Jess Skinner to make All Stars history

Jess Skinner will make history next month as the first woman to coach in the Harvey Norman All Stars showpiece, after being unveiled alongside Ronald Griffiths as the mentors for the Indigenous sides in Townsville.

After three years as an assistant with the Women's Indigenous side, Skinner will take the top job for the clash against the Women's Māori All Stars on February 16, while Griffiths has been retained as the men's coach. 

Skinner takes over from newly-appointed Knights NRLW coach Ben Jeffries – who will remain on staff in an assistant capacity – with the appointment coming after she was part of the coaching group for the Jillaroos' World Cup-winning campaign in 2022. 

The role is all the more special for Skinner given she is of both Indigenous and Māori heritage. 

On her mother's side Skinner's Aboriginal bloodline is Barkindji and she is connected to the Wongaibon People of Trangie in New South Wales, while through her father she links to Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Hine in New Zealand. 

“The week has always been really special to my family... it’s always been a split lounge room with half the family going for one side and half the family going for the other," Skinner told NRL.com. 

I am really proud to be part of a week to celebrate two really amazing cultures and to represent both sides of my family.

Jess Skinner

"My mentality is that it is a celebration of two really beautiful cultures and our Māori sisters are chasing the same dream and aspirations as we are."

Among her various coaching roles, which include heading up the First Nations Gems and the NRL Indigenous Women's Academy, Skinner works with the game's governing body as a pathways strategy manager.

She hopes the realisation of her long-term coaching goal can also serve as inspiration to other females working in the space. 

"It is really exciting to have a female to show other females that this is a pathway and that they can do this as well through the All Stars program. It’s not just a job for the boys," she said. 

"Hopefully I can be a mentor to other females coming through who want to be an All Stars coach as well.

“We have some amazing female coaches coming through our system at the moment which is exciting.”

Griffiths meanwhile heads into his second campaign with the men's side after orchestrating a 28-24 win over the Māori in Rotorua last year. 

The experienced mentor, who descends from the Gomeroi People, said it was an honour to have the opportunity to represent his culture once again. 

"For me or any coach that is appointed to a team that is part of their heritage, it's an honour and I am grateful to be able to do it again," he said. 

"The game is part of a bigger week that is about celebrating and learning culture. 

"Last year's event was the first of its kind in New Zealand and it was incredible for us to go over and experience the Māori hospitality and we are really excited to reciprocate this year in Townsville."

Late last year Adam Blair (Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa) was confirmed as the new head coach of the Men's Māori All Stars, with Keith Hanley (Ngāpuhi) retained as the women's coach for a fourth-consecutive campaign.