Indigenous All Stars record comfortable win in annual fixture

v BYE

The Indigenous All Stars have accounted for the World All Stars easily in the 2017 edition of the annual Rugby League All Stars fixture, the home team recording a 34-8 win in front of over 20,000 fans in Newcastle.

It almost seemed like a non-contest from the outset when the Indigenous side dominated the opening quarter - racing to a 10-nil lead after just eight minutes courtesy of tries to Jack Bird and Blake Ferguson.

The only bumps in the road appeared to be waiting for the NRL Bunker to issue decisions as the Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston-led side powered on, eventually going to quarter time with a 16-nil lead courtesy of a third try scored by Ash Taylor.

Thankfully for the World All Stars, quarter-time seemed to stymie the momentum the Indigenous All Stars had gathered. The visiting side then peppered the Indigenous line multiple times, errors and intercepts the only thing stopping them from posting points.

The Indigenous line eventually cracked five minutes from halftime, David Mead recording the World's first four-pointer, which was closely followed by Nene Macdonald, closing the deficit to 16-8.

Injury concerns peppered the third and fourth quarters as the Indigenous side reclaimed the ascendency, Johnathan Thurston lifting his side with a try of his own off a superb Bevan French kick while on a run down the flank, followed up by a pinpoint kick minutes later from JT himself to set up Dane Gagai.

A 20-point lead at three-quarter time was too much for the World All Stars to overcome, with Leilani Latu grabbing the last try of the night, fending off several opposition defenders to cap a great night for his side.

In the casualty ward, Canberra fans will face a nervous wait after captain Jarrod Croker went down with what looked a serious injury, while Greg Inglis was seen hobbling numerous times throughout the contest.