NRL 2025: Indigenous All Stars, Touch Football, Maori, Tallara Bamblett, Greg Inglis: Tigers rookie to represent Indigenous Touch team

Wests Tigers rookie to make Indigenous Touch debut

Author: Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 14 Feb 2025, 05:14 PM

Indigenous All Stars Touch Football representative Tallara Bamblett is hoping to make her NRLW debut this season and is looking forward to working with Greg Inglis as Wests Tigers.

Bamblett will make her Indigenous All Stars debut against the Maori All Stars in the annual touch fixture, which is played along side the men’s and women’s Harvey Norman All Stars games, at CommBank Stadium on Saturday.

The 20-year-old also plays rugby league and after being a development player at Parramatta last season she has joined Wests Tigers, and is excited about the appointment of Inglis as an assistant coach for the club’s NRLW squad.

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Any excuse to watch GI highlights

“When I saw the announcement, I was so happy and so excited to work with him and just train with him,” said Bamblett, who is a proud Wiradjuri woman.

“He has so much experience, and we have so much talent, so I think he'll be great for the club.

“I think he'll make it a safe space for all Indigenous people as well, which is so exciting, because the game’s growing. He is sort of going to be a mentor for all of us as well.”

The All Stars touch match features a number of players with NRL links, including Keely Silva, whose father Rod played for the Bulldogs and Roosters, and Tyla Love-Hepi, who played in England for more than a decade and whose father Brad played for the Illawarra Steelers in 1996.

Bamblett and Indigenous All Stars team-mate Taimana Elers are graduates of the NRL's School to Work program.

“I’m a debutant this year so I am new to the team, but everyone has been so welcoming and lovely to me," Bamblett said.

“I am just learning on the go. I don’t think words can describe what it means to represent my family and my mob. To get out there and play with everyone else who it means the exact same to, as well, is special.

“My family is from the bush, and we came to live in the city, so I have learned about culture but coming into this camp is eye opening."

The Indigenous and Māori teams have two wins apiece from their five All Stars clashes, with the 2023 match finishing in a 10-10 draw.

2024 Shane Frederiksen medal winner, Keeron Hughes, returns for the Indigenous All Stars in a largely unchanged line-up, with Jarrad Rotumah making his ninth consecutive appearance.

Bamblett, Jai Charlton, and Evie Clarkson are the debutants.

Veteran Kingston Lamberg and 2023 Shane Frederiksen medallist Takoha Ropati will lead a Māori side boasting six debutants, including Ifor Jones who claimed Player of the Final honours in the Men's Open at last year's Touch World Cup.

Coach: Karley Banks (Gamilaraay)

Māori All Stars Team

Niki Crombie* (Waikato)
Chylo Flavell (Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe)
Ifor Jones* (Te Arawa)

Destiny Katene* (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu)
Pokaiaua Kurukaanga* (Ngāti Hine, Te atihaunui-ā-paparangi)
Kingston Lamberg (Ngāi Tahu)
Tyla Love-Hepi (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Deena-Ranginui Puketapu (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu)
Takoha Ropati (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Ranginui)
Marama Thomas (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Jordan Tuakana Hudson* (Te Arawa)
Mariana Winiana* (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngapuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa)

Coach: Luke Chapman (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui)

*Denotes debutant

Referees

David Baggio
Charlie Cheesley
Jordyn Tomba

Indigenous and Māori All Stars Head-to-Head

2019: Māori 9 defeated Indigenous 6
2020: Māori 12 defeated Indigenous 8
2021: Not played
2022: Indigenous 7 defeated Māori 3
2023: Indigenous tied Māori 10-10
2024: Indigenous 7 defeated Māori 2

Tickets for Harvey Norman All Stars 2025 are available from nrl.com/tickets, starting at $25 for adults and $75 for families (two adults and two children).