Poor All Stars ticket sales have surprised Johnathan Thurston but the champion playmaker is convinced the NRL showcase event belongs on the Gold Coast.
Less than 9000 tickets have been sold so far ahead of Friday night’s star-studded clash of the NRL All Stars and Indigenous All Stars at the 27,000-capacity Robina stadium.
It has raised concerns over the future of the pre-season clash on the tourist strip.
The NRL has locked the event in for Queensland again in 2016 but are yet to determine a host venue.
The blockbuster returns to the Gold Coast this year after Brisbane hosted the last match in 2013 before a 12-month hiatus.
Indigenous team star Thurston admitted the lack of ticket sales left him scratching his head.
However, he was adamant that the All Stars would not only get a big Gold Coast crowd on Friday but also for years to come.
“I am a little bit surprised but we are still a week away,” Thurston said on Sunday.
“I have no problems with that – I am expecting a massive crowd.
“(And) I think it is a great spot, it’s a great stadium.”
Thurston admitted the NRL pre-season was as hectic as he had ever seen it but believed the All Stars clash deserved its place in the program.
Besides last weekend’s Auckland Nines tournament involving all clubs, teams have their pre-season trials while Brisbane, the Dragons and South Sydney fly out to the UK this week for the six-team World Club Challenge.
Thurston said the All Stars was not just about a game but also the community work and workshops for players that were held in the lead-up.
“It needs to be on the calendar. I am hoping it is around for many years,” said Thurston who completed a two-day leadership camp with indigenous players on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
“Where else in rugby league do you get to see the cream of the crop playing alongside each other.”
The Gold Coast hosted the first three All Stars clashes from 2010, with crowds of 26,687, 25,843 and 26,039 respectively.
And in Brisbane in 2013, 41,201 attended before the NRL skipped 2014 to cater for the inaugural Nines.
Indigenous forward George Rose – who has contested every All Stars game – tried to explain the clash’s significance.
“Rugby league is like a religion to indigenous people,” he said.
“(And) not having the All Stars last year was a shame – I definitely did miss it.”
Rose is one of the last men standing in the Indigenous pack after being voted as starting prop along with Gold Coast’s Ryan James.
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (knee) became the latest Indigenous forward to pull out, forcing coach Laurie Daley to blood South Sydney rookie Chris Grevsmuhl.
The Indigenous and NRL All Stars squads entered their Gold Coast camps on Sunday afternoon.
