Indigenous All Stars prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is ready for a huge battle on Saturday night when his side takes on the New Zealand Māori at Rotorua International Stadium.
Taunoa-Brown, 26, has both Indigenous Australian and Māori roots but opted to represent the former when he made his first of three appearances in 2020.
Now gearing up for his fourth All Stars fixture and his first on New Zealand soil, the prop has spoken on what it means to represent his Kaurna and Narungga people in this highly anticipated cultural clash.
“It’s massive,” Taunoa-Brown told SENZ's The Run Home.
“We got to go out and see all of the kids in the community there in Sydney last weekend and just see how much joy and excitement it brings, just us fellas, when we go out there to the community.
“These kids, some of them come from rough upbringings and whatnot you know but (they’re) looking up to us and footy’s something that brings us all together and just gives us a lot of joy and hope.”
Taunoa-Brown says the pre-match activities struck a chord with the players, who were touched to see how much of an impact they can have on young Indigenous peoples.
“Us doing our part by playing this game and getting out into the communities, you see how important it is to all the mob back in Australia,” he added.
“It’s an unreal week to be a part of.”
Brought into the spotlight earlier in the week after stars Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton were arrested for a public scuffle and the withdrawal of several high-profile players from each side, the All Stars match will finally take place on Saturday night.
The match is set to begin at 3:45pm (AEDT) in Rotorua after the Indigenous team’s war cry and the Māori haka.