A number of players with ties to the western area are set to light up the NRL All Stars fixture at Townsville later this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both the men's and women's Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars sides were announced on Tuesday ahead of the blockbuster pre-season battles on February 20.
Both the men's and women's Indigenous sides feature western area products.
Wellington will be on show with both Blake Ferguson and Tyrone Peachey selected at wing and lock respectively.
The starting centres are also both former Western Rams with Dally M medallist and Orange junior Jack Wighton to partner Coonamble product Jesse Ramien there.
READ ALSO:
The women's side also has a Rams flavour with Orange's Phillips sisters Kaitlyn and Lailee both selected.
The siblings now reside at the Gold Coast where they play for Tweed Heads Seagulls in Queensland's top-flight women's competition.
Kaitlyn played in the fixture last year but this month's match will mark Lailee's debut at the top level.
"It's literally my first big game," Lailee said.
"I'm very nervous but also very excited and really appreciative of the opportunity."
An exciting element for the sisters is that they'll have the chance to reunite with Jess Skinner, another familiar face for those in the Western Rams, at Townsville.
Skinner, the Trangie-based coach of the Western Rams women, has earned another high-profile opportunity after be named assistant coach of the All Stars.
"She was our first representative coach for Western," Kaitlyn said.
The matches are obviously the main event for everyone involved in the All Stars concept but the Phillips sisters said the lead-up and community and cultural connection would also be special.
"The whole week is just so fun," Kaitlyn said.
"It's the best football camp I've ever been to. Everyone just has that mutual understanding of how much it means."
"Football is just a small part of it," Lailee added.
"The whole week is community work and I'm really excited for it."
Jake Humphreys
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
Sports nut at the Central Western Daily.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
