In a scene from last night’s episode of Black Comedy on the ABC, an aboriginal father and son sit on the beach staring out over the ocean. The boy turns to his dad and asks, “If we’re aboriginals because we lived here first shouldn’t white people be called aboriginals in the place they came from too?”

Now if you’ve ever watched Black Comedy you’d know it’s a pretty good laugh and doesn’t take itself very seriously at all. But that question raises another: Who are we to tell the indigenous people of Australia that the All Stars match isn’t important enough to be part of the annual rugby league calendar?

Ask Rugby League Central if All Stars matters and they’ll throw a thousand financial reports in your face and talk about how good the Auckland Nines is and how it’s a celebration of footy for everyone despite the fact that the majority of cash that flows into the weekend flows right back out the other side into the pockets of other parties – not the National Rugby League.

There’s nothing wrong with the all mighty dollar swinging the balance of power in its direction but it can’t swing so far as to completely incinerate the pillars that hold the game aloft.

Head of Football Todd Greenberg is reviewing the feasibility of the clash that will this year pit the Indigenous against a World All Stars team.

“The All Stars is an event that’s been on the calendar for a number of years and is held in very high regard by all of us,” Greenberg said.

“Not just for the event but for everything that happens in the week before it. It is a very important part of the calendar. Where it best sits on the calendar, I’ve got to do some thinking.

“I’m not sure what will happen with All Stars in the future but it’s a very important part of our season structure. Where it is best suited is a discussion we must have with the clubs.

“But 40,000 people at Suncorp, it will be a great event.”

If you take Greenberg at his word then we will see the All Stars match and more importantly the proud Indigenous outfit for years to come. The timing of the match needs to be looked at, not whether it’s worthy enough of our eyes.

Yet there are still some who think the game should be thrown on the scrap heap alongside the World Sevens, Super League’s Tri-Series and the Tooheys Challenge Cup.

The Indigenous All Stars don’t deserve that.

Some believe it should be shown the door. But you will never hear an aboriginal, player or fan, tell you that it doesn’t mean something to them. And that’s the point. It means something to them and that should be enough for us to support it, trust in it and celebrate it.

Ryan Hoffman said it best.

“It does a lot of work in the communities, gives a lot of hope and lets a lot of young indigenous kids dream to be bigger, greater and get out of certain situations,” he said.

“That is the most important thing about this game – not the 80 minutes on the Saturday.”

@woodward_curtis

Video source: Ben Sherry