The Indigenous All Stars game is kicking off the Group 16 rugby league season this weekend in the lead up to what is hopefully a full season.
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Paul Perkins, coach of the Group 16 All Stars, said he was looking forward to what should be a really good weekend of "hard nosed footy".
"First of all the event is great because it acknowledges all the Indigenous players in our competition, there's a lot of talent amongst that group and it's great to be able to pay our respects to them," Perkins said.
Perkins said it was not only a great event for spectators but for Group 16 rugby league in general as well.
"The whole thing is just a great showcase for all the talent in our region," he said.
"I feel the talent in Group 16 is often a little bit overlooked. This event puts those boys and girls on display and rewards them for all of their hard work they've put in leading up to the season."
The event brings players from all across the region to Batemans Bay, with representation from Cooma, Bega, Merimbula, Tathra and the Snowy River.
This is the seventh running of the event, with it being a highlight of the season every year, with league fans and players always circling it on their calendar.
Perkins said the games should be pretty hotly contested even though he admitted that he didn't know how teams were looking specifically leading up to the match.
"I'm not too sure what the Indigenous team looks like at the moment, they always step up though and that first 20 minutes is like a war," he said.
"We are going to have to be very prepared for what I think will be a tough match."
The event will again have a women's all star match. Women's tackle league has seen fast development in recent years and tremendously helped footy in the region in general.
"The addition of women's tackle and league tag is keeping footy alive in our league honestly. It's gotten so many more people involved and they bring out great crowds," Perkins said.
"It's great to see their comps continue to develop and the exposure from these events help a ton as well," he said.
Perkins thought it would be a great match for spectators and hoped people really get behind the day.
"They're going to see some pretty tough and skilled footy, the games are always real physical games and I think there will be a lot of flair behind the performances," he said.
Gates will open at Mackay Park at 9.45am for what is set to be a huge day of footy.
The event will open with a Welcome to Country at 11am followed by a match between the Bay Tigers 18s and Bega 18s.
At 12pm will be a league tag match between the Bay Tigresses and the Bega Chicks.
A trial match for the Bay Tigers and Snowy River Bears will follow at 1pm.
Then at 2.30pm a showcase of cultural entertainment will kick off.
At 3pm the Ladies Indigenous All Stars v Group 16 All Stars will be played, which will be followed by the main match between the Men's Indigenous All Stars v Group 16 All Stars at 4pm.
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