Veteran centre Dane Gagai to end All Stars hiatus in shock Maori return
Veteran centre Dane Gagai has been named to make a surprise return to the pre-season All Stars fixture.
The 33-year-old has played four times in the past, three for the Indigenous side and once for Maori.
He is eligible for both teams through his two parents, but in 2020 opted out of playing altogether because the decision was too much for him to bear.
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"I'm extremely proud of both my Torres Strait Island and Maori heritage, and am extremely grateful to have been able to represent both cultures," Gagai said in 2020 when revealing he wouldn't play.
Dane Gagai of the Indigenous All Stars runs the ball during the match in 2017. Tony Feder via Getty Images
"It's not the last time I will represent either one, I just can't when they play each other."
But four years later and Gagai has opted to side with his mother's heritage, being named in the Maori squad on Thursday.
Watch the Friday February 16 All Stars clash live and free on Nine and 9Now
It will be the second time he has pulled on the Maori jersey, having last done so in 2019. He played for the Indigenous team for three years from 2015, when Maori was not involved in the representative game.
Gagai will lined up opposite a stacked Indigenous side when the All Stars heads to Townsville on Friday, February 16.
Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Nicho Hynes headline the Indigenous team while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jahrome Hughes and Joseph Tapine feature in the Maori side
Indigenous All Stars (Men)
Josh Addo-Carr
Jacob Alick
Bailey Biondi-Odo
Bailey Butler
Josh Curran
Adam Elliott
Jordan Grant
J'maine Hopgood
Nicho Hynes
Josh Kerr
Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Latrell Mitchell
Shaquai Mitchell
Kierran Moseley
Hohepa Puru
Kotoni Staggs
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Isaiah Tass
Braydon Trindall
Cody Walker
Coach: Ronald Griffiths
Maori All Stars (Men)
Jessie Arthars
Kenny Bromwich
Dane Gagai
Jacob Gagai
Jack Howarth
Jahrome Hughes
Royce Hunt
Te Maire Martin
Trey Mooney
Briton Nikora
Kodi Nikorima
Adam Pompey
Joseph Tapine
Jazz Tevaga
Leo Thompson
Matthew Timoko
Brandon Smith
Dylan Walker
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Xavier Willison
Coach: Adam Blair
The Indigenous Women's All Stars boats Tamika Upton, Taliah Fuimaono and Tallisha Harden while the Maori women's team includes Kennedy Cherrington, Corban Baxter and Raecene McGregor.
Indigenous All Stars (Women)
Shaylee Bent
Jaime Chapman
Kirra Dibb
Quincy Dodd
Monique Donovan
Taliah Fuimaono
Tallisha Harden
Kimberley Hunt
Keilee Joseph
Tommaya Kelly-Sines
Grace Kemp
Olivia Kernick
Bobbi Law
Mahalia Murphy
Jasmine Peters
Taneka Todhunter
Tamika Upton
Janelle Williams
Coach: Jess Skinner
Maori All Stars (Women)
Brooke Anderson
Corban Baxter
Annessa Biddle
Destiny Brill
Kennedy Cherrington
Zali Fay
Mya Hill-Moana
Shannon Mato
Kerehitina Matua
Raecene McGregor
Shanice Parker
Rima Pirini Butler
Ashleigh Quinlan
Tiana Raftstrand-Smith
Jasmin Strange
Chante Temara
Zahara Temara
Botille Vette-Welsh
Coach: Keith Hanley
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