Dallin Watene-Zelezniak features in the 2024 Māori All Stars men's squad, alongside two other Waikato-born players. Photo / Photosport
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak features in the 2024 Māori All Stars men's squad, alongside two other Waikato-born players. Photo / Photosport
The Waikato region will be well represented in the Harvey Norman All Stars 2024 match at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium next Friday, with five Māori All Stars reps born within the province.
Harvey Norman All Stars is the NRL’s annual celebration of Indigenous and Māori culture, featuring some of the NRL and NRLW’s biggest stars.
Hamilton-born Xavier Willison and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will feature in the men’s clash alongside Tokoroa-born Te Maire Martin, while Huntly-born Mya Hill-Moana and Taupō-born Ashleigh Quinlan will turn out for the women.
Both Willison and Martin also whakapapa to the small settlement of Tahāroa on the west coast of Waikato, near Kāwhia Harbour.
The 2024 All Stars schedule has three matches - the women’s (7.50pm NZT) and men’s (10.10pm NZT) Indigenous and Māori teams, along with Touch Football.
The matches will contain a host of other Telstra National Rugby League Premiership (NRLW), NRL and representative stars.
The Indigenous men’s side includes Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Nicho Hynes up against Brandon Smith, Jahrome Hughes and Joseph Tapine in the Māori men’s side.
The Indigenous Women’s All Stars will feature Tamika Upton, Taliah Fuimaono and Tallisha Harden, while the Māori women’s team will include Kennedy Cherrington, Corban Baxter and Raecene McGregor.
ARIA-winning artist Jessica Mauboy will give a headline performance during the event.
The All Stars matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport New Zealand.
Taupō-born Ashleigh Quinlan has once again been named in the Māori All Stars women's squad. Photo / Photosport
