Melbourne Storm and Emerging Blues centre Beau Champion has today been called into the Learn. Earn. Legend! Indigenous All Stars team.
Champion, a member of last year’s victorious side, replaces Greg Inglis, who this afternoon was officially ruled out of the match as he continues his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.
Australian and Broncos forward Sam Thaiday has also been ruled out of the Indigenous All Stars side today due to injury, with his replacement to be named next week.
“It’s always disappointing to lose players the calibre of Sam and Greg but it presents a great opportunity for the players who come into the side,” Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley said.
“Beau had an outstanding 2010 season and his involvement with the inaugural team last year makes him an ideal replacement.”
The NRL All Stars team was announced earlier today for the second Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match, to be played on February 12 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.
The Indigenous All Stars team is:
PLAYER | CLUB |
Preston Campbell (c) | Gold Coast Titans |
Nathan Merritt | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Willie Tonga | North Queensland Cowboys |
Beau Champion | Melbourne Storm |
Jharal Yow Yeh | Brisbane Broncos |
Scott Prince | Gold Coast Titans |
Johnathan Thurston | North Queensland Cowboys |
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs | Canberra Raiders |
Travis Waddell | Canberra Raiders |
George Rose | Manly Sea Eagles |
Jamal Idris | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Greg Bird | Gold Coast Titans |
Ben Barba | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Jamie Soward | St George Illawarra Dragons |
Carl Webb | Parramatta Eels |
Cory Paterson | Newcastle Knights |
Joel Thompson | Canberra Raiders |
Ryan James | Gold Coast Titans |
Matt Bowen | North Queensland Cowboys |
* One to be added
The 2011 NRL All Stars team is:
PLAYER | CLUB |
Josh Dugan | Canberra Raiders |
Akuila Uate | Newcastle Knights |
Michael Jennings | Penrith Panthers |
Jamie Lyon | Manly Sea Eagles |
Brett Morris | St George Illawarra Dragons |
Darren Lockyer (c) | Brisbane Broncos |
Benji Marshall | Wests Tigers |
Ben Hannant | Brisbane Broncos |
Cameron Smith | Melbourne Storm |
Matthew Scott | North Queensland Cowboys |
Nathan Hindmarsh | Parramatta Eels |
Gareth Ellis | Wests Tigers |
Paul Gallen | Cronulla Sharks |
David Taylor | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Ashley Harrison | Gold Coast Titans |
Feleti Mateo | Warriors |
Shaun Kenny-Dowall | Sydney Roosters |
Michael Ennis | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
Petero Civoniceva | Penrith Panthers |
Kurt Gidley | Newcastle Knights |
