That may be so. But what does it mean to Billy Slater, Anthony Watmough, Paul Gallen? What does it mean to the clubs who may potentially lose a player to a season ending injury in a game that means so little? Origin, Test matches and even City v Country are a somewhat acceptable risk for players and clubs but this circus really isn't.
Why don't we use Josh Dugan as an example. He got an opportunity to play with no doubt some childhood heroes like Lockyer and also plays with stars like Marshall, Smith etc that he otherwise would be unlikely to ever play with. On top of that he gets an opportunity to maximise his exposure by starring as he did the year before in some ways it was a leg up to origin.
Besides players aren't FORCED to play so if they do indeed make themselves available they must logically get something out of the occasion, whether it be raising awareness for less fortunate kids or whether it be being part of a packed out crowd to play another game of footy.
Also what is acceptable risk, there is less risk in this game than the other trials seeing as it is just one game and not a whole round of fixtures, and seeing as most would be playing less game time due to the interchanges there is even less chance of injury. Of course the chance is there of injury but it comes with the territory.
The players could do the promotional work without the game, but the game creates a stage so they can increase the exposure and highlight to the country the issues some indigenous kids face and this concept is targeting that, so you can see it is hardly a racial issue. Besides the learn earn legend concept applies as much to any disadvantaged community or child as it does to an indigenous child.
Not only that but it increases the exposure of the game, it creates a swell heading into the next season and is good to end the drought of footy. Not only that but the players and coaches really get into it.
Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the majority don't like it, in fact the last two years they have been ratings successes so someone must give a damn. It also doesn't make it racist, something you really have failed to provide any reason for.
