NEW Cootamundra recruits Shannon Rupapere and Joel Maramo have been named to play for the Indigenous and Maori All Stars on Saturday.
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The pair are a part of a strong All Stars line up that will take on a Group Nine invitational team in the Reconciliation Cup at Lavington Sportsground.
The game will be a curtain raiser to the NRL clash between Manly and Canberra.
Rupapere and Maramo only recently joined Cootamundra from Central Queensland Capras.
Rupapere, who spent two seasons at Group 20 club Yenda, will line-up at halfback on Saturday while Marama will partner Patrick Sagigi in the front row.
Cootamundra co-coach Aaron Byrne, who has helped shape the Indigenous and Maori All Stars team, is looking forward to seeing what the Bulldogs' recruits produce.
“They arrived about three weeks ago, it worked out well because we were looking for a halfback and some guys in the forwards.
“It’s a bonus to get them so late.”
Cootamundra will be strongly represented in the Indigenous and Maori All Stars team with Rupapere, and Maramo to be joined by Aaron Byrne and lock Chris Maher.
Ben Jeffery will coach the team and start at full-back, as part of a quality backline that also boasts Peter Little, Will Merritt and Nathan Rose.
Byrne identified the team’s strike power as a strength.
“It’s a first class backline, from one to seven they’re all very, very good,” he said.
Indigenous and Maori All Stars: Ben Jeffery (Albury), Noa Fotu (Brothers), Peter Little (Junee), Will Merritt (Junee), Jack Lyons (Southcity), Nathan Rose (Southcity), Shannon Rupapere (Cootamundra), Patrick Sagigi (Junee), Aaron Byrne (Cootamundra), Joel Marama (Cootamundra), Clifford Morris (Junee), Joe Silafau (Albury), Chris Maher (Cootamundra). Interchange: Pani Manawatu (Southcity), Wayne Goolagong (Southcity), Sione Niuila (Brothers), Eli Tipene (Albury)
