Five One New Zealand Warriors players have been named in the men’s Māori All Stars squad to face the Indigenous All Stars at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday, February 16 (7.10pm kick-off local time; 10.10pm NZT).
Dally M winger of the year Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns to the side alongside centre Adam Pompey – the sole Warrior in last year’s match – back rowers Dylan Walker and Jazz Tevaga and half Te Maire Martin
Head coach and former Warrior Adam Blair has also selected former Warrior Jesse Arthars while another ex-Warrior Josh Curran is again in the Indigenous All Stars line-up.
Returning to the Māori squad is ex-Kangaroo Dane Gagai who’s in a group which includes 11 past or current Kiwis.
The Grant Pocklington-coached Warriors emerged with plenty of credit but ultimate disappointment when they opened the under-19 pathways competition with a 20-32 loss to defending premiers the Parramatta Eels last Sunday.
Of the starting line-up used against the Eels there is one forced change with Raphael Sio named on the wing for the unavailable Sio Kali, one of the Warriors’ try scorers against the Eels. Kali has been ruled out after being concussed.
Pocklington has named an extended seven-man bench.
North Sydney is coming off a 16-32 first-round loss to Melbourne. The Bears finished 14th on the ladder last season.
