Wendell Sailor and Preston Campbell after the first Indigenous All Stars game in 2010. A decade ago Preston Campbell was fighting to get his NRL All Stars idea off the ground. Now, he says, there’s “no limit” to how far the concept can go. Nine years on from the inaugural game between the Indigenous All Stars and the NRL All Stars, Friday night’s blockbuster at AAMI Park will feature a Maori team for the first time. It’s the first time a team with specific heritage has been invited to play against the Indigenous side in the All Stars. Previously it’s only ever been an NRL representative team, and then a World team. The man who kickstarted the entire concept has been in Melbourne all week working closely with the Indigenous team, and he’s also spent time with Maori representatives, some of whom he played against throughout his own career. Former popular NRL player Preston Campbell. Photo by Richard Gosling Source: News Corp Australia Every game of every round of the NRL Telstra Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. SIGN UP NOW! When you ask Campbell about the All Stars idea, you can hear the emotion in his voice. “I’d always hoped it would be this sort of concept but I never thought it would get to this sort of level,” Campbell told foxsports.com.au. “I know if you put something on that’s got culture, or links to heritage attached to it, they are always going to bring that passion. “They are going to show the strength in who they are. For the rugby league world to be able to allow the boys to not just showcase their skills on the footy field but showcase who they are and where they’re from, showcase what they are really proud of and be able to represent that, I think it’s really important. “Not only does it help create a great game — we’ve got two amazing rugby league teams — it allows rugby league a true, honest story, one that’s positive. “Given a lot of the negative stuff that’s happened in the off-season this is a shining light.” Preston Campbell after the first All Stars game in 2010. Source: News Limited There’s a sense of emotion and passion around this year’s All Stars game which may have been lacking in previous fixtures. That’s thanks to the addition of the Maori team. There was never any question about the passion of the Indigenous players in the past. Led by Stacey Jones and captained by Adam Blair, the Maori All Stars have embraced the opportunity to showcase their unique heritage to the rugby league world. Even Dane Gagai has chosen to represent his mother’s Maori family, having previously represented his father’s Aboriginal culture at the All Stars. There’s a powerful respect between the players from both sides. They are proud of their heritage and they respect each other’s. MORE NEWS TALKING POINTS: ALL THE BURNING QUESTIONS OUT OF THE ALL STARS SWITCHING SIDES: GAGAI READY TO FACE WAR CRY HE HELPED CREATE BLAIR’S BURNING PASSION: WHAT’S DRIVING THE MAORI SKIPPER INK SAYS IT ALL: ADDO-CARR’S INDIGENOUS PRIDE NEW WAR DANCE LEAD: SHOCK CONTENDER TO REPLACE INGLIS Now Campbell wants to take the All Stars idea even further. He can see other nations become involved in the pre-season fixture down the track. “This concept is all about bringing people together,” he said. “You look at some of the Pacific Islands — PNG, Tonga, Samoa — there’s not limit to where this could end. “Really this game is about inspiring people. I always say the game has allowed many an opportunity. For these boys out here playing, for themselves which in turn allows them to look after their families and inspire their communities. “That should be shared. We should allow other communities to be able to inspire their peoples as well. “It doesn’t have to stop here. It’s up to rugby league and it’s up to the players that see the value in that. Once they see the value in that it’s going to take care of itself.” (L-R) Cody Walker (c) of the Indigenous All Stars and Adam Blair (c) of the New Zealand Maori All Stars. Source: Getty Images The All Stars concept also allows young players to learn more about their heritage and their culture. The week spent in camp leading up to the game is full of cultural ceremonies, workshops, and interacting with local schools and communities. As the older generation fade out of rugby league, Campbell wants the younger generation to take up the mantle. “Some of the boys that are standing up now, it’s a changing of the guard. JT (Johnathan Thurston), Greg (Inglis), Sammy Thaiday have all stepped aside. The leadership role is one that was talked about a lot because we do have a young team and you have some guys in the team that maybe don’t see themselves as leaders,” Campbell said. “It’s an opportunity for them to stand up and really take it by the horns. “Some guys have stood up … young Kotoni Staggs has been awesome, David Fifita has been awesome. Then your old heads like Will Chambers and Andrew (Fifita) have stood up. Fergo (Blake Ferguson) has been awesome. “You could see a few of them trying not to get too emotional. “I think once the game comes around tomorrow night, that’s when we’ll see the emotion.” The best player on the paddock on Friday night will be awarded the Preston Campbell Medal, presented by the man himself.