Parramatta captain Nathan Hindmarsh believes today’s launch of NRL All Stars voting will trigger an unspoken in-house rivalry at all NRL clubs.
With voting for the Indigenous All Stars side now closed and the team’s squad of 20 set to be announced next Wednesday, focus shifts to the first stage of voting for the NRL All Stars, with room for just one member from each NRL team in addition to a combined four automatic and coach’s selections.
Hindmarsh confirmed every Eels squad member wanted to wear the prestigious NRL All Stars jersey in the traditional season opener at Skilled Park on February 4.
Star fullback Jarryd Hayne was the fans’ choice as the Eels’ representative for the inaugural clash in 2010 but workhorse back-rower ‘Hindy’ won out in 2011.
“I think everyone would like to make it, yeah,” Hindmarsh told NRL.com today. “I’m sure Timmy Mannah would like to make it – he had a good season. Fuifui Moimoi – the first year they had it I think he was meant to be a part of it but got injured, so everyone would like to have a crack at it, sure.”
Hindmarsh said the All Stars game offered players a good fitness test in the lead-up to the new NRL season, as well as providing a unique environment to mix professionally and socially with players they wouldn’t otherwise meet.
“I think that’s the great thing about playing rep footy or the All Stars – you come across blokes you play against but you don’t really get to know, and during these camps you get to know them,” he said.
“The workload is not heavy – there’s plenty of downtime, so there’s plenty of coffees. And if you’re Tim Mannah … Cold Rock [ice-cream],” he joked.
“It’s good that way, just to build friendships and get to know people we wouldn’t otherwise get to know.”
Hindmarsh said that although players on both sides would be focused on victory, the nature of the All Stars clash gave the players the chance to showcase a more daredevil, attacking brand of football.
“It’s good to give back to the fans a different style of footy that they like… that’s the All Stars,” he said.
“It’s a bit different to playing an Origin or something like that. It’s a lot more relaxed. It’s more about entertaining the crowd, even though both sides want to win, but it doesn’t have the same results as Origin-style… there’s no real rush to get to know [the games of] too many players, it’s just about playing football.”
Hindmarsh said the All Stars week’s lead-up activities were extremely rewarding for players.
“The highlight during the camps is the school visits … the little kids’ clinics – I really enjoy doing those,” he said.
“It’s not every day kids get to see their idols and the footy players they look up to and watch on TV every week, so I enjoy seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they get to catch a bomb or pass a football with an NRL player.
“After getting a crack at it last year it would be nice to go again, knowing what it’s like.”
Hindmarsh said that while he wouldn’t look forward to trying to contain new Eels recruit Chris Sandow in the All Stars game if both were selected, he was keen to see what the diminutive No.7 could add to the blue-and-golds’ attack in 2012.
“Yeah definitely – I think he can bring a lot to the team. It’s too early to say exactly what but once the season rolls on we’ll hopefully see what he can do,” he said.
Prop Justin Poore, who was plagued by injuries last year after joining Parramatta from St George Illawarra in 2010, is another player Hindmarsh has high hopes for in 2012.
“He’s had a pretty bad run with injuries although he had a couple of games for us towards the end of this season – and he played well,” Hindmarsh said.
“When we did buy him he was at the top of his game but injuries set him back a bit. But he’s worked very hard to get back where he is now and he’ll just bolster our forward pack a lot.
“He’s a great player – a representative player – and it’s great to have him fit again.”
Hindmarsh said the key to entering the new NRL season was “not to get too far ahead of ourselves”.
“Just making sure we get through the pre-season, prepare ourselves the best we can, and hopefully things go our way,” he said.
“The main goal is to win the competition; everyone wants to do the same thing. Just getting through the pre-season is the first goal.”
Replies
who are we voting in this year?
No offence but I cannot follow this game.....it's a mickey mouse game based on political correctness. Sorry do not care for it, would rather watch a trial game on TV- that's what they should b doing, televising trial games!!
Best thing about this game is that you know the new season is close. id rather watch parra trial game as well
I think it's good too Monster. Not only does it give another game for us all to watch but it also shows how many current NRL players have an indigenous background, which I think is forgotten sometimes.
Why not give some recognition to the indigenous footy players, even if it is deemed politically correct? It doesn't hurt anyone and who knows, it may help with reconciliation efforts. Either way, it certainly doesn't do any harm, there is sufficient demand for the game to go ahead and people who don't want to watch can just switch off the channel.
I agree, the 1st one wasn't to bad as it layed it all out but last years it was full on and we had to listen to 25 minutes of how bad it was...WAS.. its not our fault NOW.... i am not a racist in anyway shape or form, my last few years of footy i was the only white guy in the team, but it will be interesting to see how much the racial comments are allowed to be thrown at WHITE people along with the political correctness stuff. A wonderful idea Preston but it is starting to get out of hand
Why do a lot of things you post on here relate to race and that particular and comment? I think it's time to get over it
If it's all about race, where do the NRL allstars come from?
Never said it wasn't about race I said it wasn't all about race, read my comment you twat. Didn't realise there was 3 teams on the field, it's still only two teams, the Indigenous All Stars vs the NRL All stars. What has ancestry got to do anything with playing for Australia? If you are born in Australia you have the opportunity to play for Australia, if there was a German team you'd be able to play for them aswell because of your heritage and you have the opportunity to choose who you play for. Why would you want to play for England if you have German heritage anyway? Didn't really think it was for unification, thought this game was more of a way to fund organisations that help those less fortunate
@ Cant C Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERZjJ9anbc&feature=related
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