Wayne Bennett says the NRL All Stars need to take the clash seriously if it is to survive

WAYNE Bennett has put future of the Indigenous All Stars clash squarely on the shoulders of his stacked NRL All Stars team.

Trent Merrin listens to Wayne Bennett during NRL All Stars training at Runaway Bay. Pics Adam Head

WAYNE Bennett has put future of the Indigenous All Stars clash squarely on the shoulders of his stacked NRL All Stars team.

Still shocked by the blowout Indigenous victory in the last instalment of the pre-season fixture two years ago, Bennett has ordered his NRL All Stars to play with the passion the contest deserves in order to keep it alive.

“Wayne has spoken at length about what it means to them and we have a role to help bring this game to the forefront of the NRL calendar,’’ England Test prop James Graham said.

Beau Scott and Wayne Bennett at the NRL All Stars and Indigenous All Stars media session. Pics Adam Head

“I don’t think it would be fair or right if we didn’t take it seriously and we have a responsibility to the game to make sure we go out there and do our best.

“We want this game to be here for years to come but people won’t want to bother if one side looks like they can’t be bothered.

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“Hopefully this game can stay on the calendar. Obviously it wasn’t here last year for whatever reason but as a rugby league fan I want to see it around for years to come.”

Bennett’s instructions come as a tale of the tape tells a worrying story for the Indigenous team after the withdrawal of Sam Thaiday and Greg Bird due to injury.

Bennett has assembled some of the biggest, toughest and best from the NRL.

The All Stars starting pack features Test champions Graham, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Beau Scott, Jason Taumalolo and Paul Gallen. Then there are reinforcements Jesse Bromwich, Trent Merrin, Corey Parker, Jeremy Smith, Dave Taylor and Joseph Paulo.

That is more than 130 Tests, almost 60 Origins and more than 1600 NRL games ready to rumble on Friday night.

Indigenous coach Laurie Daley has a backline of dazzling stars but not a single representative forward.

George Rose and Ryan James lead the pack, while Tyrone Peachey, Kyle Turner, Chris Grevsmuhl, David Fifita and Tyson Andrews are the other forwards.

Grevsmuhl, Fifita and Andrews have spent more time in the state leagues recently than in the NRL.

Indigenous centre Justin Hodges said he would spend some time playing in the second row to bolster their pack and insisted his team could overcome their lack of size.

“It’s going to be difficult, especially as our game is a big brutal game up front and we lack a bit of size there,” Hodges said.

Dane Gagai talks to Wayne Bennett at the NRL All Stars and Indigenous All Stars media session. Pics Adam Head

“We have a game plan put in place that hopefully we can get over the top of them late in the game.

“It’s the first game of the season and everyone is going to struggle fitness-wise. They have a big pack so hopefully we can come home late.’’

Bromwich is excited by playing with some of the toughest men he’s encountered as rivals in recent years.

“I’m definitely taking this game seriously,’’ Bromwich said. “Once we get on that field we will definitely be playing our best and definitely looking to win the game,

“That is the special part of this game and something we all enjoy, packing in with the Aussie boys and James Graham that is something I’m really looking forward to.’’