The Indigenous men’s team will be aiming to make it 3 wins in a row while the women’s side will be looking to defend last year’s victory in Townsville.
Here’s a snapshot of Saturday night’s NRL Indigenous All Stars games in Western Sydney.
Indigenous All Stars Women v Māori All Stars Women, Saturday 5.50pm
Indigenous star power
The Indigenous women go into this match boasting a star-studded lineup with five current Jillaroos in the lineup including the reigning Dally M medallist Olivia Kernick.
Co-Captain’s Tallisha Harden and Quincy Dodd bring plenty of experience to the leadership role. Harden will play her 8th All Stars clash, equalling the record for the most games played.
Only three players will be making their debut and the team is welcoming back winger Nakia Davis-Welsh who’s missed a few years.
According to officials, Davis-Welsh has been blown away with how professional the team has become.
Player to watch
Jaime Chapman: she showed what she’s capable of during last year’s State of Origin series.
With Tamika Upton unavailable due to work commitments, Chapman gets the chance to impress in her preferred position of fullback.
Also watch out for towering prop Grace Kemp who could also have a massive impact coming off the bench.
Predictions
The Indigenous women go into the clash as favourites and it’s easy to see why given the lineup.
A win would see the Indigenous team become the first women’s side to go back-to-back in the series.
Indigenous All Stars Men v Māori All Stars Men, Saturday 8.10pm (AEDT)
Mass changes
With the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Kotoni Staggs and Nicho Hynes unavailable for the match, the Indigenous men’s side has named 10 debutants in its 20-man squad.
There’s still plenty of star power in the lineup with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to play fullback and Jack Wighton in the centres.
But they’ll have their work cut out for them with Kayln Ponga playing fullback for the Maori side behind a formidable pack led by new Warriors Co-Captain James Fisher-Harris.
Player to watch
Jayden Campbell: he’s the son Preston Campbell who was instrumental in getting the All Stars concept up and running in 2010.
Jayden has wanted to play in this game since he was a kid. It’s the highlight of his career so far.
He’s also beefed up in the off-season putting on a few kilos of muscle under Titans Coach Des Hasler.
Jayden will lineup at five-eighth and has shown how dangerous he can be running the ball.
Predictions
The Maori All Stars will go in as the favourites to win and it’s easy to see why with Ponga set to play behind a monster pack of forwards.
With the Indigenous All Stars also missing a host of players it’ll be up to some of the new faces in the squad to step up
