Manchester: Kangaroos star Angus Crichton wants the Australian team to remain united amid calls for an Indigenous side at the next World Cup.
Indigenous All Stars coach Ron Griffiths wants to see the potential team compete at the 2025 World Cup in France.
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But Crichton poured cold water on the concept from Kangaroos camp in Manchester ahead of their final against Samoa on Sunday AEDT.
“The way I see it, Indigenous Australia and white Australia – I don’t think we need to divide it. I want it to be integrated, I want everyone to get on as one,” Crichton said.
“If we’re having white Australia v black Australia then I feel like that’s just making the gap further apart.
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“I love representing Australia with my indigenous brothers.
“So I feel like that would be a backward step in my opinion.”
Former Wests Tigers assistant Griffiths believes several NRL stars would pledge their allegiance to an Indigenous World Cup side.
“Guaranteed, no doubt,” Griffiths said.
“I think it would be great for the game, it would be fantastic to see. They would certainly be a strong team.
“What’s important is they would inspire the next generation of kids. You would see the game grow in terms of participation, certainly from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.
“We already love the game, but to have something like that would create a whole raft of opportunities for development within our culture.
“If you’re talking about the growth of the game, it would be good for that.
“Other nations like Samoa and Tonga have done so much for the development of the game with all of those players choosing to play for their country of origin.”
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Kangaroos trio Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Jack Wighton have played for the Indigenous All Stars and all three will start against Samoa on Sunday.
Crichton, who has won a premiership at the Roosters and three State of Origin series for NSW, said winning the World Cup would trump both.
“I’ve got no doubt this is going to be the biggest game of my career,” he said.
“It’s the biggest opportunity I’ve had on this tour and the biggest opportunity I’ve had to represent my country.
“You can hear it in my voice, this game means a lot to me and our team – it’s a big opportunity.”
