HE was one of the driving forces behind the inaugural Group 10 All Stars fixture, he then called for its revamp, so you can imagine Kurt Hancock's delight at seeing an Indigenous match included on 2021 league calendars.
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"Yeah, wow," Hancock said when considering the prospect of see the best Indigenous players in Group 10 and Group 11 square off at Cowra on the weekend of April 10-11 next year.
Eleven months ago Hancock, who both played and coached in Group 10, issued a call for the Group 10 All Stars versus Indigenous All Stars concept to be revamped to include Group 11 talents.
He also wanted it to be an annual fixture after the 2019 game was scrapped.
Others agreed with his view and in February it was announced the fierce league rivals would get their chance to square off on April 18.
The COVID-19 pandemic meant the clash was unable to go ahead, so when both Group 10 and Group 11 agreed to include it as part of their 2021 draws, it came as welcomed news to Hancock.
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"I've always been a big believer in that, I've coached a lot of Indigenous players over the time I've been coaching and there's always been that general interest in a game like this," he said.
"It is a special day for them and I think it's a great concept. I think whenever you are representing your culture or learning more about your culture like the Indigenous boys do, every time you put this concept forward and they play the game, it's outstanding.
"They always play great footy, it's always entertaining to watch and at the end of the day it's generating more interest for rugby league out here, so that's the big winner.
"I think this will be a great concept - Group 10 versus Group 11 - yeah, wow. There's going to be some talent on show."
Scheduling the game before the opening round of the Group 10 (April 24-25) and Group 11 (May 2) seasons is another move Hancock agrees with.
He feels it will help better showcase the match and hopefully allow all those keen to play to do so.
"I know a lot of clubs will be trialling or doing whatever, but if you ask the Indigenous boys, they'd love the opportunity to play this and represent what they're about," he said.
"I think they will all be putting this in the front of their calendar, in the front of their mind, all these guys will be ready for it.
"It has got to be at the start of the season and let's hope all the boys make themselves available. I think Group 10 and Group 11 will all reap the benefits of the game."
While players will no doubt be keen to see their Group take bragging rights, Hancock points out the game will be about more than who wins.
It will help foster the Indigenous talent within the region, build on an already strong legacy and even be an avenue to unearth new stars.
"Traditionally out this way there has always been very good Indigenous talent you know, have a look at the players who have come out of here. You've got Bubba Kennedy and Bubba's young fella Will, the Ramien boys, all the Naden boys, the Gordons, the Peacheys - we have a very good history of good Indigenous players," he said.
"They're all from different mobs and for them getting together and being able to play for each other, play for their families - I can't talk highly enough about it.
"You never know, you might end up seeing a young one there, an 18 or 19-year-old playing in there and all of sudden we go, look here's another Peachey or here's another Gordon, here's another Naden.
"I hope this sticks, I hope this keeps going and I hope they pencil it in every year because I think it will be a great spectacle, great for rugby league in general and it really raises the awareness about Indigenous players playing out here."
Just as the the inaugural All Stars match in 2016 and most recent clash in 2018 were played in Cowra, the revamped fixture will also be hosted by Sid Kallas Oval. Hancock would also like to see it live streamed.
"Cowra put on a great show over there, they've hosted Indigenous games for a few years now and I've been involved with that club," he said.
"They've got a great Indigenous community over there and get behind their footy ... they'll put on a massive day out there."
