The governing body has tweaked the interpretation of the rules surrounding the release of tackled players, meaning all those involved in wrapping up the ball carrier must free him simultaneously. It is hoped the adjustment will prevent the niggling wrestling tactics detested by fans and players, with the result likely to be quicker play-the-balls.

Speaking at the Kostya Tszyu gymnasium at Rockdale before his Footy Show fight night against Randall Rayment on January 31, Gallen said there was an easier way to get rid of the wrestle.

"Cut the interchange down," Gallen said. "I'm one of the people that's been saying that for years. Then all of a sudden you won't have 115-kilogram blokes playing for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, they will have to play a whole half. If they want to stop the wrestle, that's the way to go."

Teams are currently allowed 10 interchanges per match, but the NSW skipper believes that number is too high.

"Six is the way to go," he said. "It won't go down to that straight away but they should definitely start bringing it down. How can you have a bloke who is 110 kilograms playing for 40 minutes and then being able to wrestle? It's just not possible."

Gallen predicted initial teething problems as players and officials grappled with the new edict.

"We've been working on that at training a little bit, the referees have been coming down.

"I'm sure for the first three to five weeks there will be penalties everywhere and then we will just ease into it.

"I don't know why they just don't play footy, it doesn't have to be that difficult."

Gallen, who will make his football return from a drugs suspension during the All Stars match, will be hoping for a better showing from his latest boxing opponent after his farcical win over Anthony Watts. His former Sharks teammate popped his shoulder in a contest that failed to go a single round.

Like Watts, Rayment's story is one of redemption. Addicted to drugs and jailed for violent crimes, boxing became a part of his rehabilitation. He has since gone on to have eight professional Mixed Martial Arts fights, winning seven of them. His arm was raised following his only official boxing bout.

"I got into [boxing] at 21," Rayment said.

"I got in trouble with the law, I was on drugs and stuff. I started boxing out of rehab and on my weekend leave I would go out and have amateur fights. From there I fell in love with mixed martial arts.

"[Professional fighting] is about control, you've got to be calm in there and not too aggressive. A lot of discipline involved and I can apply what I've learnt in the boxing ring into my life."

While the boxing bona fides of Rayment, Gallen and fight night headliner Sonny Bill Williams are yet to be properly established, there will be some undoubted quality on the card at Allphones Arena.

Bilal Akkawy remains undefeated after 10 bouts, winning nine by way of knockout. Renowned boxing trainer Johnny Lewis described his father, Mahmoud, as one of the hardest punchers he had ever worked with. His 21-year-old son - who has sparred against Anthony Mundine, Daniel Geale and Sakio Bika -  appeared to be following in his footsteps.

"My father used to be a fighter so I grew up around the gym," Akkawy said.

"He had a car accident, had some spinal and shoulder damage that forced him to give it up.

"I've been in and out of the gym since I was a young kid, I've always had an attraction to it."