Tate, who pipped teammate Dallas Johnson by just two votes for the North Queensland spot, was almost forced into retirement in 2010 when he underwent his third knee reconstruction.
New South Wales and Sharks captain Paul Gallen was again the most popular player, gaining more than 8000 votes to be public favourite for the second year in a row, 333 ahead of debutant Cooper Cronk.
ALL THE STARS
NRL All Stars: Josh Dugan (Raiders), Jason Nightingale (Dragons), Jack Reed (Broncos), Michael Jennings (Panthers), Manu Vatuvei (Warriors), Benji Marshall (c) (Tigers), Cooper Cronk (Storm), Kade Snowden (Knights), Cameron Smith (Storm), Luke Bailey (Titans), Nathan Hindmarsh (Eels), David Taylor (Rabbitohs), Paul Gallen (Sharks).
Interchange: Adam Blair (Tigers), Frank Pritchard (Bulldogs), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Roosters), Tony Williams (Sea Eagles), Brent Tate (Cowboys).
Coach's selections: Luke Lewis (Panthers), Ben Hornby (Dragons).
Indigenous All Stars squad: Johnathan Thurston (c) (Cowboys), Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Jharal Yow Yeh (Broncos), Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs), Chris Sandow (Eels), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (Raiders), Travis Waddell (Raiders), George Rose (Sea Eagles), Sam Thaiday (Broncos), Jamal Idris (Titans), Greg Bird (Titans), Andrew Fifita (Sharks), Cory Paterson (Cowboys), Matthew Bowen (Cowboys), Scott Prince (Titans), Anthony Mitchell (Roosters), Joel Thompson (Raiders), Nathan Peats (Rabbitohs).