RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
| NRL All Stars Team Announced | ||
| Written by: CobyDelaney | ||
| January 29th 2010 01:04 PM | ||
Wayne Bennett couldn’t hide the smile as he unveiled a side that features Billy Slater, Israel Folau, Benji Marshall, Darren Lockyer, Cameron Smith, Dave Taylor, Jarryd Hayne, Kurt Gidley and a star from every NRL team. NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, joined the NRL All Stars coach along with Marshall and Taylor to end two months of public voting and to signal an historic start to the 2010 Rugby League season. The NRL All Stars team to take on the Indigenous All Stars at Skilled Park on February 13 is: 1. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) 2. Israel Folau (Brisbane Broncos) 3. Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers) 4. Matt Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons) 5. Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand Warriors) 6. Darren Lockyer * (Brisbane Broncos) 7. Benji Marshall * (Wests Tigers) 8. Adam Blair * (Melbourne Storm) 9. Cameron Smith * (Melbourne Storm) 10. Dave Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs) 11. Anthony Watmough (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 12. Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers) 13. Luke O’Donnell (North Queensland Cowboys) 14. Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights) 15. Anthony Tupou (Cronulla Sharks) 16. Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters) 17. Alan Tongue (Canberra Raiders) 18. Luke Bailey (Gold Coast Titans) 19. Josh Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) 20. Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels) * Automatically selected players The team will assemble on Sunday, February 7, with its first public appearance at Blacktown on Monday, February 8. “With the names unveiled today the fans have certainly delivered an amazing side for the Harvey Norman All Stars match,” NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said today. “The prospect of Darren Lockyer, Jarryd Hayne and Benji Marshall together against players like Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Scott Prince and Preston Campbell is an incredible one for every sports fan. “Over the last few months, 50,000 voters have made it clear that these are the players the fans want to see and I think everyone is now counting down the days to kick-off.” NRL All Stars coach Wayne Bennett points to the strike power of both teams in predicting a showcase of League’s speed and skill: “There might be only two points in it at the end but I can tell you that with the players on these two teams we won’t be looking at a 10-8 score line. “Players on both sides are genuinely excited about the chance to play together and they’ve all got plenty of pride, they are going to want show what they can do. “I certainly think the fans have done a great job in selecting both teams.” The Indigenous All Stars team was named on November 20 and is: Player Blake Ferguson (Cronulla Sharks) Carl Webb (North Queensland Cowboys) Cory Paterson (Newcastle Knights) Daine Laurie (Penrith Panthers) George Rose (Manly Sea Eagles) Greg Inglis (Melbourne Storm) Jamal Idris (Canterbury Bulldogs) Jamie Soward (St George Illawarra Dragons) Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane Broncos) Joel Thompson (Canberra Raiders) Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) Nathan Merritt (South Sydney Rabbitohs) PJ Marsh (Brisbane Broncos) Preston Campbell © (Gold Coast Titans) Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos) Scott Prince (Gold Coast Titans) Travis Waddell (Canberra Raiders) Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra Raiders) Wendell Sailor (St George Illawarra Dragons) Yileen Gordon (Canterbury Bulldogs) As well as providing one of the most talked about Rugby League season openers ever, the match is on track deliver $1.5 million to 2010 community projects, with a particular focus on Indigenous areas. “It’s a real example of the clubs and the players coming together to help their community,” Mr Gallop said. “As well as providing some great entertainment, the match will have a lasting legacy through One Community and Indigenous education programmes. “The spirit in which the game comes together on the second anniversary of the Prime Minister’s apology to the Stolen Generation underlines the way Rugby League brings people together to celebrate the best in Australian sport.” If one of the newly-appointed NRL All Stars announced today is unable to play in the Harvey Norman All Stars match, he will be replaced by someone from the bench. Another player, from the injured player’s club, will fill the bench spot – the new player having recorded the second highest number of votes from that club, either as a forward, back or utility, depending on the position needed for the bench. |
