The Maori All Stars led by Joseph Tapine have won the opening game of the NRL season 16-10 over the Indigenous All Stars at CommBank Stadium.
Match Details
Teams
Indigenous All Stars: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Brent Naden, 5. Josh Addo-Carr (c), 6. Nicho Hynes, 7. Braydon Trindall, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Reuben Cotter, 10. Ryan James, 11. David Fifita, 12. Tyrell Fuimaono, 13. Josh Curran, 14. Albert Kelly, 15. Will Smith, 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 17. Josh Kerr, 18. Selwyn Cobbo, 19. Tyrell Sloan, 20. Shaquai Mitchell. Coach: Laurie Daley.
Maori All Stars: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Morgan Harper, 3. Dylan Walker, 4. Reimis Smith, 5. Patrick Herbert, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Kodi Nikorima, 8. Joseph Tapine (c), 9. Erin Clark, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Kenny Bromwich, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Jazz Tevaga, 14. Esan Marsters, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. TC Robati, 17. Kevin Proctor, 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha, 19. Jayden Nikorima, 20. Wiremu Greig. Coach: David Kidwell.
Referee: Adam Gee
Result
Indigenous All Stars 10
Tries: Jesse Ramien 12′, Tyrell Sloan 66′
Goals: Braydon Trindall 20′
Maori All Stars 16
Tries: Kodi Nikorima 24′, Esan Marsters 32′, Joseph Tapine 55′
Goals: Patrick Herbert 26′, Kodi Nikorima 57′
Quarter-time: Indigenous 6 Maori 0
Half-time: Maori 10 Indigenous 6
Three-quarter-time: Maori 16 Indigenous 6
Preston Campbell Medal: Joseph Tapine
Match Report
Embed from Getty ImagesJoseph Tapine has led the Maori All Stars to victory over the Indigenous All Stars by 16-10 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
On a wet night in Sydney’s west, Tapine was outstanding, winning the Preston Campbell Medal in scoring a try and setting up another in the Maori three-tries-to-two victory.
It was an emotional night with the pre-match war cries from both sides among the best seen in the eleven editions of the fixture.
Both sides had the fire in their bellies, which boiled over when Jordan Rapana took out David Fifita after he’d passed to Jesse Ramien for a superb Indigenous try after fourteen minutes. Fifita looked in excellent form early before being contained by Patrick Herbert in the later part of the contest.
On quarter-time, Rapana was again in trouble after being placed on report for a shoulder charge. He and Andrew Fifita spent time in the sin bin after a melee broke out. Rapana was reported twice during the game in a mixed night for the Raiders star.
The Indigenous side may have taken a six-point lead into the quarter break, but it was the Maori side who looked more cohesive and had the better of field position. Some lovely footwork from Kodi Nikorima put them on the board six minutes into the second quarter. Six minutes before the main break a neat offload from Kenneath Bromwich led to Esan Marsters scoring in the corner, giving the Maori side the lead at the break 10-6.
In the third quarter, the Indigenous side went close twice in as many minutes with Reuben Cotter losing the ball over the line and Josh Curran unable to ground the ball in goal. The pivotal moment came three minutes later when Ramien was sin binned for holding back Bromwich with the Maori side on the attack close to the Indigenous’ line. Shortly after it was captain Tapine who extended their Maori lead to 16-6 going into the final quarter.
It seemed like the Indigenous side were storming home when Tyrell Sloan scored with thirteen minutes remaining with the Maori outfit starting to tire. Albert Kelly’s 40/20 kick with seven minutes left on the clock gave the Indigenous side a chance to level scores, but it came to nothing as the Broncos half lost the ball in the next set.
The new NRL rule adopted for a penalty being awarded to teams within their forty who would have last year received a six again call, worked well during the game.
In good signs for Sharks fans, Nicho Hynes showed potential in the number six jersey for the Indigenous side. Dylan Walker had a good outing for the Maori side and looked dangerous at different stages of the game.
Shaquai Mitchell, brother of Latrell, tried hard in his first game at NRL level, spending twenty-one minutes on the field for 56 metres and 5 tackles.
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