Indigenous All Stars (rugby league)
The Indigenous Australian rugby league team (also known as the Indigenous All Stars[1] or Indigenous Dreamtime[2] team) is a rugby league football team that represents Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. The team was first formed in 1973 and currently plays in an annual All Stars Match against a National Rugby League NRL All Stars team.
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Team information | ||||||
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Governing body | Australian Rugby League Commission | |||||
Head coach | Ronald Griffiths | |||||
Captain | Latrell Mitchell | |||||
Most caps | Joel Thompson (7) Andrew Fifita (7) Ryan James (7) Jack Wighton (7) Tyrone Peachey (7) | |||||
Top try-scorer | Ben Barba (4) Josh Addo-Carr (4) | |||||
Top point-scorer | Johnathan Thurston (38) | |||||
Team results | ||||||
First international | ||||||
Indigenous Beat Papua New Guinea ![]() | ||||||
Biggest win | ||||||
Indigenous All Stars 32-6 NRL All Stars | ||||||
Biggest defeat | ||||||
Indigenous All Stars 12-44 Māori All Stars | ||||||
World Cup | ||||||
Appearances | 2008 Opening Ceremony Vs New Zealand Māori |
History
An Aboriginal v White Australian rugby league game was held in Barcaldine in Western Queensland in 1963. These 'Blacks v Whites' games continued annually until 1984.[3]
The first Australian Aboriginal rugby league team was assembled in 1973 The Aboriginal team managed to win seven of its nine matches in just 10 days, The team consisted of 34 players – 19 from NSW, 13 from Queensland and two from the Northern Territory. They went on to win games against Kiwi premiers Wellington Petone, the only all-Māori team & Auckland club & Te Atatu, which the Aboriginal side won 17–13.[4]
The side competed in the Pacific Cup in 1990, 1992 and 1994. During this period the team contained New South Wales Rugby League first grade players such as Ricky Walford, Graham Lyons, Ron Gibbs, Darrell Trindall, Paul Davis, Wayne Alberts, George Longbottom and Will Robinson.
In the post-1999 NRL season an Aboriginal side managed by Arthur Beetson defeated the Papua New Guinea Kumuls and the future rugby league Immortal was pushing for an Australia Day match against the Australian national team.
On the same day as the All Stars announcement, the league also revealed the NRL Pre-Season Challenge would return in 2024, with the tournament kicking off on February 15 and running across two weekends.
In 2008 World Cup curtain raiser to the Australia vs. New Zealand match included an Indigenous Australian squad playing against New Zealand Māori which featured several prominent NRL players and rising stars, including Chris Sandow, Wairangi Koopu, Preston Campbell, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Carl Webb.
Preston Campbell, a highly respected Aboriginal rugby league player, was a driving force behind the setup, in 2010, of a curtain raising match between the Indigenous All Stars, and the NRL All Stars. The Indigenous All Stars played what seems likely become an annual match against the National Rugby League All Stars on 13 February 2010.[6] The squad was chosen in part by public vote. Aboriginal NRL player Sid Domic's artistic ability led him to be selected from a field of six artists to design the Indigenous side's jersey, as well as Johnathan Thurston's and Jamie Soward's custom headgear, for the annual All Stars matches.[7]
2019 will see a new format of the Australian Indigenous All-Stars play the New Zealand Māori at AAMI Park in Melbourne on 15 February. It will be part of an All-Stars double header with the women's teams to play the curtain-raiser Māori and indigenous teams to the men's game. With no All-Stars game in 2017 due to the World Cup, the NRL will be hoping the inclusion of the New Zealand Māori side will spark popularity in the fixture. With three Indigenous players also eligible for both teams Dane Gagai, Reimis Smith, Josh Hoffman and Javid Bowen.[8]
Teams
First Australian Aboriginal Rugby League Team 1973 Tour
