It may be officially a trial on the NRL calendar, but the Newcastle Knights have vowed to field a quality line-up for their match against 16 of the countries best 'non-elite' indigenous players at Hunter Stadium next February.
Knights coach Wayne Bennett was joined by First Nation Goannas coach Laurie Daley to officially launch the 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League in Newcastle on Tuesday.
The game will mark the culmination of a week-long celebration that will also feature community and school visits, a community festival; matches between NSW and QLD Indigenous women's teams and NSW QLD U16 boys teams and the annual Murri v Koori Interstate Challenge.
Bennett is excited by the concept, insisting the Knights will be treating the match with all the respect it deserves.
"The indigenous game is not a trial match," Bennett says frankly.
"Believe me. Its a full-on game of rugby league.
"Ill get a good balance there, but as I said Ill pick quality players in some positions because I dont want to disrespect the event and the organisation.
"I also want an opportunity to give a couple of under 20s players and a team of players that also want to be there."
The match will replace the annual All Stars match, which has been put on hold for one year due to the demand on players from the World Cup and the Auckland Nines.
Bennett has no doubts the All Stars fixture will return in 2015, but for now the clash against some of the best young indigenous players in the country is a perfect replacement.
"I thought the (All Stars) concept might lose a little bit of momentum and its got a lot of momentum to it," he says.
"But I think this match is a wonderful opportunity for a lot of other people to be a part of the celebrations of the Indigenous people.
"So I was more than happy with the concept."
As part of the festival, sixteen young indigenous players will be given the opportunity to train with NRL clubs during the build-up to the trial against the Knights.
Bennett says this will be an invaluable experience for the young footballers to be exposed to the expectations required to play at the highest level.
"I thought that was one of the great initiatives of the concept," he enthuses.
"I think youll find that some of them will get picked up and get opportunities.
"Its a great opportunity for them to realise the amount of discipline required to play and train at this level.
"So its a bonus for both groups.
"The clubs get a quality player and for the individual to go and learn about what is right and wrong.
"I think everyone will be amazed with what this weekend will bring to Newcastle and also the actual game itself."
Knights forward Willie Mason is equally excited about the match and the opportunity to play an important role in developing our best young indigenous players.
Mason has no doubts the match will provide chances for a number of young players to impress and attract interest from NRL clubs.
"I was involved in the All Stars last year and that was one of the best weeks Ive had in my whole career," Mason says.
"These kids that well come up against just play in the local league in Sydney or out in the bush.
"So theyve had no taste of NRL, but some of the players Ive seen like little Adrian Davis are very skilful.
"AJ was in the mix here at the Knights in the juniors for a little while, but he is obviously not playing here anymore.
"There is a lot of skill and as Wayne said you cant go out there and disrespect the jersey and throw a reserve grade team out that no one has ever heard of.
"So of course he is going to throw his best team out there."
Mason says he is a huge fan of the entire concept, but he is particularly pumped about the Indigenous players getting the chance to train with NRL clubs prior to the trial on February 8.
"I think its great for all those Indigenous kids who get the opportunity to train with an NRL team before," he says.
"Id be stoked if I was young and got to train with South Sydney and hang out with GI (Greg Inglis) or go up to North Queensland and hang out with Johnathan Thurston.
"So I think its an unbelievable opportunity for these kids."
What about the Knights players? Well, Mason reckons they'll be ready for a spirited affair against Daley's First Nations Goannas.
"They wont be holding back regardless of your name," he grins.
"They might be in awe a little a bit and then theyll just get out there and rip in as hard as they can."
Tickets go on sale to this event in January, stay tuned for more details.
Knights coach Wayne Bennett was joined by First Nation Goannas coach Laurie Daley to officially launch the 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League in Newcastle on Tuesday.
The game will mark the culmination of a week-long celebration that will also feature community and school visits, a community festival; matches between NSW and QLD Indigenous women's teams and NSW QLD U16 boys teams and the annual Murri v Koori Interstate Challenge.
Bennett is excited by the concept, insisting the Knights will be treating the match with all the respect it deserves.
"The indigenous game is not a trial match," Bennett says frankly.
"Believe me. Its a full-on game of rugby league.
"Ill get a good balance there, but as I said Ill pick quality players in some positions because I dont want to disrespect the event and the organisation.
"I also want an opportunity to give a couple of under 20s players and a team of players that also want to be there."
The match will replace the annual All Stars match, which has been put on hold for one year due to the demand on players from the World Cup and the Auckland Nines.
Bennett has no doubts the All Stars fixture will return in 2015, but for now the clash against some of the best young indigenous players in the country is a perfect replacement.
"I thought the (All Stars) concept might lose a little bit of momentum and its got a lot of momentum to it," he says.
"But I think this match is a wonderful opportunity for a lot of other people to be a part of the celebrations of the Indigenous people.
"So I was more than happy with the concept."
As part of the festival, sixteen young indigenous players will be given the opportunity to train with NRL clubs during the build-up to the trial against the Knights.
Bennett says this will be an invaluable experience for the young footballers to be exposed to the expectations required to play at the highest level.
"I thought that was one of the great initiatives of the concept," he enthuses.
"I think youll find that some of them will get picked up and get opportunities.
"Its a great opportunity for them to realise the amount of discipline required to play and train at this level.
"So its a bonus for both groups.
"The clubs get a quality player and for the individual to go and learn about what is right and wrong.
"I think everyone will be amazed with what this weekend will bring to Newcastle and also the actual game itself."
Knights forward Willie Mason is equally excited about the match and the opportunity to play an important role in developing our best young indigenous players.
Mason has no doubts the match will provide chances for a number of young players to impress and attract interest from NRL clubs.
"I was involved in the All Stars last year and that was one of the best weeks Ive had in my whole career," Mason says.
"These kids that well come up against just play in the local league in Sydney or out in the bush.
"So theyve had no taste of NRL, but some of the players Ive seen like little Adrian Davis are very skilful.
"AJ was in the mix here at the Knights in the juniors for a little while, but he is obviously not playing here anymore.
"There is a lot of skill and as Wayne said you cant go out there and disrespect the jersey and throw a reserve grade team out that no one has ever heard of.
"So of course he is going to throw his best team out there."
Mason says he is a huge fan of the entire concept, but he is particularly pumped about the Indigenous players getting the chance to train with NRL clubs prior to the trial on February 8.
"I think its great for all those Indigenous kids who get the opportunity to train with an NRL team before," he says.
"Id be stoked if I was young and got to train with South Sydney and hang out with GI (Greg Inglis) or go up to North Queensland and hang out with Johnathan Thurston.
"So I think its an unbelievable opportunity for these kids."
What about the Knights players? Well, Mason reckons they'll be ready for a spirited affair against Daley's First Nations Goannas.
"They wont be holding back regardless of your name," he grins.
"They might be in awe a little a bit and then theyll just get out there and rip in as hard as they can."
Tickets go on sale to this event in January, stay tuned for more details.
