Former rugby player Steve Renouf has labeled critics of the Indigenous All Stars "shortsighted yobbos" as National Rugby League side Cronulla's Michael Ennis "called for an Aboriginal side to be added to the NRL Nines," according to Peter Badel of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. Ennis believes the Indigenous team "warrants more recognition with inclusion in the nine-a-side carnival in Auckland." He "also urged authorities to resurrect the Indigenous Dreamtime team" which played New Zealand Maori in an exhibition to launch the 2008 World Cup. Ennis: "There’s endless opportunities with the indigenous brand, we can’t ignore them. ... There’s more areas to grow the game when it comes to indigenous sides, it’s just a matter of where it fits into the calendar." Renouf hit out at suggestions the All Stars concept "was flatlining." He said, "Some of these shortsighted yobbos saying get rid of the All Stars is ridiculous. I don’t know who starts these rumors. I talk to the NRL bosses and they don’t talk about ditching it" (COURIER-MAIL, 2/11).
