The rugby league season truly gets underway tonight with the Indigenous vs Maori All Stars matches, with the women’s game up first at Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:50pm (AEDT).
The domestic cricket season is drawing to an end, the mornings are getting a little cooler and the kids’ pre-season for winter sports is underway. Rugby league is about to start again, and the promise of another great season awaits.
If last year’s result is anything to go by, the Women’s Indigenous vs Maori match-up looks like a cracker. Held over in Rotorua in 2023, the Maori women scored in the last minute to overrun the Indigenous team and send their home crowd into a frenzy.
The Australian team will be out for revenge, and they have the firepower to achieve it. Tamika Upton is the reigning Dally M Medal winner and will prove very dangerous for the Maori defence, while the halves pairing of Taliah Fuimaono and Kirra Dibb should be able to provide plenty of opportunity for the Indigenous backline.
Up front, Talisha Harden and Keilee Joseph form part of a strong looking pack.
The Maori All Stars have plenty of star power themselves, with Corban Baxter, Raecene McGregor and Botille Vette-Welsh all returning to the side after missing last year’s match in New Zealand.
In the pack, Shannon Mato, Kennedy Cherrington and Annessa Biddle are expected to shine in what should be a very mobile set of forwards.
Prediction
There doesn’t look to be much in this.
However, at home, the Indigenous All Stars may have that little bit more to play for. I expect Upton to create havoc after not playing last year.
This will be enough to get them home in a tight one.
Indigenous All Stars by 2
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Kick-off: 5:50pm (AEDT)
TV: Channel Nine, Fox League
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Betting: Indigenous All Stars $1.72, Maori All Stars $2.10 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Indigenous All Stars
1. Tamika Upton, 2. Monique Donovan, 3. Jaime Chapman, 4. Bobbi Law, 5. Kimberley Hunt, 6. Taliah Fuimaono, 7. Kirra Dibb, 8. Tommaya Kelly-Sines, 9. Quincy Dodd (c), 10. Tallisha Hardern, 11. Olivia Kernick, 12. Shaylee Bent, 13. Keilee Joseph.
Interchange/Reserves: 14. Taneka Todhunter, 15. Grace Kemp, 16, Janelle Williams, 17. Mahalia Murphy, 18. Jasmine Peters.
Maori All Stars
1. Corban Baxter, 2. Zali Fay, 3. Shanie Parker, 4. Botille Vette-Welsh, 5. Jasmine Strange, 6. Raecene McGregor, 7. Zahara Temara (c), 8. Shannon Mato (c), 9. Destiny Brill, 10. Mya Hill-Moana, 11. Annessa Biddle, 12. Kennedy Cherrington, 13. Brooke Anderson.
Interchange/Reserves: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan, 15. Kerehitina Matua, 16. Rima Butler, 17. Chante Temara, 18. Tiana Raftstrand-Smith.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks for following the blog tonight. I will be back in 30 minutes for the men's game
David Holden
Roar Guru
FULL TIME INDIGENOUS BEAT MAORI 26-4
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Roar Guru
60' Swing right to Law. Shift left and Donovan just short. That will do us. It's full time Indigenous All Stars 26 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
59' Fay with a carry but the ball goes down Indigenous All Stars 26 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
58' Williams brings it back. Todhunter has a dart. Kick with Baxter Indigenous All Stars 26 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
57' Dibb misses the wide conversion Indigenous All Stars 26 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
56' TRY INDIGENOUS Swing right to Upton. Williams in the middle. Inside ball for Chapman. Dibb has put the grubber through and Hunt scores her double! TRY Indigenous All Stars 26 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
56' Brill knocks on early in the count Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
55' Chapman takes the tap. Kemp goes forward. Short ball from Joseph. Kernick puts it down Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
54' High shot from Mato on Upton Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
53' Vette-Welsh from the scrum. Strange follows. Mato with a charge. Anderson finds a gap. Kick with Donovan Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
52' Chapman from the tap. Swing right to Bent. Short side play to Law. She loses it in the tackle. Captains challenge but its waved away Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
51' Indigenous win a ruck penalty Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
51' Mato brings it back. Great run from Matua. Lost ball from Brill Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
50' Conversion from McGregor is waved away Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
49' TRY MAORI Biddle goes forward. Mato follows. That's a great ball from Quinlan and Strange scores in the corner. TRY Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 4
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Roar Guru
48' Chapman with a carry. Hunt follows. Lost ball again Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 0
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Roar Guru
47' Inside ball for Cherrington. Loose pass and Parker cleans it up. Shift left to Vette-Welsh. Mato charges and is held up on the last Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 0
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Roar Guru
46' Harden brings it back. Joseph with the offload and Todhunter loses it. Penalty Maori Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 0
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Roar Guru
15 mins remaining Indigenous All Stars 22 Maori All Stars 0