Emotions will run high at CommBank Stadium on a special night for the game as the Maori All Stars and Indigenous All Stars renew their epic rivalry.
The concept was launched in 2010 when the Indigenous team took on an NRL All Stars outfit on the Gold Coast and for the past three years the Maori All Stars have stepped up to the plate to tackle the Indigenous side, with three intense clashes producing one win apiece and a 10-10 draw last year.
Laurie Daley's Indigenous outfit will look to their explosive backline to ensure they get back in the winner's list for the first time since 2019 while David Kidwell's Maori side boast a powerhouse pack which includes James Fisher-Harris, Kenny Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Warriors hardman Jazz Tevaga.
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The rundown
Team news
Maori All Stars: No late changes for David Kidwell's side. Warriors duo Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kodi Nikorima combine in the halves for Maori, with the former making his All Stars debut and the latter making his co-captaincy debut alongside last year's co-captain, Raider Joe Tapine. Another Raider in Jordan Rapana makes his All Stars debut at fullback. Morgan Harper (Manly) and Reimis Smith (Melbourne) debut in the backline, along with hooker Erin Clark (Gold Coast) and lock Jazz Tevaga (Warriors). Royce Hunt (Sharks), TC Robati (Broncos), Jayden Nikorima (Storm) and Tuku Hau Taphua (Roosters) round out the debutants list on the bench.
Indigenous All Stars: Laurie Daley's team is 1-20 is named. Cronulla's new-look spine will get an early run with Sharks fullback Will Kennedy, five-eighth Nicho Hynes and halfback Brayden Trindall all starting for the Indigenous side in their All Stars debuts. Centre Jesse Ramien and prop Andrew Fifita round out the five-man Cronulla contingent. Cowboys winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Bulldogs centre Brent Naden make their debuts in the starting backline while Brisbane duo Albert Kelly and Selwyn Cobbo, Dragon Tyrell Sloan and Rabbitoh Shaquai Mitchell, brother of Latrell, all debut from the bench. Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr captains the side.
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Key match-up
James Fisher-Harris vs Andrew Fifita: The premiership winning Panther took home the Preston Campbell Medal in 2021 on the back of 16 runs for 137 metres and he'll be looking to set the standard again for the Maori pack. Fifita is one of the feelgood stories of this year's All Stars game, having recovered from a throat injury last August that not only threatened his career but left him an induced coma. The Sharks veteran will make his sixth All Stars appearance and in company with Josh Kerr and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown will try to nullify Fisher-Harris's impact. The battle of the big men should be worth the price of admission alone.
Why All Stars is so unreal
Stat attack
The Indigenous All Stars have averaged 20.6 points per game in the 10 All Stars clashes since 2010 (the game was not played in 2014 and 2018). The NRL All Stars, World All Stars and Maori All Stars have scored a combined 168 points across the 10 games at 16.8 per game. With Josh Addo-Carr, Alex Johnston and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in their ranks the Indigenous side can again be expected to pile on the points if they get conditions to favour at Parramatta.
Indigenous All Stars artwork was created by Laura Pitt and is used by permission.