The Indigenous All Stars have named replacements to their squad to take on the World All Stars, after a trio of players pulled out of the fixture on Saturday, February 13, at Suncorp Stadium.
The players added to the All Stars squad are Jamie Soward (Penrith Panthers), Edrick Lee (Canberra Raiders) and Craig Garvey (Canterbury Bulldogs) – all of whom have something to prove for the 2016 NRL season.
Soward’s Panthers finished second-last in 2015, while Lee had his best season and now has to back it up with more strong performances. Garvey, meanwhile, struggled to crack a regular spot in first grade at the St George Illawarra Dragons and has moved on to the Canterbury Bulldogs, looking to put off-field issues behind him.
The trio replace Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys), Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters) and Nathan Peats (Parramatta Eels).
Thurston pulled out due to having to play the World Club Series, in the United Kingdom, the week after. This will be the first the game’s biggest player has missed an All Stars match, and sees Greg Inglis inherit the captaincy.
Ferguson misses out after having surgery on an injured finger. Peats pulled out due to continued rehabilitation on an injury to his c6 verterbra, which kept him out of action at the end of 2015.
Soward, Lee and Garvey have been added to the Indigenous All Stars interchange. Tyrone Roberts will be the new starting halfback in place of Thurston, James Roberts takes Ferguson’s centre spot, and Ray Thompson is the new starting hooker.
Indigenous All Stars squad
1. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2. Alex Johnston (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
3. Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)
4. James Roberts (Brisbane Broncos)
5. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
6. Ben Barba (Cronulla Sharks)
7. Tyrone Roberts (Gold Coast Titans)
8. Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)
9. Ray Thompson (North Queensland Cowboys)
10. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)
11. Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans)
12. Joel Thompson (St George Illawarra Dragons)
13. Chris Grevsmuhl (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
14. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
15. Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers)
16. Edrick Lee (Canberra Raiders)
17. Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)
18. Craig Garvey (Canterbury Bulldogs)
19. Jamie Soward (Penrith Panthers)
20. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)
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