Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei is "blown away" after being named yesterday as the club's representative in the first NRL All Stars team to take on the NRL Indigenous All Stars on February 13.
The 23-year-old Kiwi international will join a galaxy of league's biggest names for the season-launching encounter at
Skilled Park in Robina.
The public voted Vatuvei in ahead of Micheal Luck, Simon Mannering and Sam Rapira for the club's spot in the squad.
"It's an awesome honour to make the team," Vatuvei said. "I'm blown away to think I'll be playing alongside all those great players. It's exciting and I can't wait to get together with Wayne [Bennett] and all the boys named."
Vatuvei has first-hand knowledge of Bennett's ability after the legendary coach teamed up to work with Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney for New Zealand's famous 34-20 World Cup win against Australia in Brisbane in 2008.
Vatuvei will have some New Zealand company in the NRL All Stars - World Cup teammates Benji Marshall and Adam Blair - but the other 17 players in the 20-man squad have all been opponents at international and club level.
Apart from England's Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), the other 16 players are all Australians, most of them current or recent internationals.
In confirming the playing line-up, Bennett named Vatuvei in his usual left wing's spot in a backline oozing quality from Kiwi skipper Marshall and Australian captain Darren Lockyer in the halves, to the centres Michael Jennings and Matt Cooper, right winger Israel Folau and fullback Billy Slater.
Also in the 20-man squad is Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne, who kept out Kiwi prop Fuifui Moimoi in the public vote; Hayne has been named on the seven-man bench.
With Blair and Smith automatic selections as vice-captains of their national sides, the Melbourne Storm has three players in the line-up.
Blair is named with his Storm teammate Smith at hooker and South Sydney's new recruit Dave Taylor in the starting front row. The back rowers are Manly's Anthony Watmough, Ellis and Luke O'Donnell (North Queensland).
The seven players on the bench are: Kurt Gidley (Newcastle), Anthony Tupou (Cronulla), Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters), Alan Tongue (Canberra), Luke Bailey (Gold Coast), Josh Morris (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) and Hayne.
