The traditional pre-season All-Stars clash is set to be taken to new heights with the biggest array of stars yet named for the Men’s and Women’s Indigenous and Māori squads.
The game, set to be hosted by the Māori All-Stars for the first time, will see Joseph Manu, James Fisher-Harris, Jared Waera-Hargreaves and Joseph Tapine all feature in Rotorua on Saturday 11 February, with a strong Indigenous team including Latrell Mitchell, Josh-Addo Carr and reigning Dally M Medallist Nicho Hynes due to travel.
This is the first year that Latrell, Fox and Nicho Hynes have been able to feature together for the Indigenous teams, where they will be joined by Jack Wighton, Selwyn Cobbo and Cody Walker, who is also an assistant coach alongside NRLW Premiership winner Ronald Griffiths.
Young guns Ezra Mam and Tyrell Sloan are rewarded with jerseys, as are Bailey Butler (CQ Capras) and Kierran Moseley (Norths Devils) from the Queensland Cup.
It presents an intriguing battle, with the Indigenous backline filled with rep talent and the Māori team able to field what is essentially the Kiwis starting pack. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is also named, alongside Jordan Rapana, Briton Nikora and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the 2021 World Cup squad.
The Women’s event is just as star-studded, with world champion Jillaroos featuring on both sides: Keilee Joseph, Shaylee Bent and Jaime Chapman lead the Indigenous squad to face a side with Olivia Kernick and Kennedy Cherrington, who repped Australia at the World Cup but will play All-Stars for their Māori heritage, along with Kiwi Ferns stars Zahara Temara, Mya Hill-Moana and Destiny Brill.
Brooke Anderson and Gayle Broughton are called up to the Māori squad: both had previously represented the Black Ferns at rugby sevens, including a gold medal for Broughton at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Indigenous side will feature Jada Taylor, scorer of a stunning try in Women’s under 19’s Origin in 2022, and a host of NRLW Premiers from Newcastle, including Blues five eighth Kirra Dibb, centre Bobbi Law and breakout star Caitlan Johnston.
Jesse Arthars
Daejarn Asi
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Zach Dockar-Clay
James Fisher-Harris
Corey Harawira-Naera
Morgan Harper
Royce Hunt
Joseph Manu
Zane Musgrove
Briton Nikora
Hayze Perham
Adam Pompey
Jordan Rapana
Jordan Riki
Joseph Tapine
Starford Toa
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Dylan Walker
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Coach: Ben Gardiner
Josh Addo-Carr
Bailey Butler
Selwyn Cobbo
Tyrell Fuimaono
J’maine Hopgood
Nicho Hynes
Ryan James
Josh Kerr
Ezra Mam
Latrell Mitchell
Shaquai Mitchell
Kierran Moseley
Brent Naden
Tyrone Peachey
Tyrell Sloan
Chris Smith
Will Smith
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Cody Walker
Jack Wighton
Coach: Ronald Griffiths
Brooke Anderson
Destiny Brill
Gayle Broughton
Harata Butler
Kahu Cassidy
Kennedy Cherrington
Laikha Clarke
Zali Fay
Mya Hill-Moana
Olivia Kernick
Shannon Mato
Capri Paekau
Aaliyah Paki
Shanice Parker
Ashleigh Quinlan
Tiana Rathstrand-Smith
Jasmin Strange
Zahara Temara
Kailey Thompson
Amy Turner
Coach: Keith Hanley
Essay Banu
Shaylee Bent
Jaime Chapman
Bree Chester
Kirra Dibb
Quincy Dodd
Taliah Fuimaono
Tallisha Harden
Caitlan Johnston
Keilee Joseph
Bobbi Law
Mia Middleton
Sareka Mooka
Jasmine Peters
Kaitlyn Phillips
Shaniah Power
Jada Taylor
Tahlulah Tillett
Coach: Ben Jeffries
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