The Roosters’ hopes of having their players skip the All Stars game to play their only trial match before Las Vegas have been dashed, with ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys insisting the governing body would not take away their right to represent the team of their heritage.
The Roosters approached the NRL late last year about having their players withdrawn from contention for the annual clash between the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars.
Their only opportunity to play a full-strength side in the trial schedule – against Manly – falls one day after the February 16 All Stars fixture in Townsville.
Brandon Smith looms as a high-profile inclusion for the Maori All Stars, while Zach Docker-Clay played in last year’s fixture for the Indigenous side.
Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly confirmed to this masthead he had raised the question again last Thursday during an urgent meeting with the Vegas-bound clubs and V’landys, and had accepted the ruling from head office.
“We didn’t know when the All Stars was going to be when we first agreed to go to Vegas, and we made the point last October that if the game did coincide with our one main trial, we’d seek exemption for our players,” Kelly said.
Brandon Smith is in the mix to represent the Maori All StarsCredit: Getty
“We all want to go to Vegas and put on our best performance for the game’s sake, so it’s imperative our top squad gets to play in our one trial altogether. The All Stars falls the night before our trial on the Central Coast.
“We were happy with the outcome, it was a common-sense approach in the end where if players choose not to play in the All Stars, they can still play in trials, which initially would have been rejected by the NRL.
Hayze Perham front and centre of the Maori All Stars haka in Rotorua on Saturday.Credit: NRL Imagery
“We want to see the All Stars be a success. But if we continue with the Vegas endeavours into the future, maybe there is some consideration given to the four teams that take on the Vegas expedition.
“At the end of the day you want to put on the best possible football display in round one, and it’s challenging if you can’t get your squad together for one serious hit-out.”
V’landys said of the Roosters’ proposal: “We couldn’t agree on that one. We are very big supporters of the All Stars game and how our Indigenous people celebrate.
“We told the clubs it should be up to the players if they want to play or not. It’s their right, and we shouldn’t take that right away.
“We agreed that if a player wanted to play, the club would let them go. I raised the example of [Rabbitohs] Latrell Mitchell skipping the World Club Challenge because he wanted to play in the All Stars – that’s how important the All Stars is to the players.
“One of the things I admire about the Indigenous players is they are role models to young Indigenous kids who can sometimes do it tough, but watching the players motivates them and gives them some purpose.
The Indigenous All Stars perform before last year’s clash.Credit: Getty
“Joe was very professional and agreed with our position.
“One of the first things I actually did when I became chairman was have a private meeting with the Indigenous players. I’ve never had someone motivate me like Joel Thompson, and listening to his life story, it motivated you to do more for the Indigenous community.”
The Broncos will also be in Vegas and have several players in the All Stars game. Ezra Mam was due to play last year but had to stand down as he did not have a passport to travel to New Zealand, while coach Kevin Walters has already confirmed Reece Walsh, the gun fullback eligible for the Indigenous and Maori sides, will not play.
South Sydney had no issues with the likes of Latrell Mitchell, who is still undecided about playing, his brother Shaquai, Cody Walker and Isaiah Tass representing the Indigenous side, even if it meant missing the Charity Shield the following night.
“One of the reasons we asked for extended camps and acclimatisation camps in America was because we appreciated we’d be missing players for our Charity Shield because of the All Stars,” Souths chief executive Blake Solly said.
“We’re 100 per cent supportive of the All Stars game and our players playing in it.”