A number of players will make their World and Indigenous All Stars debuts in Newcastle next February when the two teams meet for the seventh Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars occasion.

Surprisingly perhaps, the Gold Coast Titans are the most well-represented team in squads with a total of five players. The Canberra Raiders, reigning Premiers Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers have four representatives each.

World All Stars (made up of players representing their Heritage)

1. Jarryd Hayne* (Gold Coast Titans) – Fijian Heritage

2. David Mead* (Brisbane Broncos) – PNG Heritage

3. Joseph Leilua* (Canberra Raiders) – Samoan Heritage

4. Konrad Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans) – Tongan Heritage

5. Nene Macdonald (St George Illawarra Dragons) – PNG Heritage

6. Mitchell Moses* (Wests Tigers) – Lebanese Heritage

7. Adam Reynolds (South Sydney Rabbitohs) – Australian Heritage

8. Nate Myles* (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) – Australian Heritage

9. Jake Friend* (Sydney Roosters) – Australian Heritage

10. Jordan McLean* (Melbourne Storm) – Australian Heritage

11. Gavin Cooper* (North Queensland Cowboys) – Australian Heritage

12. Bryce Cartwright* (Penrith Panthers) – Australian Heritage

13. Jake Trbojevic* (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles) – Serbian Heritage

14. Reagan Campbell-Gillard* (Penrith Panthers) – Fijian Heritage

15. Sosaia Feki* (Cronulla Sharks) – Tongan Heritage

16. Sione Mata’utia* (Newcastle Knights) – Samoan Heritage

17. Sam Lisone* (New Zealand Warriors) – NZ Heritage

18. Moses Mbye* (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs) – African Heritage

19. Tepai Moeroa* (Parramatta Eels) – Cook Islands Heritage

20. Jordan Turner* (Canberra Raiders) – English Heritage

The World All star debutants include Hayne, Mead, Leilua, Moses, Myles, Friend, McLean, Cooper, Cartwright, J Trbojevic, Campbell-Gillard.

* Denotes debut World All Stars players (NB, some players may have played in previous All Stars teams, prior to the new World All Stars team introduction in 2016)

Indigenous All Stars

1. Jack Wighton (Canberra Raiders)

2. Blake Ferguson (Sydney Roosters)

3. Greg Inglis (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

4. Will Chambers (Melbourne Storm)

5. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)

6. Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys)

7. Ash Taylor* (Gold Coast Titans)

8. Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)

9. Nathan Peats (Gold Coast Titans)

10. Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)

11. Joel Thompson (St George Illawarra Dragons)

12. Wade Graham (Cronulla Sharks)

13. Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos)

14. Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers)

15. Jack Bird* (Cronulla Sharks)

16. Leilani Latu (Penrith Panthers)

17. Latrell Mitchell* (Sydney Roosters)

18. Aidan Sezer (Canberra Raiders)

19. Kyle Turner (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

20. Adam Elliott* (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)

Making their debut for the Indigenous All Stars will be Ash Taylor, Jack Bird, Latrell Mitchell and Adam Elliott.

Indigenous All-Stars coach Laurie Daley is exited about his team’s prospects.

“It’s an exciting team & all the guys that have been there before will show the new guys what the week is about.”

World All Star coach Mal Meninga is thrilled with the concept.

“Inclusiveness means to us that everyone is welcome- everyone is welcome in our game. It is a privilege for me to be involved, it’s a great way to kick off the season.”

by Michael T. Lynch – contributor