The Maori All Stars will be out to beat the Indigenous All Stars for the first time since 2022 when both sides clash at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.
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Joseph Tapine scored what proved to be the winner on the occasion, but won’t take part in tonight’s clash, with Royce Hunt and James Fisher-Harris, with the latter co-captaining the side alongside Dane Gagai.
Gagai, who has featured three times for the Indigenous side previously, will tonight represent his Maori heritage, and mother Tania.
“It is a massive honour to be able to co-captain with Fish in such an important game of the year, not just for ourselves as players, or our families, but for our culture,” Gagai said.
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The veteran Knights centre will lead a side brimming with NRL talent, including superstar clubmate Kalyn Ponga, fellow Knight Leo Thompson, and Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King.
Kodi Nikorima, who scored in the Maori side’s last All Star victory, will don the No.7 jersey, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad rounding out the spine at five-eighth.
Standing in Gagai’s way of leading the Maoris to victory is an exciting Indigenous All Stars side with speed to burn right across the park.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tyrone Munro, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira may be one of the quickest and most exhilarating back threes in rugby league history, while five-eighth Jayden Campbell is as agile as they come.
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Campbelll, playing in his first All Stars clash, will make history when he runs out tonight, becoming the first second generation player to take the field after father Preston, a concept’s pioneer, did so back in 2010.
Josh Curran, Dylan Lucas, and Connor Watson headline a strong Indigenous forward pack, which boasts experience everywhere except lock, where promising middle Hohepa Puru has been named.
The Raiders young gun has been named alongside brother Niwhai, joins a rare list of players to make their Indigenous All Stars debut before their NRL debut, a feat teammates Josh Kerr and Shaquai Mitchell have also achieved.
Puru is just one of several young guns set to take their place in tonight’s clash, with both sides boasting plenty of talent eyeing an NRL breakout season in 2025.
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TEAMS
INDIGENOUS ALL STARS: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Tyrone Munro 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jack Wighton 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Shaquai Mitchell 9. Connor Watson 10. Josh Kerr 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Josh Curran 13. Hohepa Puru 14. Tallis Duncan 15. Brent Naden 16. Jayden Sullivan 17. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 18. Ethan Roberts 19. Blake Steep 20. Jacob Sykes
MAORI ALL STARS: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. William Warbrick 3. Dane Gagai 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Royce Hunt 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Jordan Riki 12. Jacob Laban 13. Leo Thompson 14. Keano Kini 15. Jazz Tevaga 17. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Kurtis Morrin 16. Xavier Willison 18. Reuben Porter 20. Jesse McLean
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