The first match took place on 13 February 2010 at the Gold Coast's Skilled Park and was won 16–12 by the Indigenous All Stars,[2] and winning half-back Johnathan Thurston was awarded the inaugural Preston Campbell award for best player.

Players from both sides were primarily chosen by the public, through a voting scheme through the official NRL website.

Coaches from both sides then select the voted players into a make up squad, and players specially selected by the coaches are then included to create the full 20-man positional squad.

[3] In 2012, the match trophy was named in honour to indigenous rugby league legend Artie Beetson.

[15] The match was held as the main curtain raiser for the 2014 Anzac Test.