<doc-sep>Controversy has raged after more than half the Indigenous team refused to sing the Australian national anthem played in the lead up to the NRL All Stars game. The rugby league showcase between the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars has been overshadowed by the strong stance by a number of the league's top players. As 'Advance Australia Fair' was sung during the pre-game, several of the Indigenous team - including superstars Blake Ferguson and Latrell Mitchell - remained silent. Indigenous skipper Cody Walker said post-match that he wasn't comfortable with a version of the Australian anthem being played at the game. Controversy has raged after more than half the Indigenous team refused to sing as Australia's national anthem played in the lead up to the NRL All Stars game 'To be honest no (it shouldn't be played) – it just brings back so many memories from what's happened and I think everyone in Australia needs to get together and work something out,' he said. 'It doesn't represent me and my family.' The strong opposition to the national anthem divided those watching on TV at home, with plenty taking to social media to have their say on the stance. 'Reconciliation is a two way street... (but) I didn't see one aboriginal sing the national anthem,' one man commented. 'Pretty disappointed to see most of the Australian Indigenous team not sing our national anthem. The Maori boys sang theirs,' another said. But while some disagreed with the stance, others claimed it was inappropriate to be playing the national anthem at a game involving two indigenous sides. The strong stance by the Indigenous All Stars team divided rugby league fans, with hundreds sharing their view on the matter on social media (Pictured) 'Why on earth would you sing the commonwealth-based Aussie anthem in an Indigenous game?' one woman wrote on Twitter. 'I'm so proud of the Aboriginal team during the NRL All Stars game anthem. Advance Australia Fair was written during a time the indigenous weren't considered humans... Why should they sing a song that does not represent them?' commented another. 'NRL completely missed the mark with the AU Anthem for the NRL All Stars and players reaction (or lack of) said it all,' one man wrote. But just minutes after more than half the team had refused to sing the anthem, they united on the AAMI Stadium turf for a war dance. Led by their 21-year-old star Mitchell, the players performed the impressive dance to cheers from the local crowd. WHY DID THE MAORI SIDE SING AND THE INDIGENOUS TEAM NOT? Australia's national anthem Advance Australia Fair was written in the 1870s but did not replace God Save The Queen as the official anthem until 1984. The song - written by Scottish composer Peter Dodds McCormick - has been called noninclusive for not having an Indigenous verse. By contrast the New Zealand national anthem, when played at sporting and major events, regularly begins with a verse from the Maori anthem 'Aotearoa'. It is followed by a verse from the English version of the New Zealand anthem. New Zealand anthem - Maori verse (translated) O Lord, God, Of all people Listen to us, Cherish us May good flourish, May your blessings flow Defend Aotearoa New Zealand anthem - English verse God of Nations at Thy feet, In the bonds of love we meet, Hear our voices, we entreat, God defend our free land. Guard Pacific's triple star From the shafts of strife and war, Make her praises heard afar, God defend New Zealand. Australian national anthem - Advance Australia Fair Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free; We've golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature's gifts, Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. Advertisement Just minutes after more than half the team had refused to sing the anthem, they united on the AAMI Stadium turf for an Indigenous war dance - led by their 21-year-old star Latrell Mitchell The Indigenous All Stars defeated the Maori All Stars 34-14 in front of 18,000 fans By contrast the majority of the Maori All Stars team sung the whole of New Zealand's national anthem, which includes a Maori verse. Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley said during his post-match interview that the stance by his players was part of a greater 'issue'. 'I think it's certainly a discussion worth having, and I think it will happen,' Daley said. 'I think for us tonight it's probably not the right arena to discuss it. That's something we will have a chat about further down the track, but it is an issue that Australia is facing. 'I'm sure tonight will be one of the reasons we have a discussion going forward about what we do.' The Indigenous All Stars defeated the Maori All Stars 34-14 in front of 18,000 fans.