Some NRL players can serve bans in Origin games, and others can’t... this is why
by Simon Brunsdon from Fox Sports@simonbrunsdon
June 16th, 2021 1:24 pm
NRL head of football Graham Annesley has cleared up why some NRL players are allowed to serve suspension games in State of Origin, while others are not.
There’s been confusion in rugby league circles after Victor Radley, Angus Crichton, and Josh Papalii were all served NRL bans on the eve of Origin selection.
All three players were allowed to use Origin I as one game on their record, thereby effectively reducing the penalty on their clubs by one game.
For Crichton and Papalii, it meant they were able to return to the NRL in Round 14 and both look set to play Origin II for NSW and Queensland respectively.
Radley copped a five-game ban and has already served three of those, including Origin I and two Roosters games.
On Tuesday, Annesley explained that all three players applied to the NRL judiciary chairman to make a declaration that Origin games be included in their individual suspension period.
The chairman, after asking both NSW and Queensland if those players would have been selected for Origin, decided to allow it.
“The chairman makes that decision based on evidence, it is entirely at his discretion,” Annesley said.
“Had they not been suspended players they would have been selected (for Origin).
“He doesn’t always provide that approval, and this has been happening for many years. Sometimes the information collected isn’t enough to convince him the player would have been selected to play in Origin, he has rejected some of those applications.”
Bizarrely, Annesley revealed the chairman decided Origin II will not count on Radley’s suspension, only Origin I.
That means Radley will be available for Roosters selection in Round 17, and for NSW Blues selection in Origin III to be played five days later.
The NRL also pointed out the Roosters and Raiders each had a bye in Round 13, the week before Origin I, meaning those players did not have a chance to soak up a suspension game that week.
Annesley claims that was taken into account when the chairman made his decision.