- Michael Anderson
- Neil Appo
- John Brady
- Marshall Brown
- Don Carter
- Phillip de la Cruz
- Les Drew
- Archie Glass
- Jeffrey Hennaway
- Larry Hoskins
- Desi Illis
- Allen Madden
- Patrick Marra
- Ron Mason
- Ambrose Morgan
- Thomas Moylan
- Michael Mundine
- Steve Ridgeway
- Clarke Scott
- Bruce Stewart
- Wally Tallis
- Francis Tappin
- Geoffrey Thorne
- Neville Thorne
- Albert Torrens
- Eddie Vale
- Terry Wickey
- Bill Widders
- Victor Wright
Source:[9]
1990-92-1994 Australian Aboriginals Pacific Cup Team
- Wayne Alberts
- Paul Davis
- Ron Gibbs
- George Longbottom
- Graham Lyons
- Will Robinson
- Darrell Trindall
- Ricky Walford
- Jason Wilson (Walgett Rugby League)
1999 Australian Aboriginals
- Cliff Lyons (c)
- John Buttigieg
- Owen Craigie
- John Doyle
- Justin Doyle
- Alf Duncan
- Peter Ellis
- Damien Higgins
- Lee Hookey
- Damian Kennedy
- Kevin McGuinness
- Dennis Moran
- John Simon
- Robbie Simpson
- Blaine Stanley
- Mark Tookey
- Albert Torrens
- Carl Webb
- Dean Widders
- Coach - Arthur Beetson
2008 Indigenous Team of the Century (1908–2007)
Team of the Century | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Updated: 2008 |
2008 Indigenous Dreamtime


2008 squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
Updated: 7 December 2008 |
2010 Indigenous All Stars
2010 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2011 Indigenous All Stars
2011 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2012 Indigenous All Stars
2012 squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
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2013 Indigenous All Stars
2013 squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
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2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League
The NRL launched a Festival of Indigenous Rugby League program to take the place of the prestigious pre-season Rugby League All Stars game following every World Cup year. The 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League featured a trial match between the Knights and a non-elite Indigenous team, drawn from the immensely popular NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout and Murri Carnivals in Queensland, as well as the NRL Indigenous Player Cultural Camp, Murri vs Koori women's and Under 16s representative games, a Murri v Koori match, a jobs expo and community visits.
2014 squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
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2015 Indigenous All Stars
2015 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2016 Indigenous All Stars
2016 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2017 Indigenous All Stars
2017 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2019 Indigenous All Stars
2019 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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Indigenous Team of the Decade (2010–2019)
Team of the Decade | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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2020 Indigenous All Stars
2020 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2021 Indigenous All Stars
2021 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
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2022 Indigenous All Stars
2022 squad | Did not play | Coaching staff | |||||||
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2023 Indigenous All Stars
2022 squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
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Results
16 October 1999 |
Australian Aborigines | 58 – 12 | Papua New Guinea |
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Tries: Albert Torrens 3 Justin Doyle 2 Alf Duncan 2 Dennis Moran 2 Owen Craigie 1 Lee Hookey 1 Goals: Dennis Moran 5 John Simon 2 |
Tries: David Buko 1 Elias Paiyo 1 Goals: John Wilshere 2 |
23 October 1999 |
Australian Aborigines | 32 – 10 | Papua New Guinea |
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Tries: Owen Craigie 1 Alf Duncan 1 Peter Ellis 1 Dennis Moran 1 Mark Tookey 1 Dean Widders 1 Goals: Dennis Moran 2 Blaine Stanley 2 |
