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Rugby league fans have included some of the modern-day greats in the Indigenous Team of the 2000s.

The likes of Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Laurie Daley, Justin Hodges, Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor were among those to collect the majority of votes in their position.

Among those who were still top-line players but didn't reach the heights of the above-mentioned group, rep players such as Greg Bird, Andrew Fifita, Latrell Mitchell, Sam Thaiday, Nathan Blacklock, Carl Webb and Nathan Peats also won selection.

A quick look at the final team (below) shows that it could have given any side from the same period a run for their money.

In total, more than 125,000 votes were entered across the nine positions.

There were five players to choose from in each position but each player is only available in what is determined to be their main spot.

For example, Inglis was only available at fullback, giving fans a choice between the Maroons legend and the likes of Matt Bowen and Ben Barba.

When the voting opened, Indigenous rugby league legends Laurie Daley, Jamie Soward, Katrina Fanning and Steve Renouf plus Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga all picked their best Indigenous team.

Laurie Daley picked his great rival Anthony Mundine at five-eighth and also opted for his older Raiders teammate Ken Nagas on one wing.

Katrina Fanning chose four current players in her squad - Latrell Mitchell, Wade Graham, Andrew Fifita and Nathan Peats.

Mal Meninga picked a 13-man line-up almost made up entirely of former Kangaroos representatives with ex-NSW hooker Nathan Peats the only player who has not worn the green and gold.

Jamie Soward had to find a place for Preston Campbell but with a backline stacked with talent he chosen the Indigenous All Stars' founding father as an attacking weapon out of dummy-half.

Steve Renouf knows a thing or two about strike power out wide and with Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Willie Tonga, Latrell Mitchell and Justin Hodges in the outside backs, his team would give any premiership-winning squad a tough afternoon.

 

Acknowledgement of Country

North Queensland Cowboys respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.