The annual NRL All Stars game kicks off this weekend, at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast. Personally, after what has seemed an interminably long off-season, I can’t wait to sink my teeth into a good NRL game, and can’t wait for kick off!

For most players, this will be the first time they have strapped on the boots in anger since September 2011, and while attacking rugby league is a certainty, I’ll be interested to see the skill level on show. There’s sure to be a bit of rust out on the field!

Looking at the teams for the game, a full list of which is below, the Indigenous All Stars side have a star-studded backline. Including Queensland regulars Inglis, Hodges and Yow Yeh. With the side led around the park by Thurston and Sandow, and with Prince and Bowen on the bench, plenty of points will be on offer!

The NRL All Stars also have a skilled backline, with Dugan and Manu Vatuvai, and with Cronk and Marshall running the team around. With Bennett in the coaches box, they will be well directed. However I feel their strength lies in their forward pack. With a mixture of NSW, QLD and New Zealand representative forwards. The NRL All Stars should be able to dominate in the ruck and get a better go forward happening for Marshall and Cronk to work with.

This game also sees the NRL experimenting with a few rule and “interpretation” changes. These include:

•    The ‘Power Play’;
•    Tackle count restarted for infringements in the play-the-ball; and
•    20/40 kicks.

The Power Play can be called by the attacking team, and requires the defense to drop 2 players off the field for a 5 minute period, or until they score a try. Each team gets one power play per half. Restarting the tackle count for play-the-ball infringements is the NRL’s attempt to stop blockages caused by holding in the tackle, leg pulling etc. Instead of a penalty, play will continue with the ref signalling 6 again. The 20/40 Kick rule is an extension of the 40/20, and allows a team to kick their way out of trouble, if they can.

All up, this should be an interesting game, and a perfect way to kick off the 2012 season. I’ll be interested to see how some of the rule changes go, in particular the restarting of the tackle count, the rule I see as most likely to ever make it into the NRL.

With both teams strong in particular areas, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top here – will the rust clear out early enough for the Indigenous All Stars backline to click into to gear, or will the NRL All Stars forward machine roll over the top of them.  I think there are too many points in that backline, and the Indigenous All Stars will come away with the cash.

The teams for the 2012 NRL All Stars game are:

Indigenous All Stars Team

Ben Barba (Bulldogs; Goreng Goreng)
Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos; Margany)
Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs; Dunghutti)
Justin Hodges (Broncos; Indigenous tribes of the Cairns region)
Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs; Wiradjuri)
Johnathan Thurston – captain (Cowboys; Gungarri)
Chris Sandow (Eels; Bigambul/ Gubbi Gubbi)
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders; Indigenous tribes of Tweed area)
Travis Waddell (Raiders; Torres Strait: Badulaig)
George Rose (Sea Eagles; Kamilaroi)
Sam Thaiday (Broncos; Torres Strait: Iama (Yam Island)
Jamal Idris (Titans; Worimi)
Greg Bird (Titans; Kamilaroi)

Interchange:
Andrew Fifita (Sharks; Wiradjuri)
Cory Paterson (Cowboys; Indigenous tribes of the Blue Mountains region)
Matthew Bowen (Cowboys; Binthi and Dhaarrba)
Scott Prince (Titans; Kalkadoon)
Anthony Mitchell (Roosters; Waka Waka)
Joel Thompson (Raiders; Wiradjuri)
Nathan Peats (Rabbitohs; Biripi nation)

Coach: Laurie Daley (Wiradjuri)

NRL All Stars Team

Josh Dugan (Raiders)
Jason Nightingale (Dragons)
Jack Reed (Broncos)
Michael Jennings (Panthers)
Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
Benji Marshall – Captain (Wests Tigers)
Cooper Cronk (Storm)
Kade Snowden (Knights)
Aaron Payne (Cowboys)
Luke Bailey (Titans)
Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels)
David Taylor (Rabbitohs)
Paul Gallen (Sharks)

Interchange:
Adam Blair (Wests Tigers)
Frank Pritchard (Bulldogs)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters)
Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)
Brent Tate (Cowboys)
Luke Lewis (Panthers)
Nathan Fien (Dragons)

Coach: Wayne Bennett

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