The game definitely lost something after it was cancelled the for the 1st year of the nines. The biggest mistake was doing away with the fan voting for the NRL team. It at least gave people a reason for investing in the NRL team because we the fans picked it. I cant remember their being so many withdrawals in the early years of this concept, maybe it was due to the fact that the fans picked the nrl team so players were a bit honoured to be chosen by the fans and maybe felt an obligation to play. It seemed only major injuries ruled players out. Now we have players pulling out with 'calf strains'. Also doesn't help that wayne Bennett was picking dull sides to begin with, with picking reserve gradera from his club team ffs. As an indigenous person this game means a lot to me, it does wonders in the NT and Northern western australia spreading the game to communities were afl is king. Indigenous all Stars gear flies of the shelves here, the local sport shop sold out in a day. I believe if we go back to Preston campbells original idea the game would flourish like the early years, but unfortunately i think some involved in the nrl, including one of the coaches, is deliberately trying to sabotage the concept from the inside
