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By Daniel Meers - Indigenous coach Neil Henry has revealed he will instruct his flashy backline to `throw caution to the wind' and move the ball around if they can gain momentum against the NRL All Stars on Saturday night.
Both teams went into camp yesterday and Henry predicted that with players yet to reach peak fitness and unlimited interchange it would be difficult to employ strong defensive tactics.
"I hope we can control the ball, throw some caution to the wind and play some really attacking footy," he said.
"There's unlimited interchange, you've got the four 20-minute quarters so there will be fresh men out there and you'll see a lot of ball movement. I don't think there'll be heavy emphasis on defence."
The Indigenous side is stacked with attacking players and Scott Prince and Johnathan Thurston will conduct the show.
Henry said it will be difficult to formulate a structured game plan with two relatively new sides.
"Realistically we'll have probably four ballwork sessions, that's if we get on an oval with this wet weather, so more likely three, it's not a lot of time to gel.
"These guys are experienced players though, we don't need a complex match plan, there will be a fair bit of ball movement. Both sides have a lot of attacking flairso it will be a spectacle.
"We're going to have a bit to juggle. There will be three halfbacks out there, Nathan Merritt can play fullback, we can swap him and Preston Campbell, we've got three centres and three wingers.
While Henry expects a try fest he warned fans not to expect smooth crisp footy throughout.
"At the start of the year things are a bit rusty, and you'll see in the trials there is probably a higher mistake rate and I probably expect it to be the same.
"The guys have been training for a while, but there hasn't been a lot of full contact in game type situations.
"So it will be a bit rusty at times, but hopefully we'll get entertaining footy."
Henry said he expected larger than life Wendell Sailor, who is playing his final rugby league match, to keep him on his toes all week.
"He's already running around trying to organise things, he is great for team morale and it's great for him to play his last game in something like this."
Henry said he was excited about the week.
"It's certainty a talented bunch of players, it's an honour to be involved.
"We had a lot of fun with the Dreamtime team, we've got six or seven players with that squad here, so it's good to get back in touch again."
The Indigenous side will remain on the Coast all week. |