Hynes honoured by Indigenous All Stars captaincy

A presentation by Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes on the playing style of the Indigenous team helped earn him the captaincy for Sunday’s annual All Stars match against Aotearoa Māori at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Hynes was shocked when Indigenous coach Ron Griffiths announced to the team on Friday night that he would be captain but is honoured to be given the role.

Dragons prop Josh Kerr, who was a late withdrawal on match eve, captained the team last year, while Rabbitohs centre Jack Wighton will be making a record ninth All Stars appearance.

Yet while there are more experienced players in the Indigenous team, Griffiths said he had been impressed by the way Hynes had taken ownership of the game plan and thought he was an ideal choice to captain the team.

“On day one when we walked into camp, we had a bit of a chat about how we want to play and I just handed over to Nicho," Griffiths said.

"He presented to the room that night about what we thought would work for our team, our style, and he has owned the team from then, so it is a natural fit.

“I think his reaction was a little bit of shock at the time, because obviously there are some players in the team who have had a long, distinguished careers and a bit more experienced than Nicho.

“This is Jack’s ninth All Stars game and one thing we spoke about was that there are 20 guys in the team and there are 20 blokes who need to lead themselves.”

Hynes, who will make his fourth All Stars appearance, said he could never imagine when he played his last match in 2024 that he would get the opportunity to captain the Indigenous team.

The Dally M Medallist was only unavailable for the 2025 All Stars as the Sharks were playing in Vegas - a once in a lifetime opportunity he didn't want to risk missing.

A proud Wiradjuri and Darkinjung man, he wants to represent the Indigenous team every year and recently called for All Stars to be elevated by being played as a standalone fixture to open the season.

“I’m trying to evolve, and I am still on my journey of evolving into the proud Indigenous man I am,” Hynes said.

“In 2022, when I came into this camp, I was just a shy little boy and wasn’t comfortable in my own skin.

"A lot of us players go through those same experiences but here I am now being able to lead out a really great group of men and our nation and all our people back home.

“It is real exciting and last time we played here it was such a good week and it has been one of the best weeks of my life again, and I love coming here and seeing the Maori culture – it is my favourite culture other than our own.

“It is something really special and I am really privileged that I get to do every time I pull on this jersey.”

Warriors back Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has never captained a team at any level before All Stars and will co-captain the Māori side with James Fisher-Harris.

The Indigenous Women are co-captained by Sharks hooker Quincy Dodd and Cowboys forward Tallisha Harden, who will become the team’s most capped All Stars player when she makes her seventh appearance.  

Eels forward Kennedy Cherrington and Raiders playmaker Zehara Temara will co-captain the Māori Wahine.