Maori All Stars
Last night saw the Indigenous All Stars take on the NRL World All Stars in the annual All Stars fixture. I like this game and more importantly, I love the Indigenous All Stars concept. So much so that I'm going to start a campaign for an Indigenous Australian All Stars team vs a Maori (New Zealand Indigenous) All Stars team.
Logistically, who cares. I don't know how or when this game will fit into the rugby league calender, but it's gotta be in there somewhere right? We've got a vague idea of how an Australian Indigenous side would look, adding a few big names to the side that lost to the World All Stars, what about the Maori All Stars?
Fullback: Peta Hiku
Hearty lad from Gisborne, Hiku does it all and is a naturally footballer.
Wingers: Jordan Rapana, Jordan Kahu
The two Wellingtonians! Rapana rarely puts a foot wrong with the Raiders while Kahu never ceases to amaze me. Last night at fullback for the World All Stars Kahu constantly looked dangerous and Kahu will certainly be a star of the NRL soon enough.
Centres: Dean Whare, Shaun Kenny Dowall
No need to explain much here as Whare, hailing from Rotorua and Kenny-Dowall are two of the NRL's finest outside backs and have been for a number of seasons now.
Halves: Te Maire Martin, Benji Marshall
How could you not want to see this halves combination in action? Marshall, one of the best Kiwis to ever grace the NRL and a hearty Whakatane lad in tandem with the kid dubbed the next Benji, Martin who comes from Turangawaewae. It doesn't get much more kiwi than this halves combo.
Middle Forwards: Adam Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Greg Eastwood
Northland's finest, Blair has enjoyed a resurgence at the Broncos and now calls Bromwich one of his peers as the premier props in the NRL. Bromwich and Eastwood are both Manurewa (Auckland) juniors, so seeing them dominating the middle of the field together would be a pleasure.
Hooker: Issac Luke
The heartiest of them all, Hawera for life.
Edge Forwards: Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris
There aren't too many (none) other NRL players from Hastings in the Hawkes Bay with Harris holding it down. Harris joins Kahu as my two young Kiwis who ooze the most potential while Proctor never really gets the praise he deserves as he flies under the radar with the Storm. Not bad for a kid from Te Kuiti.
Utility: Kodi Nikorima
Reppin' Palmeston North, Nikorima is simply one of the most exciting players coming off the bench in the NRL, adding spice to the Broncos attack with his speed out of dummy half and some dazzling skill.
Bench Forwards: Alex Glenn, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Tamou
Glenn has been a very solid Kiwis option on the edge, while Waerea-Hargreaves is arguably the most destructive prop in the NRL on his day. Plus he's from Rotorua and is the man at golf, which is pretty cool.
Ah, Mr Tamou. This isn't about the best kiwi players or whatever, it's about the best Maori team and Tamou is Maori and he's a rep-calibre prop.