Latrell Mitchell reveals the secret to the Indigenous All Stars’ 22-14 win over the Maoris

Latrell Mitchell says the best defensive performance he has ever seen lifted his Indigenous All-Stars to a 22-14 win against their Maori counterparts in Townsville.

Far from the free-flowing attacking football fans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium might have hoped for, brave defensive work on the goal line earned the Indigenous side victory as they withstood a Maori barrage on Friday evening.

Two tries in 10 minutes for indigenous winger Josh Addo-Carr gave his side an early lead, but it was five-eighth playmaker Braydon Trindall who won the Preston Campbell Medal for best in the field.

The Maori side dominated the area, being tackled 51 times within the opposition’s 20 yards, compared to the Indigenous side’s 17, and running almost 300 yards more, but lacking precision deep in attack.

They scored within four minutes for a 6–0 lead, but would not cross again until the final minute of the match, when prop Xavier Willison found them a consolation try.

Indigenous captain Mitchell said his side showed an unexpected element to their game.

“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 footy and had fun, that was my clearest message, play simple and stand behind your abilities, be proud of who you are and Bob is your uncle.”

Trindall’s stunning combination with clubmate Nicho Hynes would have had Cronulla fans salivating.

The five-eighth scored two delicate kicks that were justified due to efforts from Addo-Carr and speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, while Hynes threw a beautiful cut-out pass to winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira late on to seal the victory.

Trindall was initially set to play as a makeshift hooker before an injury to Cody Walker moved him to the half, Indigenous coach Ronald Griffiths said.

“When Cody pulled out, we didn’t hesitate to play him in the halves,” he said.

“I told him, ‘When the time is right to step out of the shadows, you will,’ and he did it.

“He really controlled the tempo of the game, but defensively there was a special effort… those are the kind of actions that win games, and that’s why he has that medal around his neck.”

Indigenous captain Mitchell said his side showed an unexpected element to their game

Mitchell was never far from the action early, his handling error allowing Maori skipper Joe Tapine to produce the opening point of the match with a huge effort that saw him break three tackles.

But he quickly made up for it, driving to the Maori line to send Addo-Carr through and score in the corner.

Perhaps the ultimate moment of defensive desperation came when Maori supporter Xavier Willison looked to score well through late in the third term but was swept away by the much smaller Bailey Biondi-Odo.

Maori coach Adam Blair lamented his side’s inability to break through when they won the territory battle so thoroughly.

“There were moments during the match where we had our chances, we built up enough pressure,” he said.

“But you have to give credit to the native boys, they scratched well… we had almost 20 minutes on their tryline.

“They worked hard for each other and that’s what this game does when you represent your people, there’s something else at stake.”