Richie Fa'aoso's Origin blow
BY ROBERT DILLON
KNIGHTS tearaway Richie Fa'aoso may unwittingly have cruelled his chances of playing State of Origin for Queensland by representing Tonga at the recent Pacific Cup.
Fa'aoso was named last week in a Queensland emerging players squad for a three-day training camp in January, which would indicate selectors regard him as a possible Maroons bolter for next season.
But tightened qualification regulations governing international rugby league threaten to torpedo the Aspley-born prop's dreams.
ARL chief Geoff Carr said yesterday that Fa'aoso would need to obtain special dispensation from the Rugby League International Federation to be considered for representative honours in Australia.
"You can't do both," Carr said. "To be eligible for Origin, you have to be eligible for Australia.
"If he played for Tonga at that recent Pacific Cup, then he has already elected to play for Tonga.
"That would rule him out of Origin, because his eligibility for this World Cup period is Tonga, unless he makes an application to the international federation.
"You can't just swap."
Carr said even if Fa'aoso did apply for an exemption, there was no guarantee it would be granted.
"They [the RLIF] might not accept it," Carr said.
The rules were tightened after last year's World Cup, which attracted criticism when players such as Australian international Jarryd Hayne made himself available for Fiji at the 11th hour.
Under new guidelines, players are permitted to represent only one country until after the next World Cup, in 2013.
Fa'aoso said last night that he had been representing Tonga since 2003 and was unaware there would be a conflict with playing for Queensland.
"I was born in Queensland but play for Tonga because that's my blood," he said.
"If Tonga were in the Four Nations next year, I'd choose Tonga over State of Origin, only because I've played for Tonga for a few years now and I couldn't turn my back on them. But we're not in the Four Nations."
Papua New Guinea claimed the final spot in next year's Four Nations tournament with their win in the Pacific Cup, leaving Fa'aoso with a quandary over his allegiance.
"I'd love to play Origin," he said. "It will be something I have to think about. It would be a dream to play Origin, but I just have to think about it and find out what the rules are.
"I'll have to find out what the full story is."
Fa'aoso was one of 14 players invited to the Queensland emerging players' camp, to be conducted by Maroons coaching legends Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga.
The former Penrith, Roosters and Parramatta journeyman has been a revelation since joining Newcastle last year.
He made 20 appearances in 2008 and did not miss any of Newcastle's 25 games this year.
In other news, the Queensland Rugby League has issued an angry statement denying reports it is trying to stop the creation of an independent body to run rugby league.
And sacked South Sydney coach Jason Taylor has scored a new gig in the NRL as the Sydney Roosters' kicking coach after volunteering his services free of charge. He eventually may earn a paid position at the club but will not be paid in 2010.
Herald
