Josh Addo-Carr, a winger for the Parramatta Eels, along with Timana Tahu, the head of Indigenous NRL pathways, is advocating for a significant change to the All-Stars representative match by shifting it to the end of the season.
To rejuvenate the event, Addo-Carr proposes that the Maori and Indigenous All-Stars compete against other nations as part of a prelude to the international window.
Currently, the game takes place in February during the off-season, which often results in player unavailability and many opting out to concentrate on the upcoming NRL season.
He argues that positioning the match during the NRL finals would draw greater attention, offering additional content for the league and its broadcast partners.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Addo-Carr expressed that a change of date could encourage more players to proudly represent their heritage.
"One billion per cent," Addo-Carr affirmed.
"We're on a group chat now 'bro', so we're always spinning yarns saying, 'We need more games'. That's why me and T are here today, to get the ball rolling, have those conversations ….. because at the end of the day, we're helping everyone.
"We're helping the Australian team, we're helping the New Zealand team, helping the Indigenous team, helping the Maori team, and helping all these other little nations.
"I'm telling you, they're going to play at the end of the year. These big names will play, bro, I'm tellin' ya."