Australia coach Kevin Walters has six Indigenous players in the squad that will contest the Ashes – and that number will only grow if an All Stars team starts playing end-of-season internationals against the Pacific nations.

That’s the view of Anaiwan man, former player and NRL Indigenous partnerships manager Dean Widders, who wants Indigenous players to be given a post-season opportunity to keep themselves on Walters’ radar.

The strength of the Kangaroos will be tested in the coming years as several Origin players, including Payne Haas, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, and Stefano Utoikamanu have pledged their international allegiance to Samoa and Tonga.

And with so many of those Pacific Island players taking up spots in the NSW and Queensland teams, Widders said Indigenous players needed an a

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