NSW Blues and Newcastle Knights captain and NRL All Stars player Kurt Gidley and Indigenous All Stars backrower Corey Paterson will be in town to help promote the Knights’ trial against the Penrith Panthers.

Both players faced-off against each other on Saturday night, with Indigenous representative Paterson coming out on top.

The Indigenous All Stars defeated the NRL All Stars 16-12 at the first game of its kind played at the Gold Coast’s Skilled Park.

The match coincided with the second anniversary of the apology to the Stolen Generations.

Gidley was hammered by Paterson, his 22-year-old Knights teammate, in a ferocious tackle during the second quarter of the game.

The Knights captain immediately signalled to the sideline for help and limped from the field with a suspected knee injury.

The impact of Paterson’s hit on his club captain has already been compared to the punch Queensland captain Arthur Beetson put on NSW centre and Parramatta team mate Mick Cronin in the first State of Origin clash in 1980.

The two combatants will be joined by Knights’ coach Rick Stone and 10 other high profile players at a sportsman’s night in Port Macquarie on Wednesday, February 24.

Kangaroo representatives Steve Simpson and Adam “Mad Dog” MacDougall will join NSW Blues players Jarrod Mullen, James McManus and Ben Cross, along with former Port Macquarie junior Scott Dureau at the Port Macquarie Panthers event.

Kiwi international Isaac De Gois, Wes Naiqama, Chris Houston and Dan Tolar also will represent the club at the combined Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Port Macquarie Sharks fundraiser.

Fans will have the chance to mix and mingle with the players on the night. The 12 stars also will head up a table each.

The Knights will play the Penrith Panthers in a trial game at Port Macquarie’s Regional Stadium on Saturday, February 27.

You can book tickets to the sportman's night by following the links at www.rescuehelicopter.com.au or in person at the Westpac Bank in Port Macquarie (see Luisa on the information counter in 32 Horton St) or phone on 6583 1055.