An astonishing 61 players have gone down in just one week due to injury, suspension, disciplinary issues or resting - once again making a mockery of representative round.
And in a further insult, only nine players are set to miss more than a week.
The other 52 will either return next round or are yet to confirm comeback dates.
City coach Brad Fittler was worst hit, forced to name a staggering 10 debutants to take on NSW Country.
Fittler's list of unavailables included Adam Reynolds, Josh Reynolds, Matt Moylan, Jake Trbojevic, Wade Graham (rested), Blake Austin (hamstring), Dylan Walker (hip/ribs), Lachlan Coote (ribs), James Roberts (hip) and James Tedesco (fractured shoulder).
All but Tedesco will return next round, with the in-form Tigers fullback out for 4-6 weeks and therefore unavailable for the opening State of Origin game.
Even prior to the pull-outs, City-Country coaches had a limited talent pool to choose from after NSW mentor Laurie Daley gave leave passes to a host of incumbents, including Trent Hodkinson, Mitchell Pearce, Robbie Farah, Beau Scott, Ryan Hoffman, Trent Merrin, David Klemmer, Josh Morris and Josh Jackson.