Indigenous All Stars clash: Five things we learned

CAMERON Smith is showing no signs of slowing down, and is Ben Barba back? Check out what we learned from the All Stars clash.

Ben Barba in action during the Indigenous All Stars V World All Stars NRL game at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Pics Adam Head

THE World All Stars ran out 12-8 winners against the Indigenous All Stars in a thrilling contest at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Check out what we learned from the All Stars clash.

IN CAM CONTROL

He will turn 33 this season but Cameron Smith is showing no signs of slowing down on the field.

The Queensland captain was in total control of the World All Stars, moving between hooker, halfback and five-eighth and even kicked a textbook 40-20.

BUMBLING BUNKER

Will the NRL’s new video referee bunker reduce the time for decisions?

None of the bunker’s three decisions last night came in under a minute with one going for one minute and 40 seconds.

The NRL said it was delayed to allow television replays to run their course.

WAR DANCE

Will the Kangaroos adopt an indigenous war dance in their pre-match routine? Seeing Greg Inglis come up in the middle of the huddle sent shivers throughout Suncorp Stadium.

Ben Barba in action during the Indigenous All Stars v World All Stars NRL game at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Picture: Adam Head

BENNY’S BRITISH BOYS

Could Wayne Bennett turn England’s Test team into a contender for next year’s World Cup? English props Tom Burgess and James Graham were outstanding last night while Gareth Widdop is a quality five-eighth.

BARBA BACK TO HIS BEST?

Could Ben Barba be the force he was in 2012?

The Cronulla utility looked slick on Saturday night and had some of the pace back that made him one of the NRL’s most dangerous players.

Originally published as Indigenous All Stars clash: Five things we learned