'Culture is the winner': All Stars clash proves it's more than just a game

"Culture is the winner at the end of the day." That's how Indigenous Men's captain Nicho Hynes summed up this year's NRL All Stars clash - a draw on the scoreboard, but something far bigger off it. "We all want to win," he said. "But when you look back on it, two proud cultures are walking away winners. Culture is the winner at the end of the day. That's way more important than the end result for me." The annual fixture between the Indigenous All Stars and the New Zealand Māori side began in 2010 as a deliberate platform to showcase Indigenous excellence and leadership in rugby league. More than 15 years on, players say the kaupapa remains important, not just as a game, but as a space to...