James primed for All Stars clash

Clash poignant for prop
SYDNEY: You could forgive veteran forward Ryan James for getting an emotional touch when he speaks about his long-awaited return to the All Stars arena.
The proud Bundjalung man will run out in the Indigenous strip for the first time in five years; a stretch wracked by injury and bad luck.
But it’s not just that. Last time he was selected in 2019, he had to withdraw due to a medial injury in his knee.
It would have been the last time his maternal grandfather, from whom he gets his Aboriginal heritage, would have seen him play for the Indigenous All Stars. “It’s been a long time — last time I was available was that Melbourne game and then I did my medial,” James told NRL.com.
“It’s been a long trek back but I love representing my people.
“I actually haven’t been able to represent the Indigenous All Stars since my pop passed and that’s where I get my Aboriginality from.
“It will be great to run out there with the jersey on for him and represent him and my family. I was a bit devastated I didn’t get to (play in 2019) — he’s passed since then so it’s a big game for me and my family.” James’s family has remained on the Bundjalung land of his grandfather and ancestors, with James growing up in Bilambil.
But despite his close ties to his heritage, he still learned plenty more about that heritage from his time in All Stars camps going as far back to the second every game in 2011 after Preston Campbell created the concept in 2010.
“Growing up I knew I was of Aboriginal descent, my mother always drilled it into us but we didn’t practice a lot of what our culture did but once you come into camp and you realise how much you’re missing out on, you start to go back and ask those questions and practise those cultural things you want to do,” James said.
“It’s just great to be part of and really gets you back to your roots because we’re the longest living civilisation in the world and to learn about that is unbelievable.
“I grew up in Bilambil, mum came from Fingal so the Bundjalung tribe there and there’s a fair few of us boys there. It’s great we all get to come together and play.” –NRL