Kiwi international utility Nathan Fien will make his NRL All Stars debut next week in the 2012 Harvey Normal Rugby League All Stars match at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast after receiving a late call-up today as one of the replacements for injured Storm and Dragons skippers Cameron Smith and Ben Hornby.
Smith (shoulder) and Hornby (thigh strain) have suffered training injuries this week. Smith is expected to miss the pre-season trials but there is no long-term concern; while Hornby will undergo further scans in the coming days to assess the extent of the injury.
Fien will replace his team-mate on the interchange bench after Hornby was named as a surprise coach’s pick last Thursday, while Smith was an automatic selection as an Australian team representative.
Bennett has requested more time to name a replacement for Australian and Storm hooker Smith.
Fien will join the 20-man squad NRL All Stars squad on Sunday when they go into camp at Coogee; while the Learn Earn Legend Indigenous! All Stars squad will go into camp at the Gold Coast on Sunday.