Titans enforcer Shannon Mato has vowed to represent her family heritage for as long as she can, helping launch the annual All Stars clash which will be played in Townsville on Friday, February 16.
Born in Whangārei, New Zealand; the 25-year-old has been a regular starter for the Māoris in the last three years, including dominating in the 2023 encounter which saw her star up front with 177 running metres in their victory over the Indigenous All Stars.
"It's my favourite campaign to be a part of it. It makes me aware of my identity and it still keeps me connected to my roots back at home," Mato told 7 News Townsville at the launch.
"I will always be a part of this campaign for as long as I can."
Mato will return to the very stadium she made her All Stars debut at in 2021 when the clash returns to Queensland Country Bank Stadium, heralding the fixture and week of learnings to help her re-establish her cultural connection despite now living in Queensland.
"The All Stars is about connecting with your sisters and knowing the untold stories that are shared among us. It's also about getting to know the meaning of our jersey and hearing the stories of the players that played before us," she said.
"It's important to understand the history, our nation, our language, our community... it's so much more than just a jersey.
"I love how this game can bring everyone together and how we get to embrace and share our cultures as one.
"Even if you're not indigenous or Māori, it just shows that don't need to shy away from who you are. You should always stay true to yourself and be okay with where you come from."
Helping launch the concept initially devised by Titans life member Preston Campbell was Indigenous All Stars captain Tallisha Harden, who is also excited to return to Townsville for the clash, but this time interact with the community after being unable to do so in 2021 due to COVID.
“It is so much more than a game, I think Preston when he started this journey, this All Stars journey, way back in 2010, he'd be so proud of what’s developed,” Harden told NRL.com.
“Thanks to Preston, thanks to the NRL, we get this amazing annual game where we get to showcase our Indigenous talent, our First Nations and Māori talent, and we also get to go out into community to tell our stories, share our journeys, mix in and be part of the next generation of young people.
“Whether they support footy or play footy or not, it's just really important for us to go out there and connect be present.
“We didn't get to do that last time we were up in Townsville obviously because of COVID, so it's really exciting that we get to do that during All Stars week and we can be out in community mix in be present spend the time to get to know people and connect, so I'm really excited for that.”
