The New Zealand Māori NRL All Stars have been announced this morning with Australian stars Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai headlining the star-studded squad.
Ponga and Gagai are two of four players named in the side who have Māori heritage but chose Australia for their international allegiance, with the duo joined by Jordan McLean and New Zealand-born James Tamou.
Gagai's selection is especially interesting after the Kangaroos winger decided to honour his mother's heritage this year despite playing for the Indigenous All Stars, who the Māori team will face this month, between 2015-17.
There's also a strong Warriors unit present in the squad with Peta Hiku, Tohu Harris, Adam Blair and Gerard Beale also named.
The rest of the squad is made up mostly of Kiwis representatives besides halfback Jahrome Hughes and second rower Corey Harawira-Naera.
Both had their names mentioned in the Kiwis' squad for their recent tour of England but Hughes never made a final XIII and Harawira-Naera was forced to pull out due to injury.
Kiwis and Warriors legend Stacey Jones has been named the head coach with World Cup-winning captain Nathan Cayless joining as his assistant.
The Australian Indigenous All Stars are just as packed with talent though with Origin regulars such as Andrew Fifita, Blake Ferguson, James Roberts and Josh Addo-Carr all named.
They've also added the shock selection of Latrell Mitchell after he announced earlier this week he had turned down going with his club the Roosters to face Wigan in the World Club Challenge so he could don the Indigenous jersey.
The two sides will clash on Friday February 15 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
New Zealand Māori All Stars: 1-Peta Hiku, 2-Dane Gagai, 3-Esan Marsters, 4-Dean Whare, 5-Jordan Kahu, 6-Kalyn Ponga, 7-Jahrome Hughes, 8-Jesse Bromwich, 9-Brandon Smith, 10-Jordan McLean, 11-Kevin Proctor, 12-Tohu Harris, 13-Adam Blair.
Interchange: 14-Danny Levi, 15-Brad Takairangi, 16-James Fisher-Harris, 17-James Tamou, 18-Gerard Beale, 19-Corey Harawira-Naera, 20-Joseph Tapine.
Indigenous All Stars: 1-Ben Barba 2-Blake Ferguson, 3-James Roberts, 4-Latrell Mitchell, 5-Josh Addo-Carr, 6-Cody Walker, 7-Tyrone Roberts, 8-Andrew Fifita, 9-Nathan Peats, 10-TBA, 11-David Fifita, 12-Adam Eliott, 13-Tyrone Peachey
Interchange: 14-Will Chambers, 15-Leilani Latu, 16-Chris Smith, 17-Alex Johnston, 18-Jesse Ramien, 19-Tyrell Fuimaono, 20-Kotoni Staggs
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