<doc-sep>Indigenous All Stars celebrate after Cody Walker's try. Indigenous have scored a big victory in the born-again All Stars game, sinking a Maori team for the first time in the pre-season representative clash. The Indigenous side ran out 34-14 victors in what was a thrilling battle at AAMI Park in Melbourne. Every game of every round of the NRL Telstra Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. SIGN UP NOW! Five-eighth Tyrone Roberts picked up the Preston Campbell Medal as man of the match, and Broncos young gun David Fifita was the other standout. Latrell Mitchell had a big game after leading the team’s pre-match war cry, as did new skipper Cody Walker. It took less than four minutes and just one set for Maori to open the scoring. Dean Whare got the ball to Dane Gagai on the wing, who beat Latrell Mitchell to the line for a great put-down. It didn’t take long for the Indigenous side to hit back when a Tyrone Roberts long ball found Josh Addo-Carr with plenty of space out wide. Mitchell missed the sideline conversion and it was 6-4 to Maori. Addo-Carr went in again a couple of minutes later, again thanks to a nice cut-out ball from Roberts to the centre Mitchell. Mitchell’s conversion gave Indigenous a 10-6 lead. The second quarter began much like the first, with Gagai diving over to score in the corner and square the ledger. Kahu’s conversion was unsuccessful and the score was tied 10-all. Indigenous took the lead again when a Andrew Fifita offload helped Jesse Ramien to break the line and put through a perfect grubber to find the sprinting Bevan French. A Blake Ferguson try extended the lead to 20-10 at half time. Ferguson’s acrobatic try celebtation got the crowd pumped up and the Indigenous boys had their tails up. After half time they extended the lead again when David Fifita chased through a Cody Walker grubber to make it 24-10. Maori hit back midway through the third quarter with a try to Esan Marsters, who barged his way through the defence but then missed his conversion kick. Indigenous almost struck again before the next break when Ferguson latched on to a Kalyn Ponga missed pass and sprinted 60 metres before being dragged down by Jahrome Hughes and Joe Tapine. They managed to get the chocolates in the fourth quarter when James Roberts broke the line and then offloaded to his captain Cody Walker to score the try and make it 28-14. Indigenous extended the lead again when debutant Josh Kerr chased through a Tyrone Peachey grubber to make it 34-14. MORE NRL NEWS Fergo flies: Eels recruit shocks fans with post-try stunt Emotion spills: ‘Magic’ war dances thrill in All Stars clash From $500k to $27 an hour: Barba starts new life as truck driver Salary cap probe could force Sharks to cut star signing Summer slog: Knights’ dark horse, ‘next Semi’ set to be unleashed ‘Morally tone deaf’: Storm boss shreds NRL over de Belin rape case Get fit or get out: Broncos banish overweight young gun ‘It’s their own view’: Titans brush off anti-vaxxer controversy<doc-sep>As a small-town boy from Casino, Cody Walker never envisaged representing his culture on the big stage. On Friday night, he will captain the Indigenous All Stars after coach Laurie Daley labelled him the "standout leader" in a squad which boasts big names such as Andrew Fifita, Latrell Mitchell and Will Chambers. Clash of cultures: Cody Walker (left) will lead the Indigenous All Stars against Adam Blair's Maori All Stars. Credit:AAP "We lost a lot of leadership over the last 12 months and we were undecided on who was going to be captain," Daley said. "We just wanted to see how guys interacted through the week and Cody has really shown his qualities there.<doc-sep>
Nine years ago Cody Walker bought an Indigenous All Stars jersey for his partner. He wanted to show how proud he was of his Aboriginal heritage. On Friday night at AAMI Park, he leads the Indigenous team onto the field as captain. The 29-year-old All Stars debutant was named captain of the team by coach Laurie Daley in front of the playing group on Wednesday night. Every game of every round of the NRL Telstra Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. SIGN UP NOW! Earlier that day, he had spoken of his emotion at being able to represent his culture on the big stage. “It’s a pretty surreal moment. I’ve watched every one since it’s been on,” Walker told media. “Just the sense of pride you get and the excitement when you see the boys run out, you get goosebumps and you just want to be out there playing. “To be able to do it is so surreal, I can’t wait to be a part of it.” Walker supported the inaugural All Stars game, the brainchild of legend Preston Campbell, in 2010. He wanted his partner to understand how proud he was to be involved in a sport which recognises and celebrates his culture. “I still remember I bought the jersey for my partner, and I’m actually playing in it this year so it’s pretty surreal,” he said. “I still remember the night that the All Stars played. We were in a little apartment on the Gold Coast just watching it on TV, and just the sense of pride I got watching the boys run out and play for their culture it’s amazing. “It’s a real honour and privilige playing a game like this.” Walker was a late bloomer in rugby league terms. He didn’t make his NRL debut until he was 26 years old, and since then he’s been switched between fullback and the halves at South Sydney. He was voted in to the Indigenous team as one of a handful of debutants, and will now captain the side against the Maori on Friday night. There hasn’t been any confirmation on which player will lead the Indigenous war cry before the game. But foxsports.com.au understands it will be young gun Latrell Mitchell who steps in to fill the role of Greg Inglis. MORE NEWS TALKING POINTS: ALL THE BURNING QUESTIONS OUT OF THE ALL STARS SWITCHING SIDES: GAGAI READY TO FACE WAR CRY HE HELPED CREATE BLAIR’S BURNING PASSION: WHAT’S DRIVING THE MAORI SKIPPER INK SAYS IT ALL: ADDO-CARR’S INDIGENOUS PRIDE NEW WAR DANCE LEAD: SHOCK CONTENDER TO REPLACE INGLIS