Vote For Your Sharks Indigenous All Stars
The Hisense Cronulla Sharks are encouraging fans to vote now for Isaac Gordon and Albert Kelly for the 2011 Indigenous All Stars team.
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Vote For Your Sharks Indigenous All Stars
15/09/2010 2:03:23 PM
The Hisense Cronulla Sharks are encouraging fans to vote now for Isaac Gordon and Albert Kelly for the 2011 Indigenous All Stars team.
Gordon and Kelly have been named on a list of 55 players vying for 16 publicly-voted spots up for grabs in the Indigenous All Stars side, which will play the NRL All Stars at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday 12 February 2011.
Fans can begin voting at NRL.com with the list of eligible players featuring some of the best athletes in Rugby League.
Already, the man who pioneered the All Stars concept, inaugural Indigenous All Stars captain Preston Campbell, has been guaranteed a place in the side, being automatically selected by the ARL Indigenous Council as captain after expressing a strong desire to play again.
The 20-man squad will be made up of Campbell, the 16 publicly-voted players and three remaining players to be determined by Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council selectors and Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley once public voting has closed on November 10.
“The Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars is one of the most innovative and celebrated events in Rugby League’s history and the only representative match in Australian sport where the public picks the teams,” Mr Johnstone said.
“The inaugural All Stars captured the hearts and imaginations of people across Australia and saw 50,000 votes cast across the two teams.
“That passion and excitement begins again today as we launch public voting for the 2011 Indigenous All Stars team.
“The Australian public will again play a crucial role in determining those Indigenous players who will represent their people in the 2011 game and it certainly won’t be an easy task deciding who to vote for.”
The 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars will be played at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Saturday, February 12 – the eve of the third anniversary of the Federal Government’s National Apology to the Stolen Generations – and will, only for the second time, bring together the game’s best Indigenous and non-Indigenous players in a unique celebration of the diversity of Rugby League.
“In many ways we didn’t know what to expect from the inaugural Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said.
“Since the concept was announced we have seen the way people have embraced the All Stars and the way it has brought them together in the spirit of reconciliation and harmony.
“It is an exciting time for Rugby League as we continue building on this event, starting with public voting for the Indigenous All Stars opening at 1pm today.”
As well as launching public voting, the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council will also today confirm Preston Campbell as its automatically selected player and captain of the Indigenous All Stars team.
“It was such a proud moment to be captain of the inaugural Indigenous All Stars team,’’ Campbell said.
“I was thinking this year was going to be my only game for the Indigenous All Stars but having witnessed how much the game meant to my family and my people, I’ll be proud to wear the Indigenous jersey again.’’
The Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council in cooperation with the 16 NRL Clubs has determined a list of players eligible for the 16 publicly-voted places in the side and it is now up to the fans to decide who will take to the field in February next year.
Nominated players eligible for the Indigenous All Stars are:
Isaac Gordon - Sharks
Albert Kelly - Sharks
Corey Norman - Broncos
Dane Gagai - Broncos
Greg Inglis - Broncos
Jharal Yow Yeh - Broncos
Josh Hoffman - Broncos
Justin Hodges - Broncos
Kurt Baptiste - Broncos
Kurtis Lingwoodock - Broncos
Sam Thaiday - Broncos
Ben Barba - Bulldogs
Jamal Idris - Bulldogs
Joel Romelo - Bulldogs
Yileen Gordon - Bulldogs
Johnathan Thurston - Cowboys
Matt Bowen - Cowboys
Michael Bani - Cowboys
Obadiah Geia - Cowboys
Willie Tonga - Cowboys
Jamie Soward - Dragons
Michael Lett - Dragons
Anthony Mitchell - Eels
Carl Webb - Eels
Jonathan Wright - Eels
Timana Tahu - Eels
Cory Paterson - Knights
Brad Tighe - Panthers
Daine Laurie - Panthers
Luke Walsh - Panthers
Beau Champion - Rabbitohs
Chris Sandow - Rabbitohs
Dylan Farrell - Rabbitohs
Jamie Simpson - Rabbitohs
Nathan Merritt - Rabbitohs
Rhys Wesser - Rabbitohs
Blake Ferguson - Raiders
Joel Thompson - Raiders
Reece Robinson - Raiders
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs - Raiders
Travis Waddell - Raiders
Ben Jones - Roosters
Justin Carney - Roosters
George Rose - Sea Eagles
Dane Nielsen - Storm
Luke Kelly - Storm
Maurice Blair - Storm
Robert Lui - Tigers
Brenton Bowen - Titans
Esikeli Tonga - Titans
Greg Bird - Titans
Ryan James - Titans
Scott Prince - Titans
Shannon Walker - Titans
Joel Moon - Warriors
