NRL must keep All Stars clash: George Rose

Five-time Indigenous All Star George Rose says the NRL must continue to find room for the annual All Stars clash in the face of doubts about the concept's long-term future.

The match will return this Friday after being "rested" last year following the World Cup in the UK. The Auckland Nines, which was held for the first time last year in the absence of the All Stars game, is now a marquee pre-season event amid growing concerns about player burnout.

This, combined with sluggish ticket sales for Friday's game, has led some to question whether the concept is losing its appeal.

Rose is yet to miss an All Stars match since the inaugural game in 2010 and said the game and its lead-up events have lost none of their lustre in indigenous communities.

"I think it's something that should definitely stay on the agenda," Rose said.

"I guess with everything that's happening now, it always is hard to schedule everything in.

"But I know it's going to be a great spectacle.

"In my home town, Walgett, there's only about 2500 people and rugby league is well and truly like a religion, and the game is something everyone's proud of and gets behind.

"I love being a part of it personally and I'd hate it if it wasn't on. I really missed it last year."

This year's Indigenous All Stars, featuring Greg Inglis, Jonathan Thurston, Justin Hodges and Ben Barba, has been dubbed the best indigenous side ever assembled - on paper, at least. But what players do off the field has just as big an affect as the game itself, Rose said.

"It's a great week with the things that we do away from the footy up there," he said.

"It's a great opportunity to get among those superstar players and then go out and represent all our mob, all across the country."

The indigenous jumper is likely to be the only senior rep jersey Rose ever wears.

For many of the game's young stars, it's their first taste of representative football.

At 31, and with perhaps only a few seasons left in the NRL, Rose is relishing the chance to play alongside the game's biggest superstars - though he stopped short of calling this year's side the best indigenous side ever.

"We'll have to win before they can say it's the best side that's been picked but it's a great side," he said.

"I get really excited to get the chance to play alongside all those blokes and see them on my side, so I don't have to try and tackle Greg Inglis or worry about Jonathan Thurston stepping me.

"It's a real honour to play alongside them and I'm pretty excited to be a part of it again."