Post by arh21980 on Mar 8, 2009 21:45:08 GMT 10
Coast to host Dream Team gamePat McLeod
March 5th, 2009
THE Gold Coast's Skilled Park will stage the National Rugby League's proposed new showpiece, an annual clash between an indigenous Dream Team and the NRL All Stars.
"This will be a yearly, one-off event as big as State of Origin," said Titans managing director Michael Searle, who unveiled the bold new concept to the game's top administrators in Sydney yesterday.
"This is a game that will allow indigenous Australians to represent their people. The All Stars will be the best of the best in the NRL.
"The clash will be held each year on the eve of Australia Day and at stake will be the Reconciliation Cup."
Searle said that he and the NRL's Player Welfare Manager Matt Francis had been working on the proposal for about 12 months.
"I have been working on the business model and Matty has been lobbying the players," he said.
"This has the potential to bring major new revenue into the game. It also something that is being driven by the indigenous players and I have no doubt that the players from both sides will embrace it."
Searle was part of a meeting of NRL CEO's yesterday and said the idea was warmly welcomed by all at the meeting.
He will now present a formal proposal to the NRL within two months, but is hopeful the Reconciliation Cup will be given the green light for January 25, 2010.
He said his blueprint would ask for the match to be held at Skilled Park for the first five years.
"The biggest challenge that we will face will be that the event will be head-hunted by Sydney and Melbourne," said Searle.
"But I would hope that since we have championed this idea that it will be retained in Queensland.
"I have no doubt Channel Nine would televise the event and the sponsorship and merchandise opportunities would be huge.
"This will be as popular and as sought after as Origin."
The plan is for the Reconciliation Cup to be the culmination of the community carnivals, which are already held throughout Australia by the NRL and promote healthy lifestyles.
Already behind the concept are indigenous league stars Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and the Titans Preston Campbell, who captained the indigenous team at the recent World Cup, describing that as his proudest moment in the game.
The indigenous team would have a 'dream' backline including the likes of Thurston, Inglis, Scott Prince, Justin Hodges and Matt Bowen. Forward power would include Origin players Carl Webb and Sam Thaiday.
Thurston yesterday said all players he had spoken to were enthusiastic.
"To represent our people on an historic occasion in such a big game ... all the indigenous boys are right behind it and it is player driven," he said.
"Definitely it has the potential to be as big as Origin. There is some amazing (indigenous) talent out there and to see them all in the one side, the fans would love it."
Thurston said there was no problem with the timing of the game.
"By January 25 the boys would have been training since November, so no it's not too early."
March 5th, 2009
THE Gold Coast's Skilled Park will stage the National Rugby League's proposed new showpiece, an annual clash between an indigenous Dream Team and the NRL All Stars.
"This will be a yearly, one-off event as big as State of Origin," said Titans managing director Michael Searle, who unveiled the bold new concept to the game's top administrators in Sydney yesterday.
"This is a game that will allow indigenous Australians to represent their people. The All Stars will be the best of the best in the NRL.
"The clash will be held each year on the eve of Australia Day and at stake will be the Reconciliation Cup."
Searle said that he and the NRL's Player Welfare Manager Matt Francis had been working on the proposal for about 12 months.
"I have been working on the business model and Matty has been lobbying the players," he said.
"This has the potential to bring major new revenue into the game. It also something that is being driven by the indigenous players and I have no doubt that the players from both sides will embrace it."
Searle was part of a meeting of NRL CEO's yesterday and said the idea was warmly welcomed by all at the meeting.
He will now present a formal proposal to the NRL within two months, but is hopeful the Reconciliation Cup will be given the green light for January 25, 2010.
He said his blueprint would ask for the match to be held at Skilled Park for the first five years.
"The biggest challenge that we will face will be that the event will be head-hunted by Sydney and Melbourne," said Searle.
"But I would hope that since we have championed this idea that it will be retained in Queensland.
"I have no doubt Channel Nine would televise the event and the sponsorship and merchandise opportunities would be huge.
"This will be as popular and as sought after as Origin."
The plan is for the Reconciliation Cup to be the culmination of the community carnivals, which are already held throughout Australia by the NRL and promote healthy lifestyles.
Already behind the concept are indigenous league stars Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis and the Titans Preston Campbell, who captained the indigenous team at the recent World Cup, describing that as his proudest moment in the game.
The indigenous team would have a 'dream' backline including the likes of Thurston, Inglis, Scott Prince, Justin Hodges and Matt Bowen. Forward power would include Origin players Carl Webb and Sam Thaiday.
Thurston yesterday said all players he had spoken to were enthusiastic.
"To represent our people on an historic occasion in such a big game ... all the indigenous boys are right behind it and it is player driven," he said.
"Definitely it has the potential to be as big as Origin. There is some amazing (indigenous) talent out there and to see them all in the one side, the fans would love it."
Thurston said there was no problem with the timing of the game.
"By January 25 the boys would have been training since November, so no it's not too early."
