Tours of England and New Zealand, and playing against Pacific nations, should be realistic goals for the Indigenous All Stars rather than featuring at the 2025 World Cup, coach Laurie Daley says.
Daley is keen for his side to appear on the international stage, but not at the expense of the Kangaroos during World Cup campaigns.
Greg Inglis told the Herald this week he would love to see an Indigenous team feature in the Cup in France in 2025, and that while the side would not only more than hold its own against most of the league nations, it would also inspire children in remote communities.
“I’m speaking for myself and my family, but I would love to see an Indigenous side on the world stage,” Inglis said.
Fellow league legend Johnathan Thurston supported an Indigenous side at the World Cup, but said the Kangaroos deserved top billing and he wanted to see Australian players perform the Unity Dance before every Test.
Daley has spent all week in camp with the Indigenous players and felt immense pride watching the Unity Dance performed again at training on Friday.
Indigenous pin-up Josh Addo-Carr.Credit: NRL Photos
Such is the excitement before Saturday’s All Stars clash that the NRL shifted its expectations from 20,000 to 25,000 fans at CommBank Stadium. It is the first time live league has been played in Sydney since the start of July.
Daley wore the green and gold with pride and said Australia needed only one team at the World Cup, but there was nothing stopping an Indigenous side playing against the likes of Tonga, Samoa and even England.
“I personally believe you only need one Australian team, not two, at a World Cup, but I definitely think there’s an opportunity for this team to play a lot more games, including against the Pacific nations,” he said.
“You could even have Indigenous tours over to England and New Zealand. It would be great to play more games, and we’d compete, don’t worry about that, there would be no worries there.”
Laurie Daley is keen for an Indigenous side to play the likes of Tonga, Samoa and even England on tour.Credit: NRL Photos
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga like Daley’s vision and said the introduction of an Indigenous side on the world stage would help the “Pacific neighbours” develop while also giving some of the Australian stars a rare chance to rest.
Daley liked the idea of the Unity Dance being embraced by the Kangaroos for this year’s World Cup. Australia performed a war cry before a Test against England at the 2017 World Cup, but most conceded afterwards the concept was rushed.
Meanwhile, Inglis said he was excited to return to the bush to play for the Macksville Sea Eagles this year.
“When I first signed with the Sea Eagles, people thought I was playing with Manly,” Inglis said.
“I haven’t played with them for 20 years, so I’m excited to get back to playing where I grew up. I remember playing in the under 18s when I was 15. I won’t get back there every weekend, but I’ll get back as much as I can.”
Macksville play in the same Group 2 Country Rugby League competition as the Orara Valley Axemen, who are expected to be coached by Inglis’ South Sydney premiership-winning teammate Sam Burgess. Burgess was medically retired from the NRL, but revealed on Friday he was keen to potentially play a few games for Orara Valley.
However, the powerhouse Englishman will face plenty of hurdles to gain a clearance because of insurance concerns from NSW Rugby League. There is talk another Group 2 team, Bellingen, has recruited former Raiders workhorse Shaun Fensom.
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