sport, local-sport, fottball, rugby, league, all stars, group 10, orange, cyms, hawks

AN all star clash, pitting Group 10 Rugby League’s most exciting indigenous players against the best of the rest, has been touted as a possibility for some time, with the potential to be a huge drawcard event for the region. Now it’s a reality. Born from the success of the NRL’s All-Star match concept, the idea was discussed at Group 10’s annual general meeting in November last year and on Tuesday secretary Peter McDonald confirmed the clash will go ahead prior to the start of the 2016 season proper. Group 10 selectors will name the All Stars and Indigenous All Stars sides in the coming weeks, based on club’s nominations, before the inevitably electrifying match-up on Saturday, April 2 at West Cowra Recreation Ground. “We had spoken about it a few times in the past, but there was never really the enthusiasm to move forward with it,” McDonald said. “This year though, Kurt Hancock is the real driving force behind it while Will Ingram and Warren Williams are doing a lot of work from the indigenous side of things, and we’re really looking to roll with it. “The clubs seem to be behind it, and if all the best players nominate we’ll see some very exciting football played.” McDonald explained while the All Stars versus Indigenous All Stars game is absolutely the main event, it will be a part of a large scale gala day, which will also act as a celebration of indigenous culture in the region. He said he’s hoping to be able to have a junior match-up as a preliminary game - the Group 10 junior competitions start that day - while the Group 10 league tag side will clash with their Group 9 counterparts as a curtain raiser as well. “It will be a really good day, we’re really hoping to build on it in the future as well,” McDonald said. “It will move around from town to town each year. “We’ve asked all the clubs across Group 10 to nominate their five best players for consideration for the All Stars team, and also let us know of the indigenous players they have too.” Considering the calibre of players floating around Group 10’s various competitions, both the All Stars and Indigenous All Stars are expected to boast gangbusters sides. Of Orange’s guns, Hawks’ Cody Robbins and Jedd Kennedy wouldn’t look out of place in their relevant sides, and neither would CYMS’ Ben McAlpine, Mick Sullivan, Simon Osborne and 2016 recruits Brock McGarity and Mitch Davis, or Blayney’s Terry Brown, Josh Rainbow and Deryne McKenzie for that matter. Selections aren’t expected to be limited to Group 10’s premier competitions either, with players like Orange Barbarians captain-coach Ben Gosper potential candidates too. Nominations for the Group 10 All Stars match close on Friday, February 12.

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