NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo says Josh Addo-Carr and Latrell Mitchell could both theoretically count the All Stars clash towards their respective bans, although head office is yet to receive an official application from either player.
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That’s great news for Addo-Carr, who will make his NRL debut for the Eels against his former side the Bulldogs if the February 15 All Stars clash is included as part of his four-match ban.
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The flying winger was sacked by the Bulldogs and handed a four-match ban by the NRL this year, with Addo-Carr missing the finals game against Manly after he failed a roadside drug test having tested positive for cocaine.
If the All Stars game counts towards the ban then the former rep star will miss the opening two rounds against his other former clubs the Storm and Tigers but would be free to play Canterbury on March 23.
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Mitchell could also be free for round 1 if the All Stars game is included, with the Souths star still yet to serve his suspension after he was ruled to have brought the game into disrepute after he was photographed near a white substance.
The powerhouse fullback wanted to serve the ban in the final round of the 2024 season, but the NRL didn’t believe that he was fit enough to be considered for selection.
“He can definitely make an application for that, we don’t have anything in front of us at the moment,” Abdo said at the draw announcement on Thursday.
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“There are a few considerations we have to work through prior to answering that question, but it is theoretically possible and there is a precedent for that.
“A player and club can make application if they are serving a suspension to have a representative fixture for that to count. There are a few considerations that need to be taken into account.”
Meanwhile, Abdo is happy with the timing of the NRLW season even though close to 50 per cent of matches will clash with NRL games.
There have been calls for the season to be played at the start of the year, but the Australian Rugby League Commission likes the ideas of playing the grand finals at the same time given rugby league is a winter sport.
There will be three NRLW games on Thursday nights in prime time next year, with Abdo defending the decision to play more games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons even if it means losing viewers who could be watching the NRL instead.
“The feedback from the players and the clubs is pretty strong,” he said.
“The female players want to play on weekends in front of their home crowds. The opportunity for clubs to celebrate having both their teams play at the same stadium was one of the considerations.
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“The other consideration is that a lot of the female players have jobs or are studying. They’re not full-time professionals, so playing games on a Thursday or Friday in non-optimal periods – or even very early on a Saturday – has an impact on them.
“We’ve taken that into account and worked collaboratively with the players association. We’ve listened to the players and the clubs, and on balance, the view on playing more games on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon was taken.
“I’m proud to say that delivers our fans something that they want. You do trade off certain things in terms of clear air, but we still do have games that are played in prime time on a Thursday night on free to air.”
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