Bulldogs star Josh Addo-Carr is the biggest withdrawal from this year’s All Stars clash, with Canterbury confirming the winger will miss the match in Rotorua.
It’s a huge loss for the Indigenous side who haven’t won the annual event since 2019 when Addo-Carr scored two tries in a 34-14 win in Melbourne.
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The Bulldogs didn’t provide an official reason when contacted, but the indication is that “The Foxx” will be fine to play in their round 1 fixture against the Sea Eagles.
Addo-Carr has been promoted to the club’s leadership group after joining the team last year. He scored 16 tries in 23 games for a side that punched above its weight in the back-end of the season.
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The flying winger didn’t make the NSW team for State of Origin but excelled for the Kangaroos, scoring 12 tries at the World Cup, including five against Lebanon in the quarter-final.
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Addo-Carr’s withdrawal is a blow, but the Indigenous side still has plenty of firepower with Latrell Mitchell, Selwyn Cobbo, Cody Walker and Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes ready to rip in.
It will be a tough task across the ditch against a Maori side that features a number of world-class forwards as well as reigning Golden Boot winner Joseph Manu, who is primed for a massive year with the Roosters.
Next Saturday’s match will be a double-header, with the women in action first. That game will go ahead even though NRLW players haven’t signed contracts for the expanded competition due to stalled CBA negotiations.
