Ultimate wing man: Arthars emerges as key for Māori

While he still doesn’t quite understand wingers being named player of the match, Māori All Stars coach Adam Blair said he loves having the “unique” presence of Jesse Arthars – this year’s Preston Campbell Medal winner – in his side.

His team – which included superstars James Fisher Harris, Kalyn Ponga and up-and-comer Keano Kini – were made to fight against an enthusiastic Indigenous team, with the contributions of the Broncos winger, including their opening try and key kick defusals proving pivotal in their 10-6 win.

“Oh man, I don't know if I like wingers, but I guess the game's changed,” Blair joked after the game. “They've become a big part, an important part of the game now.

“You can take a look at a lot of those top teams now, how they use their wingers, they are their back three carries, they become front rowers in wingers bodies, and they can do things that not too many people can.

“Jesse, he's a character, that fella. I love having him in this space because he's unique, he's different and the way he plays is unique to how he is … and when I talk about unique, he's Māori.

“Some of the best players in the game are either Māori, Pasifika or Indigenous, we just don't get enough spotlight, whether it's because of who we are, we're humble people, we don't like to be spoken about.

“But man, when you put us on a stage where we represent our people, there is no way that our boys will ever back down because this is how much it means to them.

“So yeah, wingers winning the best player on the field is a little bit strange, but every person that went out there in our colours and for our people – and Indigenous side as well – deserve to be recognised for what they do for the game.”

Like all players who have responded when asked about All Stars week, Arthars, while happy to claim the win, said the whole experience was much more important than the game.

“It's pretty special for me, I didn't really grow up around my Māori side, so for me to come to the camp a couple of years ago, I've just been learning a lot about the culture, learning where my whanau is from in New Zealand, having grown up in Aussie,” Arthars told NRL.com.

“I've just really loved being in these camps and learning about culture, so hopefully these camps and these games can go on for a long time in the future.

“I've learned pretty much everything, learned where my iwi's from where my grandfather's from in the south – my iwi's Ngai Tahu – so, it's been really interesting finding out where he's from.

“It's my mother's side … so it is extra special, I've lost the connection there with them both passing away, but I just had to do some digging and talk to a few family members and we were able to figure out and locate where our whanau’s from.

“There was a bit of a barrier for me to go over to find out all that kind of stuff, but just love learning; proud to be Māori and really enjoy these camps.

“We've got our cultural guys in the camp and when I came to the first camp in Rotorua, Ora (Kira, Māori cultural advisor) helped me … (in) finding my iwi and helping me track it back to where I was from.

“It just gives me that identity that I can know where I'm from, know where my family's from, and I can represent for them.”

While there was discussion before the match about some players having to weigh up between club duties and cultural calling, Arthars said the Broncos – who have three men taking part in Arthars, Jordan Riki and Xavier Willison – understood what it meant to his Māori teammates and knew the intense game was good for their preparations.

“For someone like me, it's learning about my identity and it's who I am, so whenever the I get the call from Blairy, me and the other boys at the Bronxcs are pretty staunch on that we want to play this game … that's just who we are and we want to play for our people and our culture and I don't think the clubs should be pushing the boys back at all,” Arthars said.

“This is a massive occasion for a lot of people and everyone just wants to represent their culture, their family, their whanau, whoever it may be.

“The Broncs have a very strong culture in terms of community, the Indigenous community, the Māori community, so I really enjoy the Broncs and the support they put behind us, but I'm always pushing for everyone to play these games.

“The boys have just come from pre-season, so everyone's had a pretty solid block, but you can't really prepare for the games; you can train as hard as you want, but I guess until you actually start playing, that's when you get fitter.

“But credit to the boys, hey, they just come back in good shape and we had the week to get our training in with two sessions.

“A few boys that have played together, a few that haven't, but it's more about the culture and reconnecting.

“But the boys played really well and we had a really good week and it showed in the game.”