Waikato players in Māori All Stars
Five Waikato-born players among line up
The Waikato region will be well represented in the Harvey Norman All Stars 2024 match at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium tomorrow night, with five Māori All Stars reps born within the province.
Harvey Norman All Stars is the NRL’s annual celebration of Indigenous and Māori culture, featuring some of the NRL and NRLW’s biggest stars.
The match returns to Australia this year after Rotorua International Stadium played host in 2023.
Hamilton-born Xavier Willison and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will feature in the men’s clash alongside Tokoroaborn Te Maire Martin, while Huntlyborn Mya Hill-Moana and Taupōborn Ashleigh Quinlan will turn out for the women.
Both Willison and Martin also whakapapa to the small settlement of Tahāroa on the west coast of Waikato, near Kāwhia Harbour.
The 2024 All Stars schedule has three matches - the women’s (7.50pm NZT) and men’s (10.10pm NZT) Indigenous and Māori teams, along with Touch Football.
The matches will contain a host of other Telstra National Rugby League Premiership (NRLW), NRL and representative stars.
The Indigenous men’s side includes Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Nicho Hynes up against Brandon Smith, Jahrome Hughes and Joseph Tapine in the Māori men’s side.
The Indigenous Women’s All Stars will feature Tamika Upton, Taliah Fuimaono and Tallisha Harden, while the Māori women’s team will include Kennedy Cherrington, Corban Baxter and Raecene McGregor.
ARIA-winning artist Jessica Mauboy will give a headline performance during the event.
The All Stars matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport New Zealand.
2024 Harvey Norman All Stars squads:
■ Indigenous All Stars (Women): Shaylee Bent, Jaime Chapman, Kirra Dibb Quincy Dodd, Monique Donovan, Taliah Fuimaono, Tallisha Harden, Kimberley Hunt, Keilee Joseph, Grace Kemp, Olivia Kernick, Bobbi Law, Mahalia Murphy, Jasmine Peters, Tommaya Kelly-Sines, Taneka Todhunter, Tamika Upton, Janelle Williams, Coach: Jess Skinner.
■ Māori All Stars (Women): Brooke Anderson, Corban Baxter, Annessa Biddle, Destiny Brill, Kennedy Cherrington, Zali Fay, Mya HillMoana, Shannon Mato, Kerehitina Matua, Raecene McGregor, Shanice Parker, Rima Pirini Butler, Ashleigh Quinlan, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jasmin Strange, Chante Temara, Zahara Temara, Botille Vette-Welsh, Coach: Keith Hanley.
■ Indigenous All Stars (Men): Josh Addo-Carr, Jacob Alick, Bailey BiondiOdo, Bailey Butler, Josh Curran, Adam Elliott, Jordan Grant, J’maine Hopgood, Nicho Hynes, Josh Kerr, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Latrell Mitchell, Shaquai Mitchell, Kierran Moseley, Hohepa Puru, Kotoni Staggs, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Isaiah Tass, Braydon Trindall, Cody Walker, Coach: Ronald Griffiths.
■ Māori All Stars (Men): Jesse Arthars, Kenny Bromwich, Dane Gagai, Jacob Gagai, Jack Howarth, Jahrome Hughes, Royce Hunt, Te Maire Martin, Trey Mooney, Briton Nikora, Kodi Nikorima, Adam Pompey, Joseph Tapine, Jazz Tevaga, Leo Thompson, Matthew Timoko, Brandon Smith, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Xavier Willison, Coach: Adam Blair.