The NRL will search for ways to simplify suspensions involving representative games after mass confusion surrounding exemptions granted since the All Stars fixture.
The league has confirmed Brandon Smith and Reece Walsh will be able to count the representative match as one-game served, after exemptions were handed out this week.
It means Smith will be able to play in round one for Melbourne against Wests Tigers, while Reece Wash will return in round two for the Warriors against Gold Coast.
It comes despite the pair initially being handed bans at the end of last season for off-field indiscretions.
Both the Storm and Warriors had been content with the bans only being served in NRL matches until Latrell Mitchell's application to have All Stars count in his six-game ban was approved.
Mitchell's case differed in that his ban was from an on-field incident, with room in the rules for representative matches to count as games served if the judiciary chairman agrees the player would have been picked.
There is however no such clear rules around off-field bans.
Jai Arrow was last year able to have a State of Origin match count to his two-game ban for a COVID breach, but that occurred in the Queensland camp with Arrow already selected.
The exemptions also come after Canberra coach Ricky Stuart told News Corp he was informed that Jordan Rapana's one-game ban for drink-driving could not be served in the All-Stars.
Rapana played in the match, caught COVID-19, and picked up a two-game ban for a shoulder charge that can be served concurrently with the off-field suspension.
Instead, he could have been available for round one under the current rules if Canberra were given the exemption.
Stuart claimed the Raiders were "copping it up the a***" from the NRL, indicating he felt his club were always on the wrong end of the stick.
The comments will not draw any punishment from the NRL, but have shone a light upon inconsistencies.
It is unclear what model the NRL will come up with as they begin work on ideas, but one will be presented to the commission.
Titans CEO Steve Mitchell - whose club now faces Walsh in round two - said he was okay with the decision and not angered by the change in return date.
"It's quite a complex matter, isn't it? My personal view is All Stars probably does count but that's not a club view," Mitchell said.
"Reece is available for selection, which is right.
"It's something we need to look at and give some more clarity to, that's for sure, and I know Andrew Abdo is doing that."
Meanwhile Smith was naturally happy with the decision, stating he'd lost out by not playing All Stars.
"It was certainly very tough to miss out on playing with my Maori brothers and not getting the chance to enjoy the All Stars week," Smith said in a statement.