Tries: David Buko 1 John Wilshere 1 Goals: John Wilshere 1 |
26 October 2008 |
Indigenous Dreamtime | 34 – 26 | New Zealand Māori |
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Tries: Rod Jensen (33', 53') 2 Rhys Wesser (22', 71') 2 Justin Carney (18') 1 Yileen Gordon (80') 1 Goals: Jamie Soward 4 Derrick Watkins 1 |
Tries: Sam McKendry (2') 1 Shaun Kenny-Dowall (25') 1 Chase Stanley (48') 1 Jordan Rapana (58') 1 Arana Taumata (67') 1 Goals: Bronx Goodwin 2 Chase Stanley 1 |
13 February 2010 8:00pm (AEST) |
Indigenous All Stars | 16 – 12 | NRL All Stars |
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Tries: Wendell Sailor (3') 1 Ben Jones (32') 1 Jamie Soward (74') 1 Goals: Johnathan Thurston 2/2 (34', 76') Field Goals: Scott Prince 0/1 |
1st: 4 - 0 2nd: 6 - 0 3rd: 0 - 8 4th: 6 - 4 |
Tries: Josh Morris (54') 1 Benji Marshall (59') 1 Michael Jennings (61') 1 |
Skilled Park Gold Coast, Queensland Attendance: 26,687 Preston Campbell Medal: Johnathan Thurston Referee: Shayne Hayne, Ashley Klein, Gavin Badger, Luke Phillips |
12 February 2011 8:00pm (AEST) |
NRL All Stars | 28 – 12 | Indigenous All Stars |
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Tries: Brett Morris (3') 1 Paul Gallen (24') 1 Shaun Kenny-Dowall (32') 1 Akuila Uate (35') 1 Josh Dugan (72') 1 Goals: Benji Marshall 2/2 (33', 36') Cameron Smith 1/2 (25') Kurt Gidley 1/1 (73') |
1st: 4 - 0 2nd: 18 - 6 3rd: 0 - 6 4th: 6 - 0 |
Tries: Ben Barba (40') 1 Nathan Merritt (59') 1 Goals: Johnathan Thurston 1/1 (40') Scott Prince 1/1 (60') |
Skilled Park Gold Coast, Queensland Attendance: 25,843 Preston Campbell Medal: Josh Dugan Referee: Shayne Hayne, Ben Cummins, Gavin Badger, Henry Perenara |
4 February 2012, 7:15pm (AEDT) |
NRL All Stars | 36 – 28 | Indigenous All Stars |
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Tries Pritchard (26') 1 Lewis (35') 1 Bailey (46') 1 Dugan (51') 1 Reed (65') 1 Vatuvei (74') 1 Goals Marshall 6/6 (31', 37', 47', 51', 66', 75') |
Tries 2 (20', 39') Merritt 1 (6') Yow Yeh 1 (29') Bowen 1 (69') Inglis Goals 3/4 Thurston (8', 21', 30') 1 (71') Sandow |
Skilled Park, Robina Referee: Jason Robinson, Ashley Klein, Gerard Sutton, Phil Haines Player of the Match: Nathan Merritt (Preston Campbell Medal) |
9 February 2013, 7:45pm(AEDT) |
Indigenous All Stars | 32 – 6 | NRL All Stars |
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Tries Barba 3 (10', 21', 31') Robinson 3 (46', 71', 78') Goals Thurston 3/4 Prince 1/1 |
Tries 1 (14') Hayne Goals 1/1 Reynolds |
8 February 2014, 7pm (AEDT) |
Newcastle Knights | 52 – 12 | First Nation Goannas |
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Tries Jake Mamo 3 Joseph Tapine 2 Alex McKinnon 1 Korbin Sims 1 Sione Mata’utia 1 Josh Mantellato 1 Matt Minto 1 Goals Josh Mantellato 6/10 |
Tries 1 Davin Crampton 1 Rod Jensen Goals 2/2 Adrian Davis |
13 February 2015 8:00pm (AEDT) |
Indigenous All Stars | 20 – 6 | NRL All Stars |
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Tries: Inglis (51') 1 Chambers (64') 1 Grevsmuhl (78') 1 Goals: Thurston 4/4 (53', 66', 75' pen, 79') |
[16] |
Tries: Walker (29') 1 Goals: Croker 1/1 (30') |
13 February 2016 7.05pm (AEST) |
Indigenous All Stars | 8 – 12 | World All Stars |
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Tries: Latu (40') 1 Gagai (63') 1 Goals: |
Tries: Hurrell (32') 1 Radradra (42') 1 Goals: |
Suncorp Stadium Attendance: 37, 399 Preston Campbell Medal: James Graham Referee: Matt Cecchin & Allan Shortall |
10 February 2017 8:15pm AEDT |
Indigenous All Stars | 34 – 8 | World All Stars |
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Tries: Bird (4') 1 Ferguson (7') 1 Taylor (13') 1 Thurston (41') 1 Gagai (59') 1 Latu (70') 1 Goals: Thurston 4/5 (4', 14', 43', 60') Sezer 1/1 (72') |
[17][18] |
Tries: Mead (36') 1 Macdonald (39') 1 Goals: Croker 0/2 |
15 February 2019 8:20pm (AEDT) |
Indigenous All Stars | 34 – 14 | Māori All Stars |
