Puru twins so proud to be in Indigenous All-stars team

Indigenous twins Niwhai and Hohepa Puru are among six Cronulla Sharks players selected for the All Stars matches at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on February 15.

The 23-year-old Purus are eligible for both All Stars teams due to having an Aboriginal father and a Māori mother.

The brothers are proud Mununjali and Githabal Aboriginal men.

“Every opportunity I get to embrace who I am, I’m going to do it, so I can show the boys coming up in the grades to be proud of who you are, to live and breathe your culture and be proud whether you are Tongan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Fijian or whatever you are,” Hohepa told NRL.com.

Halfback Niwhai and forward Hohepa will be joined by hooker Quincy Dodd and Nakia Davis-Welsh, who have been selected in the Indigenous women’s team.

“I am lucky that I get to play on my land – Dharug land,” Dodd told NRL.com.

“I have met some of the aunties there and we have caught up a few times now, just yarning and talking to them, which is awesome.

“Connecting with them actually means a lot more than the game to be honest and it is pretty special that I get to do that on my land, as well.”

Indigenous All Stars (Men)

Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Jayden Campbell, Joshua Curran, Tallis Duncan, Brian Kelly, Josh Kerr, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Dylan Lucas, Shaquai Mitchell, Tyrone Munro, Brent Naden, Hohepa Puru, Niwhai Puru, Ethan Roberts, Blake Steep, Jayden Sullivan, Jacob Sykes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton

Coach: Ronald Griffiths

Indigenous All Stars (Women)

Essay Banu, Jaime Chapman, Bree Chester, Nakia Davis-Welsh, Kirra Dibb, Quincy Dodd, Monique Donovan, Taliah Fuimaono, Tallisha Harden, Keilee Joseph, Tommaya Kelly-Sines, Grace Kemp, Olivia Kernick, Ella Koster, Bobbi Law, Evah McEwen, Lailani Montgomery, Mahalia Murphy, Jasmine Peters, Taneka Todhunter

Coach: Jess Skinner

Māori All Stars (Men)

Jesse Arthars, Zach Dockar-Clay, James Fisher-Harris, Dane Gagai, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban, Jeremy Marshall-King, Jesse McLean, Kurtis Morrin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Kalyn Ponga, Jordan Riki, Jazz Tevaga, Leo Thompson, Taine Tuaupiki, William Warbrick, Xavier Willison

Coach: Adam Blair

Māori All Stars (Women)
Lilly-Ann White, Annessa Biddle, Harata Butler, Kennedy Cherrington, Reuben Cherrington, Laikha Clarke, Zali Fay, Najvada George, Taneisha Gray, Tyla King, Shannon Mato, Kerehitina Matua, Raecene McGregor, Shanice Parker, Rima Pirini Butler, Ashleigh Quinlan, Tiana Raftstrand-Smith, Jasmin Strange, Pauline Suli-Ruka, Chante Temara

Coach: Keith Hanley