The NRL Pre-Season Challenge and All Stars game face review due to clubs' reluctance to release players, with increased focus on unavailable athletes over team selections.
The future of the NRL Pre-Season Challenge and All Stars game will come under heavy review ahead of the next broadcast deal, with clubs again reluctant to release their stars for the fixtures.
The Indigenous and Maori All Stars teams were named on Thursday, but there was more interest in which players were unavailable rather than who made the final cut for the clash in Hamilton on Sunday week.
Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula and Canberra's Seb Kris were all approached to play for the Indigenous side, only to be placed off limits, while South Sydney pair Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell were early scratchings due to fitness and injury concerns.
There has been plenty of debate about the scheduling of the All Stars match, a game of huge importance to Indigenous and Maori players.