Indigenous women win All Stars clash, men fall short in dramatic finish

No Latrell. No Foxx. No Nicho.

There was a lack of star power and the game suffered. Not even a close and exciting finish - it seemed somewhat appropriate that Indigenous halfback Niwhai Puru knocked on trying to score the match-winning try - could mask that there was something missing.

Yes, there was the occasional highlight, like Brent Naden running down a seemingly runaway Mawene Hiroti.

They were few and far between.

This game couldn’t hold a candle to the women’s game that preceded it, where all of the big names took their place. The lack of star power contributed to a drab affair.

It must prompt a debate about the place of the game in the NRL calendar. During grand final week, perhaps?

There are going to be challenges regardless of the landing point. Would playing it during grand final week add or detract from the Koori Knockout? If you wait a week later, does it get overshadowed by Bathurst? Are the clubs more likely to pressure the players not to play at the end of the year?

There is no perfect answer, but all of these questions need to be asked.

Of course, the All Stars is about more than just the football. It’s about celebrating culture, of representing community. It’s a game that must be retained.

But this year’s match will not linger long in the memory. And that won’t be a bad thing.