SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: The Indigenous All-Stars perform an Indigenous dance before the match between the Men's Indigenous All Stars and the Men's Maori All Stars at CommBank Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Patrick Herbert has called for the Indigenous All-Stars game to be moved to New Zealand in 2023.
Remember when Tonga played New Zealand at Mt Smart Stadium producing one of the greatest atmospheres rugby league has ever seen?
Now, imagine it was the MÄori All-Stars facing the Indigenous All-Stars in front of a home crowd, with the Indigenous war cry and MÄori Haka leading into the kick-off.
Patrick Herbert was fantastic for the MÄori All-Stars on Saturday and is now leading the charge for the game to take the leap to New Zealand for 2023. In an interview with the Gold Coast Titans website, he describes what it would mean to him.
"Thatāll be one of the best things ever. All the MÄoris back there and everyone in generalā¦ just to have footy back there. I think itāll be good. The culture will be hectic," Herbert said.
"Even just having the games here (in Australia) that Iāve been apart of. The Indigenous team and the fans and that. They just love it and itās so loud when they do any little thing, so to have a crowd like that cheering for us would be amazing."
It seems there is every chance the game will be moved from Australia, with David Kidwell telling the media after Saturday's game that Andrew Abdo promised him it would be in New Zealand next year.
Herbert continued, describing what it is like for him to represent his culture on the field.
"I think when youāre playing for your culture, itās an unexplainable feeling," Herbert added.
"You find another level and just go into autopilot where you want to do whatever it takes to make your family and heritage proud."