recent disasters.

Some of the items already confirmed include:

- jerseys from all 40 players from the first half of the game

- boots painted by Indigenous artists which will be worn by six players - Jonathon Thurston, Preston Campbell, George Rose, Jharal Yow Yeh, Greg Bird and Matthew Bowen

- a didgeridoo that the Indigenous All Stars have all contributed to the painting of.

CLICK HERE TO BID NOW!

http://sharks.com.au/?s=article-display&id=33457

Will Gal's jersey come with the blood stains from the zipper he copped when he scored his try? That would have to add value to it - the blood of the great man!!!

Maybe from that we can clone him?

I'm not sure who it was, but Gal completely steamrolled someone in that game - not long after the Dugan break and we were in the Indigenous 50... Gal came onto a short ball and ran over someone like they weren't even there - it was great but they didn't show a replay as they were too busy replaying their love-child Dugan and a penalty that came a couple of plays later.

The condition of skilled park was embarrassing, not up to NRL standard let alone a season opening rep game. The Indigenous displays were disappointing compared to last year as well. And I don't mean to be so negative, but last years 'double try' was better than this years 'kick inside your own 40' incentive. I don't remember either team trying it once this year. But I guess that is trial & error development for ya, hopefully the game will be better for it.

I love the concept. It doesn't need to be looked at from an 'us vs them' or 'black vs white' angle. It might have been a risky concept in decades past, but surely our country has evolved\matured enough to allow a sporting team to display and represent their culture without making it a competition for racial superiority? If it grows and evolves the way it has been, I think our country can set a global example of how it can be done, and done in a way that will instill pride our entire nation not just the Indigenous population. And let's face it, our indigenous population is in dire-straits and needs programs like this to help pick up the next generation.

I also like how it engages the public during the off-season and leading up to the season kick-off. The NRL All Stars team represents the most popular(and indirectly the most talented) players decided by the fans - not a biased selection panel of a few - and not a (sometimes imaginary) salary cap.

I've gone to both games now and have yet to witness any negative behavior from any supporter or player. Not in the bus lines, grandstands or on the field.

Ryan said:

I love the concept. It doesn't need to be looked at from an 'us vs them' or 'black vs white' angle. It might have been a risky concept in decades past, but surely our country has evolved\matured enough to allow a sporting team to display and represent their culture without making it a competition for racial superiority? If it grows and evolves the way it has been, I think our country can set a global example of how it can be done, and done in a way that will instill pride our entire nation not just the Indigenous population. And let's face it, our indigenous population is in dire-straits and needs programs like this to help pick up the next generation.

I also like how it engages the public during the off-season and leading up to the season kick-off. The NRL All Stars team represents the most popular(and indirectly the most talented) players decided by the fans - not a biased selection panel of a few - and not a (sometimes imaginary) salary cap.

I've gone to both games now and have yet to witness any negative behavior from any supporter or player. Not in the bus lines, grandstands or on the field.

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That's a very mature and well articulated post Ryan, thanks. I particularly agree with the bolded part. Just as teams representing their country play with patriotism in their hearts and not nationalism, we can give the opportunity to minority groups to display their culture with pride. I'd like to see the Maori involved at some stage in the future, and perhaps PNG with the likes of Costigan, Aiton and Mead leading them.

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Just a thought- is it just me, or would the possible problem of supporting 'whites' in the NRL all stars (even though a number of them are Polynesian of course) be solved if, say, it were the Country All Stars playing, and the City All Stars? i.e. if we took the traditional 'City/Country' sides as the teams, each playing for their region?

I'm just thinking aloud here (and the 'Festival of Footy' is growing in size a bit more than I intended) but you could have a Sydney team, a NSW Country team, a Brisbane side, a Qld Country side, a Maori side, an Indigenous side, a PNG side... Scrap the NRL, there's a new comp in town!

Just an idea... sorry about the ramble.

ABshark said:

That's a very mature and well articulated post Ryan, thanks. I particularly agree with the bolded part. Just as teams representing their country play with patriotism in their hearts and not nationalism, we can give the opportunity to minority groups to display their culture with pride. I'd like to see the Maori involved at some stage in the future, and perhaps PNG with the likes of Costigan, Aiton and Mead leading them.

----

Just a thought- is it just me, or would the possible problem of supporting 'whites' in the NRL all stars (even though a number of them are Polynesian of course) be solved if, say, it were the Country All Stars playing, and the City All Stars? i.e. if we took the traditional 'City/Country' sides as the teams, each playing for their region?

