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Kiwis to Feature in All Stars Team

A late call up for Kiwis utility Nathan Fien (to replace Dragons skipper Ben Hornby) sees the number of Kiwis featuring in the All Stars game rise to seven as he joins Jason Nightingale, Manu Vatuvei, Benji Marshall, Adam Blair, Frank Pritchard and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the NRL All Stars team to play on February 4 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

The public had to choose one player from each of the 16 NRL Clubs to join automatic selections Benji Marshall and Cameron Smith (now out injured at training) and two coach's picks, of which Fien is now one, to make up the 20-man squad. Bennett was joined by Marshall and All Stars debutant Waerea-Hargreaves at the announcement to reveal the exciting line-up.

The 2012 NRL All Stars team for the 2012 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars game on February 4 at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast is:

Josh Dugan (Canberra Raiders)
Jason Nightingale* (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jack Reed* (Brisbane Broncos)
Michael Jennings (Penrith Panthers)
Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
Benji Marshall - Captain (Wests Tigers) #
Cooper Cronk* (Melbourne Storm)
Kade Snowden* (Newcastle Knights)
Luke Bailey (Gold Coast Titans)
Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta Eels)
David Taylor (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks)

Interchange:
Adam Blair (Wests Tigers)
Frank Pritchard* (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves* (Sydney Roosters)
Tony Williams* (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles)
Brent Tate* (North Queensland Cowboys)
Nathan Fien* (St George Illawarra Dragons)

* NRL All Stars Debutant

Rule Changes for 2012 All Stars 

Power Play

- Each team will receive one (1) optional power play in each half of the match. 

- Once a team captain nominates to the match referee that they wish to use their power play for the half at a stoppage in play (Changeover, scrum etc.), the opposition team must immediately drop two (2) players from the field of play for a 5 minute period (11 players on the field of play).  

- If the team who called the power play scores a try during this period, the power play will end immediately and the two players who left the field may return.    

- Players returning to the field of play must do so under the supervision of the interchange official. 

- The team defending the power play will make the decision which two players leave the field from their team during the power play. 

- Once a power play has been called, the opposition team may not call their power play at the same time.  If both teams call a power play at the same time, the team about to receive possession will be granted the power play.

- A second clock will appear on the scoreboard showing the time period for the power play.

20/40 kicks in play

- A team which kicks the ball from within their own 20m area and can successfully find touch within the 40m area of the defending team will receive the feed to the ensuing scrum. 

 Changes to Penalties in the Ruck Area

- For infringements in the ruck area by the defending team (holding down, leg pull, hand on ball etc.) which does not result in the breakdown of play (i.e. drop ball),  the referee will indicate the infringement followed by immediately restarting the tackle count at the point of the infringement with a zero tackle. 

- There will be no kick for touch for these infringements. Play will continue immediately from the point of the infringement.  

- Any foul play in the ruck area by the defending team will result in a traditional penalty. 

- Any infringement by the attacking team in the ruck area will result in a traditional penalty. 

For more information about the game click here to visit the NRL website.