All Star Game - Who to Follow?

The 3rd instalment of the NRL All Stars game is on tonight and it has made me wonder how to decide who to follow if you are not sure which side is the one for you.  Obviously for many it will not be a hard decision and I am sure that the Indigenous population are quite proud to put their hand up and state that they are 100% behind the Indigenous All-Stars.  But unlike Origin or International matches where either team is from a state or country that you are passionate about the All-star game makes it a little bit different.

For me it would not seem right going for the NRL All-Stars if there are more Queenslanders in the Indeigenous team.  But maybe the NRL All Stars team has more Broncos, Cowboys and Titans in their sqaud.  Also if the NRL All star team has a large New Zealand influence surely I would want to support the team that is 100% Australian.  So for this analysis I will simply try and break down the teams and see if I can help you make up your mind on what you decide.

Firstly the NRL Indigenous All Stars, their club and their state.

Ben Barba:                Bulldogs         QLD

Jharal Yow Yeh:         Broncos         QLD

Greg Inglis:                 Rabbitohs      QLD

Justin Hodges            Broncos         QLD

Nathan merrit             Rabbitohs      NSW

Jonathon Thurston    Cowboys      QLD

Chris Sandow          Eels                  QLD

Greg Bird                  Titans              NSW

Jamal Idris                Titans              NSW

Sam Thaiday            Broncos           QLD

George Rose           Sea-Eagles     NSW

Travis Waddell         Canberra         QLD

Tom Learoyd-Lahs   Canberra         NSW

Andrew Fifita             Sharks             NSW

Cory Paterson           Cowboys         NSW

Matt Bowen               Cowboys         QLD

Scott Prince               Titans              QLD

Anthony Mitchell        Eels                 QLD

Joel Thompson         Raiders           NSW

Nathan Peats            Rabbitohs       NSW

In total the IND All Stars have 11 Queenslanders and only 9 from NSW

And is made up of 9 from QLD based teams and 11 from NSW based teams

Then there is the NRL All Stars

Josh Dugan                Canberra             NSW             

Jason Nightingale       Dragons              NZ

Jack Reed                    Broncos               ENG

Michael Jennings       Panthers               NSW

Manu Vatuvei           Warriors               NZ

Benji Marshall           Tigers                   NZ

Cooper Cronk          Storm                   QLD

Paul Gallen               Sharks                  NSW

David Taylor            Rabbitohs             QLD

Nathan Hindmarsh    Eels                      NSW

Luke Bailey              Titans                    NSW

Aaron Payne             Cowboys             QLD

Kade Snowden        Knights                 NSW

Adam Blair              Tigers                   NZ

Frank Pritchard        Bulldogs               NZ

Jared Waarea-Hegreaves    Roosters    NZ

Brent Tate                Cowboys             QLD

Luke Lewis              Panthers               NSW

Nathan Fien             Dragons               NZ

Anthony Watmough  Sea-Eagles          NSW

In total there are 8 from NSW, 7 from NZ, 4 from QLD and 1 from the UK.

And this is made up of 14 from NSW based clubs, 4 from QLD based clubs and one each from Victoria and NZ.

So for a passionate Queenslander like myself it seems to make more sense to go for the Indigenous team purely on weight of numbers.  The NRL All Stars had my support in the past but this year I find myself wanting to support the Indegenous team as I cannot bring myself to barrack for a team made up mainly of players from NSW and New Zealand if they are playing against so many Queensland players.

I am not sure if this will make it any easier for those who are unsure which team to follow but even if you cannot decide still make sure you tune in to watch what should be an entertaining game.