Indigenous NRL players 'still the best and brightest'

After just four years, the NRL's All Stars match between the best Indigenous and non-Indigenous players in the game is going from strength to strength.

Johnathan Thurston has signed a deal which will see him play out his career with North Queensland.

The growing profile of the season opening Indigenous All Stars versus NRL All Star game is proof that fans are enjoying the annual celebration of Indigenous culture.

"I think it's the strongest Indigenous rugby league has ever been," said Education Manager Dean Widders.

Indigenous All Stars captain, Johnathan Thurston told SBS that he is glad he and the other plays can be role models for the fans.

"Kids are dreaming of being on the big stage one day and I hope they are."

About 12 percent of NRL players have Indigenous backgrounds while 35 percent are playing for Australia on a regular basis.

And with numbers like that, Thurston says its no surprise New South Wales has been struggling to break the seven-year stranglehold Queensland holds on the Origin series.

"I think that might be the Blues' problem, they don't pick too many of the Indigenous boys."