North Queensland hooker Aaron Payne has been called into the NRL All Stars squad by coach Wayne Bennett for the February 4 clash on the Gold Coast.
Payne will replace injured Queensland and Australian hooker Cameron Smith after Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis reluctantly knocked back an approach from Bennett on Wednesday.
“We’re very happy for Payney,” said Cowboys coach Neil Henry.
“He’s been a great player and great servant to the club and it’s a well-deserved reward for him.”
The Australia Day call up completes a big week for Payne whose wife Laura gave birth to their second child Naida on Wednesday.
With Ennis and Wests Tigers rake Robbie Farah both recovering from pre-season surgery, Bennett is happy to have a dummy-half with Payne’s vast experience and flair for the clash with the Indigenous All Stars.
Payne, 29, has threatened to break into representative football several times during his career but has had players like Danny Buderus and Cameron Smith in his path.
Ennis said he would loved to have accepted Bennett’s offer.
“I got the phone call from Wayne yesterday but I had to knock it back,” Ennis told AAP.
“I had a scope done on my knee just after Christmas and I’m not going to push things.
“I’m hoping to play our final trial against the Raiders next month.
“I’d really love to play in it, to play in that sort of game, I really enjoyed it last year.
“It’s such a wonderful concept and such a great game, I’m really, really disappointed to be honest.”
Smith has pulled out of the pre-season clash which pits an NRL All Stars side against an Indigenous line-up mostly picked by rugby league fans.
Bennett had already called up St George Illawarra and New Zealand utility Nathan Fien to replace his Dragons team-mate Ben Hornby, who was Smith’s back-up on the bench.
“Aaron plays with a lot of flair and it’s a good opportunity for him,” Bennett said.