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Tries: Josh Addo-Carr (11', 14') 2 Bevan French (33') 1 Blake Ferguson (39') 1 David Fifita (45') 1 Cody Walker (64') 1 Josh Kerr (73') 1 Goals: Latrell Mitchell 3/7 (15', 40', 75') Field Goals: Tyrone Roberts 0/1 |
[19] |
Tries: Dane Gagai (3', 28') 2 Esan Marsters (51') 1 Goals: Jordan Kahu 1/2 (4') Esan Marsters 0/1 |
AAMI Park Attendance: 18,802 Preston Campbell Medal: Tyrone Roberts Referee: Grant Atkins, Gavin Badger |
22 February 2020 7:20pm (AEST) |
Māori All Stars | 30 – 16 | Indigenous All Stars |
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Tries: Brandon Smith (70', 75') 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (5') 1 Kodi Nikorima (27') 1 Dylan Walker (80') 1 Goals: Kalyn Ponga 4/4 (6', 29', 71', 75') Adam Blair 1/1 (80') Sin Bin: Jahrome Hughes (23') 1 |
[20] 1st: 6 - 6 2nd: 6 - 4 3rd: 0 - 6 4th: 18 - 0 |
Tries: Joshua Curran (18') 1 Blake Ferguson (40') 1 James Roberts (57') 1 Goals: Tyrone Roberts 1/2 (20') Blake Ferguson 1/1 (58') |
Cbus Super Stadium Attendance: 23,599 Preston Campbell Medal: Brandon Smith Referee: Gerard Sutton, Peter Gough |
20 February 2021 7:15pm (AEST) |
Indigenous All Stars | 10 – 10 | Māori All Stars |
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Tries: Alex Johnston (64') 1 Goals: Latrell Mitchell 2/2 (65', 80' pen) Jamal Fogarty 1/1 (20' pen) Sin Bin: Tyrone Peachey (60') 1 |
[21] 1st: 2 - 0 2nd: 0 - 0 3rd: 0 - 10 4th: 8 - 0 |
Tries: Jordan Riki (49') 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (53') 1 Goals: Patrick Herbert 1/2 (51') Sin Bin: Zane Musgrove (35') 1 |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium Attendance: 20,206 Preston Campbell Medal: James Fisher-Harris Referee: Adam Gee |
12 February 2022 5:20pm (AEDT) |
Indigenous All Stars | 10 – 16 | Māori All Stars |
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Tries: Jesse Ramien (13') 1 Tyrell Sloan (67') 1 Goals: Braydon Trindall 1/1 (20' pen) Nicho Hynes 0/2 Sin Bin: Andrew Fifita (20') 1 Jesse Ramien (56') 1 |
1st: 6 - 0 2nd: 0 - 10 3rd: 0 - 6 4th: 4 - 0 |
Tries: Kodi Nikorima (25') 1 Esan Marsters (33') 1 Joseph Tapine (57') 1 Goals: Patrick Herbert 1/2 (27') Kodi Nikorima 1/1 (58') Sin Bin: Jordan Rapana (20') 1 |
11 February 2023 5:50pm (NZDT) |
Māori All Stars | 24 – 28 | Indigenous All Stars |
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Tries: Zach Dockar-Clay (3') 1 Jesse Arthars (23') 1 Jordan Riki (55') 1 Preston Riki (78') 1 Goals: Jordan Rapana 4/4 (5', 25', 56', 78') |
1st: 6 - 4 2nd: 6 - 6 3rd: 6 - 6 4th: 6 - 12 |
Tries: Selwyn Cobbo (62', 69', 73') 3 Tyrell Sloan (15') 1 Nicho Hynes (35') 1 Brent Naden (45') 1 Goals: Nicho Hynes 2/4 (37', 47') Latrell Mitchell 0/2 |
Rotorua International Stadium Attendance: 17,644 Preston Campbell Medal: Nicho Hynes Referee: Gerard Sutton |
2024 Player Pool
- National Rugby League (Australia)
- Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos)
- Ezra Mam (Brisbane Broncos)
- Jordan Riki (Brisbane Broncos)
- Tristan Sailor (Brisbane Broncos)
- Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos)
- Reece Walsh (Brisbane Broncos)
- Jamal Fogarty (Canberra Raiders)
- Sebastian Kris (Canberra Raiders)
- Hohepa Puru (Canberra Raiders)
- Xavier Savage (Canberra Raiders)
- Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Bailey Biondi-Odo (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Braidon Burns (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Joshua Curran (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Blake Taaffe (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
- Nicho Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
- William Kennedy (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
- Jesse Ramien (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
- Braydon Trindall (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
- Josh Kerr (Dolphins)
- Edrick Lee (Dolphins)
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins)
- Jacob Alick (Gold Coast Titans)
- Jayden Campbell (Gold Coast Titans)
- David Fifita (Gold Coast Titans)
- Brian Kelly (Gold Coast Titans)
- Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans)
- Jason Saab (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
- Reimis Smith (Melbourne Storm)
- Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
- Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
- Adam Elliott (Newcastle Knights)
- Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Scott Drinkwater (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Zac Laybutt (North Queensland Cowboys)
- Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (North Queensland Cowboys)
- J'maine Hopgood (Parramatta Eels)
- Daine Laurie (Penrith Panthers)
- Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers)
- Jacob Gagai (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Shaquai Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Isaiah Tass (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Jack Wighton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
- Jack Bird (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
- Tyrell Sloan (St. George Illawarra Dragons)
- Connor Watson (Sydney Roosters)
- Brent Naden (Wests Tigers)
- Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers)
- Super League Europe
- Josh Drinkwater (Catalans Dragons)
- Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield Giants)
- Robert Lui (Leeds Rhinos)
- Nathan Peats (Leigh Centurions)
- Joel Thompson (St Helens R.F.C.)
- David Fifita (Wakefield Trinity)
- Greg Inglis (Warrington Wolves)
- Jai Field (Wigan Warriors)
- Bevan French (Wigan Warriors)
See also
- Australian national rugby league team
- List of Indigenous All Stars players
References
- AAP (16 October 2009). "Indigenous All Stars by name, and nature". ABC. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- Malone, Paul (10 October 2008). "Sam Thaiday in Indigenous Dreamtime team for Rugby League World Cup Article f". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
- AAP (3 November 2007). "We need to follow footprints of Barcaldine". The Age. Australia: Fairfax Media.
- AAP (18 February 1973). "Aboriginal team wins". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
- Lubowitz, Nora. "Indigenous v Maori All Stars games". Australia Rugby. 08/01/2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- Indigenous All Stars team launched NRL.com, 16 October 2009
- Jodie van de Wetering and Kallee Buchanan (10 February 2010). "All Stars' jerseys emblazoned with Domic's designs". ABC News. Australia: ABC. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- Lucas, Andrew (28 August 2018). "NRL announce new All-Stars concept to kick-off 2019 NRL season". Andrew Lucas. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- "The maiden voyage: 50 years since the first Indigenous tour". NRL.com. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- "Modern stars join greats in Indigenous Team of Century". ABC News. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- "Indigenous Dreamtime team named". Official RLWC08 site. 11 October 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2010.
- Greg Inglis was originally selected but withdrew due to injury (replaced by Beau Champion)
- Thurston attained captaincy after Campbell withdrew to injury
- Sam Thaiday was originally selected but withdrew due to injury (replaced by Joel Moon)
- Preston Campbell was originally selected but withdrew due to injury (replaced by Anthony Mitchell)
- Indigenous All Stars leave it late nrl.com, 13 February 2015
- "Thurston inspires Indigenous All Stars to big win". NRL.com. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- Rolfson, Uriah. "Townsville to host 2024 Maori v Indigenous All Stars Rugby". Indigenous All Stars Rugby. 08/01/2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- "Addo-Carr stars as Indigenous All Stars beat Māori All Stars". NRL.com. 15 February 2019.
- Balym, Todd (22 February 2020). "Smith stars as Māori side clinches first All Stars win". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "'I thought it was golden point': Cody laments late call to level up". NRL.com. 20 February 2021.