NRLW stars Gayle Broughton and Destiny Brill are among the fresh faces named in the women’s New Zealand Māori side to host the Indigenous All Stars in Rotorua on February 11.
Māori coach Keith Hanley has included the pair, who both lit up the NRLW last year, for their debut game, along with 10 other new and returning faces after the side were defeated 18-8 by their Indigenous counterparts in 2022.
Broughton is set to start at fullback for the clash with Botille Vette-Welsh (knee) still sidelined, while Raecene McGregor (knee) and Corban Baxter (pregnancy) are the other big names unavailable.
It will mark the first representative game for Broughton, the former rugby sevens gold medal winner, after she switched to rugby league last season but turned down an offer to play for the Kiwi Ferns at the rescheduled 2021 World Cup.
Brill, who starred for the Roosters in the second NRLW season in 2022, is a current Queensland Maroons representative and likely to replace veteran Krystal Rota at hooker.
Only six players from last year's defeat at CommBank Stadium will return including halfback Zahara Temara and Jillaroos props Kennedy Cherrington and Shannon Mato, signalling the intent from Hanley to bring in the next generation.
Kiwi Ferns centre Shanice Parker is also back after a successful return from her pregnancy in the second half of the season last year, while Zali Fay, Capri Paekau and Harata Butler have earned recalls after representing the All Stars side previously.
Match Highlights: Maori Women v Indigenous Women
Meanwhile, the women's Indigenous All Stars welcomes back 12 players from their victorious campaign last year including Knights premiership-winners Caitlan Johnston, Kirra Dibb and Bobbi Law.
Roosters prodigy Jada Taylor, who burst onto the scene with a 109-metre runaway try in under 19s Origin last year, is among five debutantes named by Indigenous All Stars coach Ben Jeffries.
The others include Knights young guns Bree Chester and Mia Middleton, PNG Orchids representative Essay Banu and North Queensland product Sareka Mooka.
World Cup-winning Jillaroo Tallisha Harden returns to the team after missing the 2022 fixture through injury.
Knights fullback and Karyn Murphy medal winner Tamika Upton withdrew from the squad in January with Jaime Chapman expected to start in the No.1 jersey after her player of the match performance in the corresponding clash last year.
Both sides are locked at 2-2 in the women's head-to-head battle since the concept between the two proud cultures began in 2019.
It will be the first time the match, played as a double-header with the men's fixture, will be showcased in New Zealand.
Maori All Stars (Women)
- Brooke Anderson
- Destiny Brill
- Gayle Broughton
- Harata Butler
- Kahu Cassidy
- Kennedy Cherrington
- Laikha Clarke
- Zali Fay
- Mya Hill-Moana
- Olivia Kernick
- Shannon Mato
- Capri Paekau
- Aaliyah Paki
- Shanice Parker
- Ashleigh Quinlan
- Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
- Jasmin Strange
- Zahara Temara
- Kailey Thompson
- Amy Turner
- Coach: Keith Hanley
Indigenous All Stars (Women)
- Essay Banu
- Shaylee Bent
- Jaime Chapman
- Bree Chester
- Kirra Dibb
- Quincy Dodd
- Taliah Fuimaono
- Tallisha Harden
- Caitlan Johnston
- Keilee Joseph
- Bobbi Law
- Mia Middleton
- Sareka Mooka
- Jasmine Peters
- Kaitlyn Phillips
- Shaniah Power
- Jada Taylor
- Tahlulah Tillett
- Coach: Ben Jeffries
- Tickets are selling fast to the 2023 Harvey Norman All Stars in Rotorua on February 11. Secure your seats here.
