Inglis, Merritt, Peats All Star Selections

Rabbitohs players Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt and Nathan Peats have all been selected in the 2012 Indigenous All Stars side set to take on the NRL All Stars on the Gold Coast on Saturday 4 February. Inglis and Merritt were selected by the public who voted through NRL.com, whilst Peats was a ‘Coach’s Selection’, made by Indigenous All Stars Coach Laurie Daley. Merritt will play in his third straight Indigenous All Stars match whereas both Inglis and Peats will be making their debut for the side. Over 15,000 fans cast their vote online at NRL.com to pick 16 players to join Thurston, who was an automatic selection as captain, while coach Laurie Daley and his selectors added a further three players to the 20-man squad. Thurston topped the voting with 11,282, followed by Broncos winger Jharal Yow Yeh (7568), Inglis (7530), new Broncos captain Sam Thaiday (7331) and Titans lock Greg Bird (7105). Anthony Mitchell (Roosters), Joel Thompson (Raiders) and Peats (Rabbitohs) were the coach’s selections. “I am really happy with the quality of the team the public has selected and with the names announced today we are in the very best position to win the Arthur Beetson trophy come 4 February,” said Daley. “I know all Indigenous Rugby League players look up to Artie for what he did for Rugby League and for Indigenous Australians and with the trophy representing a true legend of the game, we will have extra incentive to win the All Stars match. “The NRL All Stars team will be a world-class side, but all the players announced today will be playing to win and also to honour the passing of a Rugby League legend.”