The Maori All Stars won 10-6 in a stop and start All-Stars game over the Indigenous side at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
Only three tries were scored across four mistake-laden quarters as the players struggled to shake off the pre-season cobwebs though there was also some quality last ditch defence on show.
Warriors young gun Jacob Laban scored the match winner with 12 minutes to play after Shaq Mitchell and Jesse Arthars had crossed for four-pointers following a scoreless opening half.
The stadium’s sparsely populated upper tier showed the NRL couldn’t get close to selling out in rugby league heartland with question marks over the game’s longevity in the current slot in the calendar.
Error-riddled clash another argument for fixture shift
Fans will accept errors in a pre-season game with no real stakes apart from bragging rights on the line but the more the NRL charge for the All-Star game, the less patience the paying supporters will have for sloppiness in a contest featuring some of the best players in rugby league.
Former player Dean Widders’ suggestion to move the game to a slot after the grand final where the international window currently sits may gain momentum after a mistake-riddled 80 minutes in Parramatta resulted in just x tries scored even with oodles of talent on both teams.
Sports scientists at the 17 NRL clubs clearly don’t have much input into the pre-season schedule with the All-Star game shoehorned in among club trials and the now annual trip to Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium for the Round 1 Las Vegas showcase that will feature Canberra, Cronulla, premiers Penrith and the Warriors in 2025.
Combined with players doing what they can to avoid injury, the lack of preparation for game intensity will affect the All-Stars product that should be one of the sport’s premium offerings along with the finals series and the ever popular State of Origin.
Maori prevail in low-scoring affair
A scoreless first quarter followed the intense pre-match war cries that helped alleviate concerns over a lack of feeling from the players.
Kalyn Ponga played a big part in the Indigenous side staying scoreless with an early try-saving tackle.
Titans centre Brian Kelly put a high shot on club teammate Keano Kini that could have seen him spend some time in the sin-bin but a penalty was deemed sufficient by Todd Smith.
Continued errors from both sides contributed as the deadlock was still yet to be broken after half an hour of play.
An error from Kini off a high ball would apparently lead to the first four-pointer of the All-Stars clash with Josh Curran crossing for the Indigenous side after 34 minutes but a Bunker review found Charles Nicoll-Klokstad was interfered with in the contest to ensure a 0-0 half-time scoreline.
It didn’t take long after the main break for Shaq Mitchell to open the scoring after crashing over right under the posts – and this time there was nothing nefarious in the build-up.
Just a few minutes later Arthars failed to deal with a Niwhai Puru kick and Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow pounced on the loose ball to score but again the try was disallowed following a Bunker review.
With time ticking down in the third quarter, Arthurs easily pushed away from Alofiana Khan-Pereira on the right edge to cross for the Maori side’s first try of the evening but Mawene Hiroti failed to convert from out wide.
With Hiroti seemingly assured to score after pouncing on a loose ball Brent Naden made an excellent try-saver to preserve the Indigenous lead but Arthars was soon involved again, tapping back a kick for Jacob Laban as the Maoris hit the lead with 12 minutes to play.
Naden was inches away from levelling the contest at 10-10 but had a foot on the sideline just before grounding the ball in the corner.
Desperate Maori defence prevented a last-minute Puru chance to score and they held on for a tight 10-6 win.
