Maori v Indigenous All Stars: Match Preview
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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.
Match: Maori v Indigenous
Round 1 -
home Team
Maori
away Team
Indigenous
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
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.
Match: Maori v Indigenous
Round 1 -
home Team
Maori
away Team
Indigenous
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Maori is number 1 Jordan RapanaFullback for Indigenous is number 1 William Kennedy
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Winger for Maori is number 2 Morgan HarperWinger for Indigenous is number 2 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
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Centre for Maori is number 3 Dylan WalkerCentre for Indigenous is number 3 Jesse Ramien
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Centre for Maori is number 4 Reimis SmithCentre for Indigenous is number 4 Brent Naden
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Winger for Maori is number 5 Patrick HerbertWinger for Indigenous is number 5 Josh Addo-Carr
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Five-Eighth for Maori is number 6 Chanel Harris-TavitaFive-Eighth for Indigenous is number 6 Nicholas Hynes
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Halfback for Maori is number 7 Kodi NikorimaHalfback for Indigenous is number 7 Braydon Trindall
Forwards
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Prop for Maori is number 8 Joseph TapineProp for Indigenous is number 8 Andrew Fifita
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Hooker for Maori is number 9 Erin ClarkHooker for Indigenous is number 9 Reuben Cotter
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Prop for Maori is number 10 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Indigenous is number 10 Ryan James
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2nd Row for Maori is number 11 Kenneath Bromwich2nd Row for Indigenous is number 11 David Fifita
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2nd Row for Maori is number 12 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Indigenous is number 12 Tyrell Fuimaono
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Lock for Maori is number 13 Jazz TevagaLock for Indigenous is number 13 Josh Curran
Interchange
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Interchange for Maori is number 14 Esan MarstersInterchange for Indigenous is number 14 Albert Kelly
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Interchange for Maori is number 15 Royce HuntInterchange for Indigenous is number 15 Will Smith
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Interchange for Maori is number 16 Teui RobatiInterchange for Indigenous is number 16 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
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Interchange for Maori is number 17 Kevin ProctorInterchange for Indigenous is number 17 Josh Kerr
Reserves
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Reserve for Maori is number 18 Tukupa Hau TapuhaReserve for Indigenous is number 18 Selwyn Cobbo
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Reserve for Maori is number 19 Jayden NikorimaReserve for Indigenous is number 19 Tyrell Sloan
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Reserve for Maori is number 20 Wiremu GreigReserve for Indigenous is number 20 Shaquai Mitchell
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Liam Kennedy
- Senior Review Official: Ashley Klein
Last updated:
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.
