You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Puru twins among six Sharks to represent in All Stars match

Twins Niwhai and Hohepa Puru are among six Sharks selected for the All Stars matches at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, February 15.

The Purus will represent their Indigenous heritage against a Māori side containing Cronulla teammate Mawene Hiroti in the men's fixture in Sydney.

2025 Indigenous All Stars: Hohepa Puru, Quincy Dodd, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Niwhai Puru.
2025 Indigenous All Stars: Hohepa Puru, Quincy Dodd, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Niwhai Puru.
2025 Māori All Stars: Mawene Hiroti and Annessa Biddle.
2025 Māori All Stars: Mawene Hiroti and Annessa Biddle.

In the women's event, hooker Quincy Dodd will step out for the Indigenous All Stars for a seventh time alongside fellow Shark Nakia Davis-Welsh.

Annessa Biddle will line up for the Māori women after debuting in last year's clash.

The 23-year-old Purus, who will play together for the first time at the Sharks in tonight's NRL trial against the Warriors, are eligible for both All Stars teams due to having an Aboriginal father and a Māori mother.

It will be halfback Niwhai's first All Stars appearance, with new Sharks forward Hohepa featuring off the bench in last year's 22-14 victory for the Indigenous side.

The brothers are proud Mununjali and Githabal Aboriginal men.

Hohepa recently spoke of his gratitude for his Indigenous and Māori cultures.

"Every opportunity I get to embrace who I am, I'm going to do it, so I can show the boys coming up in the grades to be proud of who you are, to live and breathe your culture and be proud whether you are Tongan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Fijian or whatever you are," he told NRL.com at Cronulla's Cultural Season Launch.

This year's All Stars fixture will have added significance for proud Dharug woman Dodd, who is set to play on the land occupied by her mob.

"I am lucky that I get to play on my land – Dharug land," Dodd told NRL.com. "I have met some of the aunties there and we have caught up a few times now, just yarning and talking to them, which is awesome.

"Connecting with them actually means a lot more than the game to be honest and it is pretty special that I get to do that on my land, as well."

Friday marked a banner day for Dodd, who was also selected in a historic Australian Jillaroos squad to face England in Las Vegas this morning.

See the All Stars squads below.

Indigenous All Stars (Men)

Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Jayden Campbell, Joshua Curran, Tallis Duncan, Brian Kelly, Josh Kerr, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Dylan Lucas, Shaquai Mitchell, Tyrone Munro, Brent Naden, Hohepa Puru, Niwhai Puru, Ethan Roberts, Blake Steep, Jayden Sullivan, Jacob Sykes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton 

Coach: Ronald Griffiths

Māori All Stars (Men)

Jesse Arthars, Zach Dockar-Clay, James Fisher-Harris, Dane Gagai, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jesse McLean, Kurtis Morrin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Kalyn Ponga, Jordan Riki, Jazz Tevaga, Leo Thompson, Taine Tuaupiki, William Warbrick, Xavier Willison 

Coach: Adam Blair

Indigenous All Stars (Women)

Essay Banu, Jaime Chapman, Bree Chester, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Kirra Dibb, Quincy Dodd, Monique Donovan, Taliah Fuimaono, Tallisha Harden, Keilee Joseph, Tommaya Kelly-Sines, Grace Kemp, Olivia Kernick, Ella Koster, Bobbi Law, Evah McEwen, Lailani Montgomery, Mahalia Murphy, Jasmine Peters, Taneka Todhunter

Coach: Jess Skinner

Māori All Stars (Women)

Lilly-Ann White, Annessa Biddle, Harata Butler, Kennedy Cherrington, Reuben Cherrington, Laikha Clarke, Zali Fay, Najvada George, Taneisha Gray, Tyla King, Shannon Mato, Kerehitina Matua, Raecene McGregor, Shanice Parker, Rima Pirini Butler, Ashleigh Quinlan, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jasmin Strange, Pauline Suli-Ruka, Chante Temara

Coach: Keith Hanley

Acknowledgement of Country

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Premier Partner

Major Partners

View All Partners