Shaniah feels the power of Townsville All Stars clash

Being involved in the Indigenous All Stars camp is an experience Shaniah Power will never forget, and now she is hoping for the chance to inspire the next generation on home turf.

Being involved in the Indigenous All Stars camp is an experience Shaniah Power will never forget, and now she is hoping for the chance to inspire the next generation on home turf.

The announcement that Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium will host the clash against the New Zealand Maori Kiwis was an exciting one for the Bowen product, who has come along in leaps and bounds since she first pulled on the proud jersey.

Since the February contest, Power has gone on to represent the New Zealand Warriors in the NRLW and Queensland in State of Origin.

But there is something about the forthcoming bout that resonates with the 23-year-old, something that drives her to bring out her best.

And she said the chance to bring the match to North Queensland will light a fire in the young girls in the region to launch themselves on their own path to rugby league plateaus.

“It’s just being able to represent Townsville, represent my local area and represent all the young indigenous girls – especially around this area,” Power said.

“This whole year for me, my reason why has been to inspire them, to give them somebody to hopefully look up to.

“I could definitely say there are girls who are going to have a fire in their bellies I think, especially next year with Gold Stars coming back I think a lot of girls will be inspired to work a lot harder.

“I’m so excited, working in a high school I worked specifically with indigenous girls so I know a lot of them will be screaming and backing me which gives me quite a drive.”

Power’s rise to prominence in the women’s game has her pinned as a likely selection for the February 20 fixture, however there are a pair of Cowboys who will be looking to use the pre-season as a launchpad into the squad.

Young guns Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reuben Cotter are yet to get their chance in that arena, however the North Queensland talents are eager to test themselves in the throes of the passionate affair.

Cowboys pre-seaosn training

Both showcased in an otherwise lacklustre 2020 NRL campaign how dangerous they can be in the future — Tabuai-Fidow’s blinding speed stealing highlights at various stages, and Cotter’s unrelenting defence impressing plenty once he established himself in the first-grade side.

In pure football terms, ‘The Hammer’ was ecstatic to put himself in the frame for the ‘backyard footy’ style of play the All Stars had implemented in years gone by.

But with the chance to run out on their own ground representing their culture within their grasp, Cotter said it was more than just a personal opportunity.

“Obviously it’s a fun style of footy when it comes down to it and it’s great to have it in North Queensland,” he said.

”We’ve got a big indigenous population in Townsville so it’ll be great for the game and great for the community.

“The culture side of it is huge and it’s a massive part of the game and massive part of Townsville and the wider region.”

Cowboys pre-seaosn training

North Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston has been part of plenty of All Stars’ camps, and he said the build up had a completely different feel to it than other set ups he had been involved in.

It was not just the game play that changed, the champion halfback said, but rather the work behind the scenes that made the experience so unique.

“We know when you play in the NRL you are inspiring the next generation, not only of our culture but the next generation of football stars that are coming through,” Thurston said.

“You’re doing a lot more work in the community and that’s what it is about – giving the community a better understanding of the history of both cultures.

“But we are competitive, that drive doesn’t fade and that won’t go away so both teams will want to perform on the night as well.

“But the work you do in the community far outweighs the game. There will be a lot of feeling, both proud cultures coming to play this game here in North Queensland.”

Originally published as Shaniah feels the power of Townsville All Stars clash