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All Stars on the move?

All Stars on the move?

01/31/2012 04:54:23 AM

The Gold Coast's days of hosting the NRL Indigenous All Stars clash are numbered.

The tourist strip is gearing up for the third edition of the match on Saturday night at Skilled Park, but it's almost certain that it will be played elsewhere in 2013.

While the concept has enjoyed two remarkably successful years thanks to Titans legend Preston Campbell, who came up with the idea, and club CEO Michael Searle, who put it into practice, there is a feeling it has run its course on the Coast.

Queensland's contract to host the match runs out at the end of next year, and there has been no decision on where it will be played in 2013.

Premier Anna Bligh, who was at the official launch at the top of Q1 on Tuesday morning, said there will be no shortage of bids for hosting rights from other cities.

"We're very pleased in Queensland to have secured the rights to host the game, not only this year but next year," she said.

"We gave a guarantee that it'll be on the Gold Coast this year and then there'll be decision about where it will be next year."

"Having seen the success of it, we can expect some pretty hot competition from the other venues in Queensland."

"You get that sense this is a national event when you're sitting in that stadium. It's meant a lot to the Gold Coast to have this event here."

"This is something people will travel for, come from around the state and around the country for."

North Queensland, with its indigenous population and great passion for rugby league, looms as the most likely candidate for next year.

Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston, who will captain the Indigenous All Stars side on Saturday, said Townsville would fully embrace the event.

"I'd certainly love it to be up at north Queensland. I know the indigenous people up there love their football and they'd get a lot out of it," he said.

"If we can take the game up to Dairy Farmers Stadium, I think it'd be a massive hit and they'd sell it out in a matter of minutes."

However, he also said there are other cities across the nation which would also put on a good show.

"To take it down into Newcastle or even Canberra as well would be great," he said.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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