I'm just thinking aloud here (and the 'Festival of Footy' is growing in size a bit more than I intended) but you could have a Sydney team, a NSW Country team, a Brisbane side, a Qld Country side, a Maori side, an Indigenous side, a PNG side... Scrap the NRL, there's a new comp in town!

Just an idea... sorry about the ramble.

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I was only talking to a few people today about that, I like the concept.

You could have a 20 minute a side comp over a day or a rugby sevens style concept or something similar to launch the NRL season.

There would be some great teams selected. :good:

I am all for that idea, the best game of the last world cup was the opener which was Indigenous Vs Maori.

It would be great to have like a 'pacific cup' style game with there being the intention of making it an even playing field by splitting up Australia as above. It would be great if Petro for example could captain the Fiji side and it wouldn't have any baring on State of Origin selection.

Mark^Bastard said:

I am all for that idea, the best game of the last world cup was the opener which was Indigenous Vs Maori.

It would be great to have like a 'pacific cup' style game with there being the intention of making it an even playing field by splitting up Australia as above. It would be great if Petro for example could captain the Fiji side and it wouldn't have any baring on State of Origin selection.

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Yes! I would genuinely really like to see that- and I bet the players would appreciate it too. Some one like Mateo would skipper Tonga as well.

Plus, you retain the value and history that goes with a NSW Country jumper for instance.

Perhaps only 40min games and spread out over the Friday/Saturday/Sunday, with the same big build up during the week that they are doing a great job with at the moment. It would also be a great way to expose the weaker RL nations like the Pacific Islands sides and PNG to high quality footy played in front of big crowds.

On a different note, personally I'd just let anyone who played junior footy in NSW or Qld play Origin, no matter what their national affiliation, but that's just me.

can't be bothered to read through the pages and i'm sure someone wrote this but what was that stupid hourful of aboriginal stuff why the hell would people want to watch it? i had to resort to the sydney fc game

all good ideas guys,
re the double try concept last yr & the kick inside your own half for a repeat set of 6 this yr.
I would tweak it not only for this type of game but future NRL matches as well where you get a 6 point try plus conversion IF you score a try that started from inside your own half.

Imo it would make teams chance their arm more v's todays current "structured" set of 6 where fullback normally collects ball on his goal line hits it up followed by hit ups 2 & 3 from the wingers followed by a couple forward hits ups & then kick down field hoping the opponent will lose the ball in their own half.

josh11223344 said:

can't be bothered to read through the pages and i'm sure someone wrote this but what was that stupid hourful of aboriginal stuff why the hell would people want to watch it? i had to resort to the sydney fc game

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Oh dear...........

josh11223344 said:

can't be bothered to read through the pages and i'm sure someone wrote this but what was that stupid hourful of aboriginal stuff why the hell would people want to watch it? i had to resort to the sydney fc game

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Hmmmm. Wait for it, wait for it....................

that's not racist just it doesn't interest me and a whole hourful? seriously I know it's a big part of the game but I was really looking forward to the game and then had to wait for all of that to finish, it just kept going. maybe half an hour but not one whole hour.

:rant over

That's how we feel when we read your posts digits.

josh11223344 said:

can't be bothered to read through the pages and i'm sure someone wrote this but what was that stupid hourful of aboriginal stuff why the hell would people want to watch it? i had to resort to the sydney fc game

Click to expand...

josh11223344 said:

that's not racist just it doesn't interest me and a whole hourful? seriously I know it's a big part of the game but I was really looking forward to the game and then had to wait for all of that to finish, it just kept going. maybe half an hour but not one whole hour.

:rant over

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I'm with digits.

I actually attempted to say what digits has said in a way that wouldn't come across as digits' attempt has. Obviously I couldn't be arsed.

Politically correct or not that was painful to watch. You'll cop 1 dance but like digits I reckon a whole hour of it was overkill.

A few have responded negatively to digits' posts but none seem to be because they enjoyed it.

You'd spit chips if Ireland became a big player in International League and prior every test match we got an hour of River Dance.

Capital_Shark said:

I'm with digits.

I actually attempted to say what digits has said in a way that wouldn't come across as digits' attempt has. Obviously I couldn't be arsed.

Politically correct or not that was painful to watch. You'll cop 1 dance but like digits I reckon a whole hour of it was overkill.

A few have responded negatively to digits' posts but none seem to be because they enjoyed it.

You'd spit chips if Ireland became a big player in International League and prior every test match we got an hour of River Dance.

Click to expand...

Here we go again - the race card being played.

I'm not one to stick up for digits - but what he said was fair & reasonable.

Love to hear what part of it wasn't.