NRL All-Stars match: Indigenous and Maori squads revealed

Latrell Mitchell will skip the World Club Challenge with the Sydney Roosters to play for the Indigenous All-Stars against New Zealand Maori and represent his culture.

Due to a scheduling clash – the All-Stars match is on February 15 at AAMI Park while the World Club Challenge is played two days later 17 – Mitchell was forced to choose between the fixtures.

The 21-year has the support of the Roosters, who understand how important the match is for the powerful centre.

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Mitchell's club teammate and New Zealand international Joseph Manu will be part of the Roosters team that takes on Wigan and thus won't feature for the Maori.

Mitchell will rekindle his connection with NSW Origin teammate James Roberts in a dangerous Indigenous backline that looks full of points.

Ben Barba was named at fullback but won't play after being sacked by the North Queensland Cowboys for an off-field misdemeanour.

The 2012 Dally M winner hasn't played in the NRL since 2016 and was readying for a return to action on Australian soil.

Eels flyer Bevan French has been parachuted in as his replacement.

Gold Coast Titans prop Ryan James was selected for the Indigenous side but withdrew due to a knee niggle.

He is replaced by uncapped St George Illawarra forward Josh Kerr.

Meanwhile, Newcastle wunderkind Kalyn Ponga gets a chance to trial his impending move from fullback to five-eighth at club level when he lines up at pivot for the Maori.

The 20-year-old sensation will be partnered in the halves by Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes.

Ponga, Dane Gagai and James Tamou will represent their Maori heritage despite pledging their international loyalties to Australia.

Gagai has previously played for the Indigenous All-Stars on three occasions.

Rabbitohs superstar Greg Inglis (knee) withdrew from Indigenous selection with injury, as did Titans halfback Ash Taylor (shoulder) and Manly's Joel Thompson (calf).

New Zealand Test captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was unavailable for the Maori squad due to a knee problem.

Cowboys prop Jordan McLean pulled out of the Maori team and will remain in Townsville as severe flooding affects North Queensland.

Melbourne front-rower Kenny Bromwich takes McLean's place.

Fans were able to vote on the formation of the sides via an online survey through the NRL website from January 15 to January 30.

Manly are the only club who do not have any players involved in the fixture.

First held in 2010, the All-Stars game is returning after an absence in 2018 with New Zealand Maori replacing the World All-Stars.

A women's match will be played as the curtain-raiser on the night before the main action kicks off at 8pm.