Knights star Kalyn Ponga and new South Sydney recruit Latrell Mitchell will go head-to-head in a mouth-watering showdown to headline next month's All Stars clash on the Gold Coast.
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Ponga will start at fullback for the Maori All Stars with Mitchell to feature in his new position at the back in Laurie Daley's Indigenous All Stars team for the game at Cbus Super Stadium on February 22.
As expected, Ponga will also be pitted against his Knights teammate Connor Watson, with the utility star to start from the bench in his first representative game for the Indigenous side.
Maori coach David Kidwell confirmed Ponga will start in the No 1 jersey after he played five-eighth in the corresponding game last season and said his clash with Mitchell will be worth the admission price alone.
"I think that's his best position where he feels most comfortable,"Kidwell said of Ponga on NRL.com.
Mitchell was one of 20 players named for the Indigenous All Stars in a squad that also includes his new Rabbitohs teammates Alex Johnston, James Roberts and Cody Walker.
The squads were named following a fan poll.
Gold Coast will also have four representatives in Ryan James, Tyrone Peachey, Tyrone Roberts and Nathan Peats on their home ground while the Sharks will be represented by three stars in Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham and new signing Jesse Ramien.
Coach Daley will be sweating on the availability of Walker and Fifita, who are both under injury clouds.
Kidwell has also named a 20-man squad headlined by Ponga and five players from the Melbourne Storm - Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith.
The Roosters and Wests Tigers are the only two teams not to have a player selected for either squad although the NRL premiers will be contesting the World Club Challenge in England on the same night.
Jack Wighton (Indigenous) and Bailey Simonsson (Maori) are the only two players selected from the NRL grand finalists.
The Indigenous side are the reigning champions of the annual clash after a 34-14 victory in 2019.
A women's Indigenous v Maori match will be the curtain-raiser to the main game on the night.
Indigenous All Stars: Josh Curran, Josh Addo-Carr, Adam Elliott, Blake Ferguson, Andrew Fifita, David Fifita, Wade Graham, Ryan James, Josh Kerr, Alex Johnston, Latrell Mitchell, Tyrone Peachey, Nathan Peats, Jesse Ramien, James Roberts, Tyrone Roberts, Joel Thompson, Cody Walker, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton.
Maori All Stars: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Adam Blair, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Corey Harawira-Naera, Jahrome Hughes, Issac Luke, Esan Marsters, Briton Nikora, Kodi Nikorima, Kalyn Ponga, Kevin Proctor, Bailey Simonsson, Brandon Smith, Brad Takairangi, James Tamou, Zane Tetevano, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Malakai Watene Zelezniak.
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