All Stars

CLEARY YET TO START CONTACT WORK

After having an off-season shoulder surgery to repair a dislocation and labral tear, Nathan Cleary is aiming for a Round 1 return.

The superstar halfback suffered the injury in game two of NSW’s triumphant Origin series and played the rest of the season nursing his shoulder.

Incredibly, Cleary led his side to a premiership and is now in the process of recovering from surgery.

After establishing themselves at the Sharks in recent seasons, Kennedy and Trindall had continued to talk about their ambition but neither was expecting to be selected for Saturday night’s clash with the Maori All Stars at CommBank Stadium.

“I used to go to the game every year when it was on the Gold Coast,” Trindall said. “Seeing guys like Greg Inglis, Wendell Sailor, Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston play, I just dreamed of getting a chance one day, but there are so many talented Indigenous players I didn’t really get my hopes up.”

This year’s All Stars game at CommBank Stadium will be the first time it’s ever been held in Sydney.

Although several regular faces are missing due to suspensions or Covid concerns, the 2022 squads are still stacked with a tonne of NRL stars.

Maori All Star players Kalyn Ponga, Jarome Luai, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Corey Harawira-Naera will join Indigenous duo Cody Walker and Jack Wighton in missing the game.

With COVID having swept through most clubs and a number of players well behind schedule in terms of pre-season some of the draw card players will be unavailable.

The good news is Gold Coast Titans X-factor David Fifita will feature in the Indigenous side with coach Laurie Daley’s team also set to field the electric wing combination of Josh Addo-Carr and Jason Saab.

The 24-year-old was handed a six-game ban and was charged with a grade two reckless high tackle charge after his high shot on former teammate Joseph Manu in round 24 that broke the Roosters star’s cheek bone.

The annual Charity Shield match will take place in Mudgee on February 26 and will be the first time fans have seen Mitchell in action in six months

As per NRL rules, only players guilty of grade three offences or higher are unable to take part in trials, allowing Mitchell to return to the side.