Footy is finally back and the NRL All Stars delivered a chilling return to the field with their respective Māori Haka and Indigenous War Cry pre-game rituals in Townsville on Friday.
Some of the biggest names in the game, including Latrell Mitchell, Dane Gagai and Jahrome Hughes, lined up for the annual representative match which took pride of place in the pre-season leading up to the NRL regular season.
But it was the performances before football began that captivated fans.
Amidst heavy rain in Townsville, the Indigenous and Maori teams emerged from the Queensland Country Bank Stadium tunnel, led by their respective captains, Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Tapine.
The Maori men began the performance by surrounding Leo Thompson, a forward for the Knights. Kodi Nikorima and Dane Gagai were also key figures in the Haka.
Dolphins livewire Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow gestures towards the Māori All Stars during the Indigenous All Stars pre-game rallying cry
Maori captain Joseph Tapine sent chills through spectators in the stadium.
The performance culminated in a powerful showdown between former Warriors teammates Josh Curran and Jazz Tevaga, where they went head-to-head, staring each other down.
“Oh my God,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League. ‘At the bottom of the screen I hope you saw Josh Curran looking at former Warriors teammate Jazz Tevaga.
‘That was sensational. It really is something touching, isn’t it?
‘And now the respect after the challenges were issued. Two very different styles but no less significant from each other.
“Now the challenge is that you have to get up to watch a football game.”
Josh Addo Carr took pride in playing in the All Stars match and scored two tries in a winning performance.
Commentator Michael Ennis said: “It’s always difficult.” We have seen so much emotion.
‘Pride and passion are always so captivating that they almost leave you speechless.
‘Seeing the excitement of these two warriors coming together and the excitement of two former teammates coming together, looking at each other, face to face.
“How can they get their emotions back and prepare for a football team?”
And fans at home loved it too, taking to social media to share their thoughts on the spooky cultural displays that took place before the game.
‘The rallying cry of the Indigenous All Stars was unreal. I love the effort they put into that performance. I don’t think we’ve seen a cultural display from them like that before, have we? asked a fan.
‘There is something magical and fascinating about the indigenous war cry and the Maori Haka. “It’s a fantastic piece of spectacle that brings back the curtain on the NRL seasons,” another added.
‘Chilling war cries as always. Absolutely brilliant to see. There is also great respect from the public,” another football fan posted on X.
Meanwhile, in football, Indigenous captain Latrell Mitchell said the best defensive performance he has ever seen was the one that led his team to a 22-14 victory against their Māori counterparts in Townsville.
“With our attacking arsenal, we have the best attacking team in the world, but we have shown that we can also defend,” he said.
“That was the best defensive performance I’ve ever seen.
“The boys played football and had fun, that was my clearest message: play it simple and stand behind your skills, be proud of who you are and that Bob is your uncle.”
Addo Carr and the Indigenous All Stars celebrate a try at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Indigenous All Stars captain Latrell Mitchell poses with the Arthur Beetson Trophy
Maori coach Adam Blair lamented his team’s inability to break through as they so clearly won the turf battle.
“There were moments throughout that game where we had our opportunities, we generated enough pressure,” he said.
‘But you have to give credit to the indigenous boys, they fought well… we had about 20 minutes almost on their try line.
“They worked hard for each other and that’s what this game does when you represent your people, something different is at play.”