The future of the NRL All Stars match has again come under the spotlight, with growing concerns over player availability prompting debate around the fixture's place on the rugby league calendar.
The annual pre-season clash between the Indigenous All Stars and Māori All Stars has been a staple since 2019, replacing the traditional NRL All Stars game and becoming a major cultural event in the game's opening month.
However, with a congested schedule, overseas commitments and injury management ruling out a number of high-profile players, questions have been raised over whether the match can continue in its current form.
Despite the concerns, South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow has come out strongly in defence of the contest, highlighting its cultural and educational significance.
“I love the concept,” Arrow told SEN 1170 Drive.
“I love what it's all about… I love how two cultures get to come together and represent their names and family, and learn about it as well.
“It's definitely, as a fan, the one on the calendar that I look forward to.”
Arrow also stressed the importance of the match in showcasing Indigenous and Māori culture to a wider audience.
“I love when boys are representing their culture and I suppose raising or teaching people like myself who probably aren't as cultured as they are to learn about what they're about,” he said.
“It doesn't go unknown that those two sides get stuck into each other, so I don't see why they would take that away from the fans.
“I love the concept and I'd love to see more of it.”
Players heading to Las Vegas for Round 1, those involved in the World Club Challenge and others managing suspensions or pre-season injuries are all expected to be unavailable, leaving the clash without several of the game's biggest stars.
“I love when boys are representing their culture and I suppose raising or teaching people like myself who probably aren’t as cultured as they are to learn about what they’re about,”
It’s a rugby league match, for heaven’s sake.
If a bunch of players want to explain their culture to the wider community, then hire a sports-ground or a big building for the weekend, and run it like the Easter Show.
A game of league tells the audience nothing about culture other than the Maori guys do a haka and the Aboriginal guys do something similar.
If Jai is more interested in _players_ learning about culture, then just have a weekend culture-fest for them, and skip the game. They will get their culture fix, and their coaches won’t get a bunch of bust-players.