Indigenous test mooted
Johnathan Thurston and Benji Marshall have been touted as potential superstar opponents in a proposed test match between an Australian Indigenous side and the New Zealand Maori during this year’s representative weekend.
The contest is the brainchild of First Nation Goannas coach Laurie Daley and New Zealand Maori mentor Mark Horo, whose respective sides clash at Redfern Oval on Saturday as part of the Festival of Indigenous Rugby League.
The proposal is for all State of Origin players not playing in the stand-alone interstate clash on Sunday, June 24 to be available for the Australian Indigenous side, while the Maori team could be picked from all eligible Kiwi players not chosen for that Friday’s test against England.
That would give Daley an opportunity to select the likes of Thurston, Ash Taylor, Latrell Mitchell, Bevan French, James Roberts, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Peachey and other stars on the cusp of representative selection to be involved in the historic contest.
The Maori side would also be a strong one, potentially featuring the likes of Kenny Bromwich, James Fisher-Harris, Corey Harawira-Naera and Marshall in contest that could be staged alongside the scheduled Pacific test matches involving Tonga against Samoa and Papua New Guinea and Lebanon that weekend.
Daley, the long-time Indigenous All Stars coach, believes the concept is a winner and urged clubs and officials to get behind it. ‘‘It would be terrific and would add to that representative weekend,’’ he said.
‘‘It would mean something. The [Indigenous] All Stars play the International All Stars at the start of the year but for the International All Stars, it doesn’t mean a great deal.
‘‘You play the Maori it would mean something. With our boys, there would be a rivalry.
‘‘An idea can start from somewhere and you never know how big it can get.’’
While clubs will baulk at releasing their stars over injury concerns, Daley said there was less risk playing them in June than in the pre-season because they were already match fit.
‘‘It’s at the start of the year that they are most susceptible to injuries,’’ Daley explained. ‘‘You wouldn’t be picking the Origin boys but the ones who miss out.’’
Horo, a former Parramatta and Kiwis representative, is also championing the cause.
‘‘Myself and Laurie want pathways for emerging players. If you have that game then you can get guys like Johnathan Thurston and Benji Marshall involved. Imagine those two playing that game.
‘‘It’s almost similar to Origin – it may not be the Kiwis or Australia, but it’s pretty bloody close,’’ Horo said.