Titan James named in All Stars team

[amaline]

Titan James named in All Stars team
http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/...st-titans.html

POWERHOUSE Titans forward Ryan James is a surprise selection in the Indigenous All Stars team for February's rugby league clash with the NRL All Stars at Skilled Park.

James was selected by a public vote alongside his club captain Scott Prince, Indigenous All Stars skipper Preston Campbell and Kangaroos forward Greg Bird as one of four Titans in the team, making the Gold Coast club the most represented team in the All Stars squad.

Just last month James turned his back on big money offers from rival NRL clubs to re-sign with the Titans until the end of 2014.


The wild-haired 19-year-old is viewed as a future Gold Coast captain and captured the imagination of Titans fans with his aggressive NRL debut against Manly in Round 14.

James captained the club's under-20 side to the finals as well as playing four NRL games and is seen as one of the brightest young forward prospects in the game.

Today's selection marks the second All Stars appearance for Campbell, Prince and Bird, who all featured in the Indigenous team's 16-12 win over the NRL All Stars in the inaugural showpiece at Skilled Park last February.

Controversial Rabbitohs recruit Greg Inglis was another notable selection, named to make his All Stars debut despite fitness concerns.

The superstar centre was forced to pull out of the inaugural All Stars game earlier this year and is again reportedly under a cloud because of the shoulder injury which is preventing him training fully with new club South Sydney.

Australian and Broncos prop Sam Thaiday received the highest number of votes from fans with more than 10,000 people lodging their Indigenous All Stars team since mid-September to reveal the stellar list of players announced today.

''The public has selected a first class team with the squad announced today and we are definitely in the best position to defend our title at Skilled Park in February next year,'' Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley said.

Already 22,000 tickets have been sold for the game on February 12 with the NRL All Star team still to be announced.

Indigenous All Stars squad: Preston Campbell (Gold Coast, captain), Nathan Merritt (South Sydney), Willie Tonga (North Queensland), Greg Inglis (South Sydney), Jharal Yow Yeh (Brisbane), Scott Prince (Gold Coast), Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Canberra), Travis Waddell (Canberra), George Rose (Manly), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane), Jamal Idris (Bulldogs) Greg Bird (Gold Coast), Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Jamie Soward (St George-Illawarra), Carl Webb (Parramatta), Cory Paterson (Newcastle), Joel Thompson (Canberra), Ryan James (Gold Coast), Matt Bowen (North Queensland).

[Boofhead]

That is massive news, will only do good things for him getting an opportunity like this.