All Stars: Cobbo, Mato among Queenslanders in action

Plenty of Queenslanders will be in action at the NRL Harvey Norman All Stars in New Zealand on February 11.

Nineteen Queenslanders across three of the four teams will take to the field at Rotorua International Stadium for the pre-season showdowns. 

Seven Queenslanders will line up in men's Indigenous All Stars side including 2022 Queensland Maroons debutant Selwyn Cobbo and 2020 FOGS Peter Jackson Memorial Award winner Josh Kerr.

“It’s good to be back and I am proud to get picked in this team again," Cobbo said. 

Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons prop Shannon Mato will co-captain the Māori All Stars with fellow Queenslander Zahara Temara, in what she described as "a really special moment". 

"I remember her playing for Queensland Māoris when we were younger and I used to actually go up to Z and ask her advice on how to make it further... so now to captain alongside her is a really special moment for the both of us," Mato said.

"We love our heritage and our culture, and to be trusted with this responsibility is just a huge honour, and we just want to acknowledge the leaders before us and continue the good work that they set."

The 24-year-old, who will line up for Mackay Cutters in this year's BMD Premiership competition, said All Stars was a great way to start the year.

"It's my favourite time of the year. It's where I feel connected with my culture. To spend a week here and catch up with family I haven't seen since I was a little girl, is just really special," Mato said.

"To welcome the Indigenous team onto our land, get them to understand who we are and why we do this for our family, is just a really special moment.

"That I'm able to represent my last name and my father that was buried here. It is really special. I don't take this jersey lightly, just like the others.

"It's more than just a game."

The duo are joined in the team by fellow Queenslanders Destiny Brill, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Amy Turner and Laikha Clarke.