Time for All Stars | Rockhampton Rugby League | NRL Rugby in Rockhampton

MATES maybe, but come Saturday night it will be the battle of Browne Park as the Central Queensland Comets match up against the CQ Indigenous All Stars.

There is plenty of importance placed on this match. All Stars powerhouse forward Andrew Dale sees it as a meeting of great importance, where Indigenous players can stamp their mark on Central Queensland football.

Dale is captain of the All Stars and a former Comet, so he knows it will be a solid workout for his team.

“I think a lot of our boys are just keen to play against the Comets,” he said.

Many of the players in the All Stars squad took part in the Indigenous Reconciliation Carnival and Dale, along with team coach Justin Loomans, see this match as another opportunity to showcase the wealth of Indigenous talent in the area.

“We hope to show that young Aboriginals can play and be professional,” Dale said.

“The Comets will be well drilled, as they are semi-professional.”

Dale said the NRL All Stars match played at the Gold Coast at the weekend would mean little to his players, because this game was all about what could be done locally.

He also did not believe the Comets’ inept display against the Cutters provided any guide to how the game would go.

“I dare say Wayno (Comets coach Wayne Barnett) will have done his work,” he said.

Traditionally, Indigenous teams are notable for their skills going forward but Dale is adamant the CQ All Star team will be strong all over the park.

“It will be a great opportunity for our boys to play against the Comets, as they have been the benchmark for the last year.”

He acknowledged there were a number of players in the squad who had yet to face the Comets.

Barnett was realistic about what the 10-0 defeat by the Cutters meant and the areas where his team could improve.

“It was a trial and there were too many time-outs, plus a lot of players worried about their positions,” he said.

That was the reason behind a lack of continuity in the Comets team, something highlighted by match statistics, he said.

“They had 73 per cent of the ball but only scored 10 points late in the game.

“I have never seen a team that has had only 27 per cent of the possession.

“Last year we averaged an 83 per cent completion rate over the season but now we have come out on the other end of the spectrum.

“We are still on track. Nothing has changed, as I didn’t read too much into it.”

Satisfied he knows why his Comets failed to fire, Barnett is planning for a totally different challenge this week.

“We trained on Monday but it was a bit of a fun session with Lazza (Larry McDonald),” the coach said with a smile, because any fitness session with McDonald is bound to be tough.

“We also practised holding on to the ball,” he added mischievously.

Barnett feels his team is in a better position than last year but knows a win against the CQ Indigenous All Stars is required to keep confidence on a high.

Yesterday Barnett was boosted by the news that, if he wants, he can put his strongest line-up on the park.

All Comets players trialling with the Broncos got time on the park during the match with the Melbourne Storm.

This week the Broncos have named two teams for trial matches and only Ben Hunt is required.

That gives Barnett an option to run out Aaron Summers, Guy Williams and PJ Marsh.

“I’m not sure if I’ll use them yet,” he said.

The good thing for Barnett is that he knows all his squad will get a run, whether in the team playing the CQ Indigenous All Stars or for the Comets A team, which will face a strong Chairman’s XIII, coached by former Origin legend Jason Hetherington, in the curtain raiser.

Barnett will take his time deciding who will play in the Comets and who will turn out in the A team, which his assistant Walson Carlos will control.

The Comets game with the CQ Indigenous All Stars starts at 7pm.

THE TEAMS

CQ Indigenous All Stars:

1 Anthony Toby – Norths

2 Clint Rothery – Norths

3 Russell Webber – Norths/Mackey Brothers

4 Daniel Roberts – Rockhampton Brothers

5 Cameron Oakley – Rockhampton Brothers

6 Nat Bowman – Comets

7 Yoren Major – Norths

8 Matt Jarvis – Norths

9 Greg Major – Norths

10 Alan Rothery – Comets

11 George Jarrett – Comets

12 Andrew Dale – Norths

13 James Waterton – Norths

14 Paul Oram – Norths

15 Daniel Pickering – Fitzroys

16 Ken Oakley – Rockhampton Brothers

17 Jarrod Johnson – Gladstone Brothers

18 Aaron Georgetown – Rockhampton Brothers

19 Matt Baker – Wallabys

20 Justin Miller – Norths

21 Chris Butler- Wallabys

22 Chris Saunders – Norths

23 Lionel Harbin – Norths

24 Caleb Littleboy – Norths

25 Jimmy Dockery – Fitzroys

26 Paul Neale – Rockhampton Brothers

27 Greg Saunders – Fitzroys

Some to be omitted.

Coaching staff :

Justin Loomans

Greg Major

Leroy Wilson

Harley Schwartz

Conrad Ingra

 

Chairman’s XIII

Dan Chilcott, Reede McHugh, Jason Fogarty, Scott Kerridge, Michael Morrissey, Matt Tanner, Nick Swan, Ian Moulds, Jamie Watts, Josh Binnie, Trent Hoad, Dane Jones, Tyrone Hopgood, Justin Thaw, Tye McMillan, Gavin Hiscox, Sam Bernstrom, Brent Kuskey, Rhys Stafford.

Coaching staff: Jason Hetherington, Kurt Sullivan, Dominic Draper (manager), Shane Nugent.