Rugby League fans will have the chance to vote for the coveted Preston Campbell Medal awarded to the “Man of the Match” winner in this Saturday’s 2012 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars clash on the Gold Coast, choosing from a star-studded field of players selected by over 45,000 public voters.
With the line-ups from both the Learn Earn Legend! Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars including a host of international and Origin representatives, fans will once again have the tough task of deciding who will follow the previous Preston Campbell Medal winners - Johnathan Thurston (2010) and Josh Dugan (2011).
Voting for the winner of the award, which honours the All Stars creator, can be done online at www.nrl.com/allstars or by texting their chosen player’s name to 0439 46 46 46 (standard SMS charges apply). The winner will be announced on stage during the post-match ceremony at Skilled Park.
“Last year’s win took me by surprise and to take out the Preston Campbell Medal in a field of players that includes some of the game’s biggest names, was a huge honour,” NRL All Stars fullback Josh Dugan said.
“To receive an award that is named after a player like Preston is a thrill. You only have to look at how big this game has become to see what an extraordinary person he is.
“The fact that the fans have such a big role in the All Stars concept is something that all the players get a real buzz out of.”
Online fans can also take part in a new fantasy game at NRL.com, designed specifically for the third annual Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match.
The popular online game – the Toyota NRL Dream Team – sees NRL players earn virtual points for their on-field performance, and the “coach” accruing the most points at the end of the match wins.
Those who sign up at www.nrl.com and select six players from either the Learn Earn Legend! Indigenous All Stars or the NRL All Stars to form their Toyota All Stars Dream Team will have the chance to win $5,000.
The public are also being given a chance to secure their own piece of history and support Rugby League’s One Community and the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation by bidding on unique memorabilia including Indigenous All Stars captain Johnathan Thurston’s headgear and the signed jerseys from all 40 players from the game.
The auction, at www.nrlauctions.com, will run until 7pm Monday, February 20.
Getting to the game
Those attending the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars game at Skilled Park on February 4 are encouraged to catch public transport with additional buses scheduled for the match and Robina Station being only a short walk from the stadium. For more information on public transport to the match visit: www.translink.com.au/events
Tickets
Less than 2000 tickets remain for the 2012 Harvey Norman All Stars match available through Ticketek outlets, on 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au. New Zealand customers can call 0800 842 538 or +61 132 849.
Results
2010 – Indigenous All Stars 16 def NRL All Stars 12
2011 – NRL All Stars 28 def Indigenous All Stars 12.
