He’s won an NRL premiership and a State of Origin series but playing in the Indigenous All Stars match against New Zealand Maori on Friday night will rank just as high for Melbourne speedster Josh Addo-Carr.
In 2011, Addo-Carr played for the NSW Indigenous Under 16s team against their Queensland counterparts in the curtain-raiser to the second All Stars match, and he says he’s been waiting ever since to represent his culture on the big stage.
“It’s very special, it’s something I’ve always strived to be a part of,” he said in Melbourne on Tuesday.
“I finally get the opportunity and I just can’t wait to run out there and represent my culture.
“I know my family is very proud of this and I’m very proud of this.”
Addo-Carr’s pathway into rugby league was inspired by his grandfather Wally Carr, an Aboriginal boxer who was regarded as one of the best fighters in Australia in his heyday in the 1970s.
The 23-year-old says he’s always wanted to play with some of the indigenous players, such as Andrew Fifita, Cody Walker and, in particular, Parramatta recruit Blake Ferguson.
“We always kick back when we’re back home, our families are from the same area and I love how competitive he is,” Addo-Carr said of Ferguson.
“He’s just a tough player.”
Addo-Carr said he’s in great shape heading into the AAMI Park match on the back of the Storm’s toughest pre-season.
He said with the retirement of superstar fullback Billy Slater, it felt like the baton had been passed on.
“We’ve lost a lot of experience but we’ve been training very hard. It’s been the hardest pre-season I’ve ever done, so it’s just about being better,” Addo-Carr said.
“Everyone still has a job to do and I have no doubt that whoever plays fullback this year will hopefully do the same thing that Billy did.”