I think you're suggestions do have merit, but to miss a game before or after is a bit much. Can you see the coaches allowing these players to miss games? Also, what about the coach themselves? Lets say Kevin Sheedy was the coach, yet came up with several excuses for his players not to play, but had other teams players playing (escpecially the team his team was due to play afterthe break), this would give him the advantage of knowing about those players and their strengths and weaknesses.
I think mid season is too risky. If a top elite player gets injured mid season, their teams prospects for the year could be affected. I think a pre season contest would be better. Currently some teams us the pre season as a guage on their younger players. Wshy not have a 'A' and 'B' grade stae of origin. The seasoned players play the 'A' grade and the youngsters or out of form players play the 'B' grade contest.
This way if a player decides not to play because of 'injury', then omit him from the first game/s of the premiership season.
Scrap the current NAB cup, and use a 'round robin' format for the State Of Origin, with all four main states fielding a side (maybe tassie and NT, Canberra could feild a side in the 'B' grade comp?).
An incentive for this could be that the winning state recieves a small cash injection into each club that represents a player, and a reduction for each player that doesn't compete.
