2016 All Stars

The game's finest Indigenous players will clash with a new World All Stars team following a revamp of the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars concept.

NRL Head of Football Todd Greenberg announced on Tuesday that next year's match, to be played on February 13 at Suncorp Stadium, will feature the Indigenous All Stars against the newly-termed World All Stars.

The World All Stars team will feature a minimum of four players each from Australia, New Zealand and England, while the remaining players will be made up from other nations - Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, PNG and France (if available).

The move follows a review of the annual All Stars match, which has been part of the rugby league calendar since 2010.

Mr Greenberg said the World All Stars team would encourage the players to embrace their countries of heritage.

The Australia, New Zealand and England Captains will be automatic selections for the team, which will be selected by coach Wayne Bennett.

The World All Stars team will include at least one player – and a maximum of two players - from each NRL Club.

"The All Stars game will continue to be an important event on our calendar but this change will ensure it is even more relevant and entertaining," Mr Greenberg said.

"Not only will this move reinvigorate the concept, it will also ensure some of the best players from the best rugby league nations are playing together.

"We have seen in recent years the potential of some of the Pacific nations and this will ensure some of those players are given a chance to celebrate their heritage alongside some of the best players in the world from other nations, as well as the game's finest Indigenous talent.

"We have some incredibly diverse talent in rugby league and the new All Stars side will ensure that talent is showcased.

"Under the new model the game will be bigger and better than ever."

Preston Campbell, the architect of the All Stars concept, joined Mr Greenberg along with World All Stars coach Wayne Bennett in announcing the changes in Brisbane today.

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Kate Jones, said the new World All Stars concept would create extra buzz for rugby league fans around the match.

"The Rugby League All Stars match is a fantastic celebration of cultural diversity within rugby league, and is a highlight on the It's Live! In Queensland events calendar," Minister Jones said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is proud to support this event through Tourism and Events Queensland, recognising the important role major events play in promoting a destination, driving visitation, creating jobs and fostering community pride."

David Ackery, Executive Director Harvey Norman Holdings, said Harvey Norman was proud to continue to support the All Stars event.

"Harvey Norman has been involved with All Stars since day one. It is one of our proudest associations and from the beginning we saw it as a testament to the NRL to develop a competition that had everything - celebration of country, game and identity," Mr Ackery said.

"If Grand Final week celebrates the best of the best at the end of each year, then All Stars week welcomes everyone back to showcase the definition of team spirit and cultural pride.

"World All Stars will bring the talent of eight rugby league powerhouse countries onto the same field for the first time."

Tickets to the 2016 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match are on sale now. To purchase your tickets, head to www.nrl.com/tickets

http://www.nrl.com/indigenous-all-st...5/default.aspx

Gold Coast’s Nene Macdonald to use All Stars selection as springboard to permanent Titans place
http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/sport/nrl/

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NENE Macdonald is set to use his All Star selection as a springboard to cement a permanent place in the centres for the Gold Coast Titans next season.

Papua New Guinean representative Macdonald was named in Wayne Bennett’s World All Stars team on Tuesday for the February 13 clash against the Indigenous All Stars at Suncorp Stadium.

The former Rooster, who joined the Coast midway through the 2015 season, has just 22 first grade games under his belt.

But at 194cm and 111kg, Macdonald has enormous potential and is a player coach Neil Henry says “has a big future in the game’’.

“He’s training really well – a young, big, outside back,’’ Henry said of Macdonald, a man he rates as one of the young guns that can help the Gold Coast become *finals contenders.

After joining the Titans from the Roosters midway through the season, Macdonald was starting to cement a promising combination with James Roberts before the flyer asked to for a release from the club.

“It would have been really good with him there, he helped the team out a lot, he’s a good player,’’ Macdonald said.

“It’s tough to see him leave but he’s doing what’s best for him.”

He could find himself lining up against Roberts at some stage in the All Stars clash after the man known as the “Jet’’ was named in the Indigenous side alongside *Titans Greg Bird, Ryan James and Tyrone Roberts.

“You love playing your teammates and when it’s in the game you get a little bit of chatter,’’ Macdonald said after Bird threatened to “run over him’’.

Born in PNG before moving to Cairns, Macdonald attended rugby league nursery Kirwan High School, in Townsville, before joining the Roosters.

He will make his All Stars debut next season and will have to change allegiance quickly.

“I watch every game but I usually go for the indigenous boys, so it will be weird playing against them,’’ he said.

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Venue:
Suncorp Stadium, QLD

Date:
Sat 13 Feb 2016 6:50pm

TICKETS AVAILABLE
http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows...?sh=ALLSTARS16