EXCLUSIVE: The major 'issue' Phil Gould fears could force All Stars into change

Rugby league guru Phil Gould fears the All Stars concept won't survive in its current scheduling slot.

The annual representative game was the brain child of Indigenous icon Preston Campbell in 2010 and has since been played every year except 2014 and 2018.

The Indigenous team originally played against an NRL All Stars side, that then became a World All Stars, and has now been against a Maori All Stars since 2020.

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The result of the game takes a backseat to the celebration of cultures of Australia and New Zealand. The event now also features women's and touch football games.

Critics have cast doubt over the viability and future of the fixture given a number of the top players often aren't available, raising questions over the "all star" moniker.

There have been suggestions it should be played at the end of an NRL season, rather than before it, although the issue of player availability would persist.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus podcast, Gould said it will only become harder to hold the All Stars game during the pre-season.

But it's important it is not lost from the calendar altogether.

"The word schedule gets me a little bit, because I think it's going to be harder and harder to maintain if we keep playing representative football long after the previous season is done, and then having All Stars as the first game (of the following year)," Gould said.

"There may be another place for it. I think the scheduling is going to be an issue, and I think it's an issue our game is looking at.

"We can't keep playing rep football until late November, and then turning around and trying to start again in February. We've got to give players more time than that.

"The holiday breaks and everything else they've got to do, you just can't get them ready for the season.

"The concept is a lock, the schedule is not a lock. I don't know if early February is the place for it.

"The Maori team and the Indigenous team are two very important parts of our game, the culture of our game, and it should be celebrated.

"And the game was terrific the other night."

International rugby league is largely played in October and November following the NRL and Super League seasons each year.

There is also now a mandatory pre-season tournament in which every club must play two games.

With each club playing 24 NRL games in a season, plus finals, plus State of Origin, All Stars and internationals, it is possible an individual could be asked to play upwards of 35 games a year.