BY KANE AUSTIN

He has flown directly from the Auckland Nines to join the Indigenous All Stars in Newcastle but Johnathan Thurston says any changes to the NRL schedule shouldn’t affect the All Stars weekend.

Thurston has a huge 2017 season ahead of him which includes the arduous NRL season, State of Origin and a World Cup.

But Thurston believes the All Stars weekend is much more than just a game of footy.

“I understand it’s a hectic pre-season schedule,” he said.

The Awabakal All Stars Interstate Challenge will be played Thursday 9th February as part of #NRLAllStars week#NRL pic.twitter.com/ya94LA7yU4

— NRL (@NRL) February 6, 2017

“The stuff we do throughout the week in the community far outweighs the game.

“The power of sport and rugby league is to create social change – that’s what this game does.”

A potential World Cup Final at the end of the year would spell the end of Thurston’s representative career but the iconic playmaker has no regrets and even hinted at a prolonged NRL swansong.

“I’m comfortable with that decision but who knows about next year,” Thurston said.

“Not playing representative football, the body might be feeling a lot better than it has the last 10-15 years. I might go around again.”