Steve Renouf labels Indigenous All Stars critics “yobbos”, Michael Ennis calls for Aboriginal Nines team
STEVE Renouf has labelled critics of the Indigenous All Stars “shortsighted yobbos” as Michael Ennis called for an Aboriginal side to be added to the NRL Nines.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STEVE Renouf has labelled critics of the Indigenous All Stars “shortsighted yobbos” as Michael Ennis called for an Aboriginal side to be added to the NRL Nines.
Ennis, who will turn out for the World All Stars on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium, believes the Indigenous team warrants more recognition with inclusion in the nine-a-side carnival in Auckland.
The Sharks veteran also urged authorities to resurrect the Indigenous Dreamtime team which played New Zealand Maori in an exhibition to launch the 2008 World Cup.
The Queensland government’s contract for the All Stars clash expires on Sunday, but Ennis said the rugby league calendar needed more, not less, Aboriginal content.
“There’s endless opportunities with the indigenous brand, we can’t ignore them,” Ennis said.
“I would love to see an indigenous side play in the Nines as well as international fixtures. I’d love to see Ben Barba, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston all playing in the same indigenous team.
“Can you imagine those guys in a Nines side? In that arena, they would be dynamite. They would probably win the tournament.
“I’d also like to see an indigenous side put together for an 80-minute format.
“There’s more areas to grow the game when it comes to indigenous sides, it’s just a matter of where it fits into the calendar.
“But I reckon an Aboriginal side at full strength could compete with a lot of the other international sides.”
Renouf, an indigenous youngster from Murgon who become an international star with Brisbane and Australia, was a guest of honour when the Indigenous Dreamtime team was launched against the Maori in a World Cup curtain-raiser eight years ago.
Captained by Preston Campbell, the Dreamtime won 34-26 with a star-studded team that featured Jamie Soward, Chris Sandow, Jamal Idris and former Maroons Origin hardman Carl Webb.
Renouf, named in the indigenous team of the century at centre alongside Greg Inglis, hit out at suggestions the All Stars concept was flatlining.
“Some of these shortsighted yobbos saying get rid of the All Stars is ridiculous,” said the former Test centre.
“I don’t know who starts these rumours. I talk to the NRL bosses and they don’t talk about ditching it. There are going to be 40,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium.
“They are always talking about changing the concept but I hope they leave it alone.
“I’d like to see the boys play against a Pacific side and even include them in the Nines. Ultimately, you don’t want to lose the reason why we’re doing this.
“It’s not a high-pressure game, it’s all about promoting the indigenous culture, so it has to stay on the calendar.”
Originally published as Steve Renouf labels Indigenous All Stars critics “yobbos”, Michael Ennis calls for Aboriginal Nines team
SBW won two World Cups with the All Blacks. He says his NRL premierships mean more
Sonny Bill Williams has admitted he holds his two NRL premiership triumphs with the Bulldogs and the Roosters above his World Cup wins with the All Blacks in terms of importance.
Latrell’s No.1 shift is about more than dosh. Coaches are turning players into robots
Mark Geyer believes Latrell Mitchell’s desire to play fullback is the result of frustration that coaches are turning players of certain positions into robots.