Wedding Bells Silence Raiders Star's All Stars Dream
Canberra Raiders fans might have been left wondering why there are no men's representatives from their club in this year's NRL All Stars teams, but the reason is far from the controversy that marred last year's selection process.
Raiders winger Xavier Savage was poised to earn selection for the Indigenous All Stars squad until he checked his calendar and discovered an unbreakable prior commitment. Savage will be fulfilling best man duties at his best friend's wedding in Perth on the weekend of February 15, which coincides directly with the All Stars fixture.
From Shoulder Reconstruction to Wedding Celebration
Savage has made a remarkable recovery from a shoulder reconstruction he underwent last year after fracturing his shoulder during the dramatic "Miracle of Mudgee" victory over the Penrith Panthers. Medical staff had cleared him to participate in the All Stars game, making his absence purely a scheduling conflict rather than a fitness concern.
"When he was told a couple of weeks ago that he was going to be named in the All Stars, Xavier was over the moon," revealed Raiders football manager Matt Ford. "And then over the next couple of days when he checked his calendar and realised that was actually going to be the weekend of this wedding."
Moving Beyond Last Year's Controversy
The situation stands in stark contrast to last year's tension between Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and Maori All Stars coach Adam Blair. Blair had publicly claimed the Raiders pressured "five or six" players into withdrawing from the 2025 fixture, which fell just two days after Canberra's first pre-season trial against the Melbourne Storm at Seiffert Oval.
Stuart responded forcefully at the time, labeling Blair's comments as "childish" and asserting they had "tarnished" the Raiders' relationship with the All Stars concept. This year, however, the Green Machine has moved forward, with Savage fully prepared to participate had the dates aligned differently.
Raiders Women Shine in All Stars Selections
While the men's team will be without representation, four Raiders NRLW players have earned selection for the women's All Stars game:
- Zahara Temara and Chante Temara for the Maori All Stars
- Krystal Blackwell and Grace Kemp for the Indigenous All Stars
The women's selections highlight the growing depth and talent within the Raiders' women's program, providing some consolation for Canberra supporters disappointed by Savage's unavoidable absence.
All Stars Squads Announced
The NRL has confirmed the following squads for the February 15 double-header at Hamilton:
Indigenous All Stars (Men): Josh Addo-Carr, Jayden Campbell, Tallis Duncan, Jamal Fogarty, Trai Fuller, Nicholas Hynes, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Josh Kerr, Kaiden Lahrs, Shaquai Mitchell, Oliver Pascoe, Joshua Patston, Hohepa Puru, Jesse Ramien, Ethan Roberts, Blake Steep, Braydon Trindall, Connor Watson, Jack Wighton, Brent Woolf. Coach: Ronald Griffiths
Maori All Stars (Men): Jesse Arthars, Joe Chan, Zach Dockar-Clay, JoJo Fifita, James Fisher-Harris, Mawene Hiroti, Royce Hunt, Keano Kini, Jacob Laban, Casey McLean, Te Maire Martin, Trey Mooney, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Adam Pompey, Leo Thompson, Trent Toelau, Manaia Waitere, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Coach: Adam Blair
Indigenous All Stars (Women): Essay Banu, Shaylee Bent, Krystal Blackwell, Rhiannon Byers, Jaime Chapman, Bree Chester, Kirra Dibb, Quincy Dodd, Taliah Fuimaono, Tallisha Harden, Caitlan Johnston-Green, Keilee Joseph, Grace Kemp, Ella Koster, Lailani Montgomery, Mahalia Murphy, Jasmine Peters, Phoenix-Raine Hippi, Jada Taylor, Caitlin Turnbull. Coach: Jess Skinner
Maori All Stars (Women): Shakira Baker, Corban Baxter, Gayle Broughton, Harata Butler, Rima Butler, Kennedy Cherrington, Rueben Cherrington, Laikha Clarke, Zali Fay, Fane Finau, Matekino Gray, Mya Hill-Moana, Raecene McGregor, Shanice Parker, Jasmin Strange, Payton Takimoana, Chante Temara, Zahara Temara, Tenika Willison. Coach: John Strange
The scheduling conflict serves as a reminder of the balancing act professional athletes must maintain between their sporting commitments and personal lives, with Savage choosing to honor a significant friendship milestone over representative honors.
