GROUP Three Rugby League chairman Wayne Bridge confirmed the Indigenous All Stars/Group Three All Stars games will remain part of the calendar next year.
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This follows the success of the matches played at Kempsey.
The Indigenous All Stars proved too strong in the men's fixture, winning 40-14 while the Group Three All Stars prevailed 26-18 in an entertaining women's game.
Kempsey Dragons and Smithtown Tigers played out a trial for the curtain raiser.
"The feedback I received from players after the matches was all positive,'' Group Three chairman Wayne Bridge said.
"They'll be playing again next year for sure. But we'll have to decide the timing and that will depend on the representative program.''
He said if the Country Championships are played before the start of the season-proper, as was the case this year, then he expects the All Stars game will be used as part of the selection process for North Coast teams.
The Group Three men's side was hit by four late withdrawals.
"We had to find replacements pretty quickly, so that made it difficult for them,'' Mr Bridge said.
However, he added the Indigenous side was too well drilled and too fast. Skipper Richie Roberts led from the front while Owen Blair and Chris Piper were other standouts.
Sam Watts, Jake Mullen, Mitch Collins and Tony Thompson were the pick for the All Stars.
Mr Bridge said the women's clash was a high quality encounter.
"It was one of the best women's games I've seen,'' he said.
Forster-Tuncurry's Danielle Buttsworth was the standout player in the game. She started at fullback before switching to wing and terrorised the defence all day.
"She'll score a lot of tries in this year's league tag competition,'' Mr Bridge said.
The Group Three season-proper kicks off this weekend.
On Saturday Old Bar will host Port Macquarie at the Old Bar Reserve while Wingham hits the road to play Wauchope at Wauchope.
Forster-Tuncurry will tackle Port City in first and reserve grades on Sunday at the Harry Elliott Oval. The Hawks will meet Taree City in women's league tag at 10am while Port City take on Camden Haven in league tag and under 18s, also at Tuncurry.
Macleay Valley and Taree City clash at Kempsey, also on Sunday.
Forster-Tuncurry has the bye in under 18s.
Camden Haven has returned to the Group Three senior league this year in league tag and under 18s.
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