The Harvey Norman NRL All Stars return to Townsville for the second time in three years this Friday, as the Indigenous enjoy a return to home soil following last year’s victory over the Māori in New Zealand.
Ahead of what will be the sixth meeting between these two cultures, both sides have enjoyed two victories each, with the remaining match being a 10-10 draw back in 2021, ironically at the same venue at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
While first-year Māori coach Adam Blair has the benefit of having a host of Kiwi Test players available this year, Indigenous mentor Ronnie Griffiths’ line-up is less experienced, but one which has an embarrassment of riches in the backline led by Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Clashes between these two sides have tended to be open attacking affairs, with three of their five meetings seeing at least 46 combined points scored, with no more than six points separating them at full-time since 2021.
Match: Indigenous v Maori
Round 1 -
home Team
Indigenous
away Team
Maori
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
The rundown
Team news
Indigenous All Stars: The Indigenous side will line up as named with captain Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kotoni Staggs and debutant Alofiana Khan-Pereira making up a sizzling back five while Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall are the halves. All Stars veteran Josh Kerr and Shaquai Mitchell are the props and Adam Elliott and Josh Curran will start in the second row. Bailey Biondi-Odo, Jordan Grant, Zac Fulton, Hohepa Puru and Kyle Laybutt are the other first-time All Stars reps.
Māori All Stars: One late change with Xavier Willison to start the game on All Stars debut and Royce Hunt going to the bench. Storm star Jahrome Hughes and Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima get the nod in the halves with Jesse Arthars and Brandon Smith making up the spine. Briton Nikora, Kenny Bromwich and Joe Tapine make up a powerful back row. Jojo Fifita, Matt Timoko, Trey Mooney and Keenan Palasia make their All Stars debut.
Match: Indigenous v Maori
Round 1 -
home Team
Indigenous
away Team
Maori
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Indigenous is number 1 Latrell MitchellFullback for Maori is number 1 Jesse Arthars
-
Winger for Indigenous is number 2 Josh Addo-CarrWinger for Maori is number 2 Jojo Fifita
-
Centre for Indigenous is number 3 Hamiso Tabuai-FidowCentre for Maori is number 3 Dane Gagai
-
Centre for Indigenous is number 4 Kotoni StaggsCentre for Maori is number 4 Matthew Timoko
-
Winger for Indigenous is number 5 Alofiana Khan-PereiraWinger for Maori is number 5 Adam Pompey
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Five-Eighth for Indigenous is number 6 Braydon TrindallFive-Eighth for Maori is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
-
Halfback for Indigenous is number 7 Nicholas HynesHalfback for Maori is number 7 Jahrome Hughes
Forwards
-
Prop for Indigenous is number 8 Shaquai MitchellProp for Maori is number 10 Leo Thompson
-
Hooker for Indigenous is number 9 Kierran MoseleyHooker for Maori is number 9 Brandon Smith
-
Prop for Indigenous is number 10 Josh KerrProp for Maori is number 16 Xavier Willison
-
2nd Row for Indigenous is number 11 Adam Elliott2nd Row for Maori is number 11 Briton Nikora
-
2nd Row for Indigenous is number 12 Josh Curran2nd Row for Maori is number 12 Kenneath Bromwich
-
Lock for Indigenous is number 13 J'maine HopgoodLock for Maori is number 13 Joseph Tapine
Interchange
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Interchange for Indigenous is number 14 Bailey ButlerInterchange for Maori is number 8 Royce Hunt
-
Interchange for Indigenous is number 15 Brian KellyInterchange for Maori is number 14 Jazz Tevaga
-
Interchange for Indigenous is number 16 Hohepa PuruInterchange for Maori is number 15 Trey Mooney
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Interchange for Indigenous is number 17 Bailey Biondi-OdoInterchange for Maori is number 17 Dylan Walker
Reserves
-
Reserve for Indigenous is number 18 Zac FultonReserve for Maori is number 18 Te Maire Martin
-
Reserve for Indigenous is number 19 Jordan GrantReserve for Maori is number 19 Jack Howarth
-
Reserve for Indigenous is number 20 Kyle LaybuttReserve for Maori is number 20 Keenan Palasia
Match Officials
- Referee: Todd Smith
- Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
- Touch Judge: Jon Stone
- Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton
Last updated:
Stat attack
- Indigenous forward Josh Kerr is set to appear in this fixture for the sixth-straight season, making him the most experienced All Star on the field.
- Among the players selected for this year’s event, Josh Addo-Carr (2) has the most tries for the Indigenous, while for the Māori both Dane Gagai and Brandon Smith have scored two tries in All Stars matches.
- In their two prior meetings on Queensland soil there has been a draw (10-10 in 2021) and a 30-16 Māori win a year earlier.
