For Rose the annual match, now in its fourth year, has become a staple of his NRL pre-season and, as someone who is immensely proud of his heritage, he has been one of the leading spokespersons for the concept.

He has also routinely been among the most popular players for the indigenous side when it comes to voting.

For Kennedy, however, it is her first experience and as one of the youngest players when she and her team-mates run onto the field – she is just 16 – no doubt there will be plenty of nerves.

She will have plenty of experience around her though, and on offer at the end of their clash against a non-indigenous side, is a possible spot with the Jillaroos Australian side.

Kennedy’s dad William (Bubba) has 

also been in on the All Stars act to some degree.

A talented Aboriginal artist as well as being a rugby league star himself, he designed and painted his daughter’s boots for the match, and was even sought out by NRL All Star player Shaun Kenny-Dowall – a New Zealander – to paint his boots as well.

Meanwhile, debate in the build up to the game has continued to go back and forth about the possibility that the All Stars concept could be scrapped if the NRL decides to get involved with a proposed pre-season nines competition in New Zealand.

In the wake of the withdrawal of Paul Gallen from the NRL All Stars team – joining a long list of unavailable players – rumours had started to surface that the game could be shelved due to the extra toll on players who already compete for 30 weeks of regular season competition, in addition to State of Origin and end of season Test matches.

Gallen himself was reserved in the wake of his withdrawal about whether the proposed nines competition and the All Stars game could co-exist, but other figures have strongly defended the now annual fixture and demanded that it be retained.

“The community side of things and the history of the country, we get to find out more about the indigenous people that were here before us and their culture,” Broncos’ prop Ben Hannant said.

“It’s a high-quality game of football. We get to play alongside players from New Zealand, some of the best players that have laced a booty that we normally wouldn’t get a chance to. I think [the nines tournament] is another fantastic idea.”

Indigenous Manly legend Cliff Lyons was succinct in his defence of the match.

“There’s no chance of scrapping this, there will be uproar from us if it is,” Lyons said. 

“It is a great concept and you can see what it is doing for the community, it is fantastic. It’s great to bring the guys together and to help the community and the Aboriginal people out. It has become a great celebration. It is a way to continue our culture.”