New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[flippikat]

but I read it here they don’t have the Union v League thing over there in NZ …they both just exist in harmony ..like the old Simpsons episode when they ban Itchy and Scratchy ….

It's not "existing in harmony" it's more an uneasy & sometimes barely veiled truce.

A "cold war" in a way.. especially with respect to youth/school-age players, and efforts to try and lock them into the RU system via school First XVs--> club--->provincial--> Super Rugby--->ABs

 

[flippikat]

So much for the nzru being any different

Union doing Union things

Heh. Wait till she finds out what happened to rugby league in Occupied France during WW2

 

[Leighton Rhino]

If Kalyn plays for the Kiwis, that's going to give a major boost to international RL .

NRL news 2025: Brad Fittler weighs in on Kalyn Ponga eligibility debate, New Zealand switch; State of Origin

Agreed

They need to change the origin rules so that international teams can strengthen the world game

As an England fan I'm glad Victor the inflictor chose us over the chance of Origin money but I would understand if he hadn't!

 

[Wb1234]

Heh. Wait till she finds out what happened to rugby league in Occupied France during WW2

I know

Only good thing about French union is their crazy wages is sending everyone else bar Japan broke

The club game in England is mess it’s just a matter of time before they’re a huge upheaval

 

[ThornlieBear]

Well the question is wrong to begin with because he hasn't represented Australia yet.
Of course the answer is yes even if he had because people do all the time.
We have come to a point where SOO is affecting internationals negatively which we obviously don't want and internationals may affect SOO negatively which obviously we don't want.

Outdated rules need to change. I don't know who's against it at this point.

Well he represented Australia at a World Cup of 9's. Not a test match but a senior international. But i think it waws long enough ago under the rules to switch.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

I know

Only good thing about French union is their crazy wages is sending everyone else bar Japan broke

The club game in England is mess it’s just a matter of time before they’re a huge upheaval

Yes....it's incredible the RFU have just let teams like London Irish fold....despite thier millions from Twickenham games they earn each year

 

[Leighton Rhino]

Well he represented Australia at a World Cup of 9's. Not a test match but a senior international. But i think it waws long enough ago under the rules to switch.

They said on one of the podcasts the nines match isn't an issue

 

[Gobsmacked]

They said on one of the podcasts the nines match isn't an issue

At the end of the day, 9's is a different game.

 

[Wb1234]

Devalues origin imo

Down the track same should apply to tier 2 nations too

 

[Matiunz]

Apparently SJ 1 was talking to him about it last year but he thought the 9s cap made him ineligible.
As a kiwi I’d rather Origin stayed an Australian thing, but with the genie out of the bottle letting PI players play Origin AND for heritage nations it’s put the Kiwis at a disadvantage. Kiwis can’t compete with the cash and exposure origin gives players and this has a negative effect on the kiwis and pretty much no other international team.

 

[Wb1234]

Apparently SJ 1 was talking to him about it last year but he thought the 9s cap made him ineligible.
As a kiwi I’d rather Origin stayed an Australian thing, but with the genie out of the bottle letting PI players play Origin AND for heritage nations it’s put the Kiwis at a disadvantage. Kiwis can’t compete with the cash and exposure origin gives players and this has a negative effect on the kiwis and pretty much no other international team.

Which current origin players would pick nz over aus / Tonga / Samoa etc

It’s not even certain ponga would pick nz over Australia either if he got picked mal is relentless lol

 

[Gobsmacked]

Devalues origin imo

Down the track same should apply to tier 2 nations too

It devalues the " origin " sense/ tribalism but as we go there's more and more of our best players who are wanting to play for Kiwis or England, so not changing the eligibility will eventually devalue origin based on talent.

 

[Matiunz]

Which current origin players would pick nz over aus / Tonga / Samoa etc

It’s not even certain ponga would pick nz over Australia either if he got picked mal is relentless lol

Problem is there is a disincentive to play for the kiwis that those countries you mentioned don’t have to deal with. You’d be naive to think it’s not a factor.
Historically there’s been a number of Kiwis eligible players that have opted for the payday that origin gives, now if they’re dual eligibile for a PI and NZ they can have their cake and eat it too

 

[ThornlieBear]

They said on one of the podcasts the nines match isn't an issue

Lmfao

Which Podcast?

At the end of the day, 9's is a different game.

Different game but same sport, is classified as senior match by the IRL.

Which current origin players would pick nz over aus / Tonga / Samoa etc

It’s not even certain ponga would pick nz over Australia either if he got picked mal is relentless lol

Nah, rules that apply to Samoa and Tonga should apply to England and New Zealand as well.

No one thinks Sam Burgess should have played for NSW but if you're eligible for both. You should be able to represent both.

 

[Perth Red]

I'd take away the Int rep issue all together, SOO hasnt been a trial game for Kangaroos jersey for a very very long time, but tighten the Origin requirement.
Ie have to have played Jnr RL in the state from ages 10-18.

 

[Wb1234]

Origin is worth 100 million pa they aren’t going to dilute it to help nz or even England

Nz should start by picking a decent coach. Madge would probably take it back

And the warriors need to be churning out way more kiwi nrl players and the kiwis not so reliant on ones developed by Aussie clubs

 

[Perth Red]

Origin is worth 100 million pa they aren’t going to dilute it to help nz or even England

Nz should start by picking a decent coach. Madge would probably take it back

And the warriors need to be churning out way more kiwi nrl players and the kiwis not so reliant on ones developed by Aussie clubs

The flip side of that argument is that Origin gets better with the best players in the NRL playing in it. The challenge is the critieria. Take Jahrome Hughes, hard to argue origin wouldnt be better with him in it.

But he played 7 years jnrs in NZ, 3 years Jnrs in Qlnd, 2 years SG ball in NSW, 2 yrs U21's in qlnd and made first grade debut for a Qlnd club. What's that make him?

 

[Wb1234]

The flip side of that argument is that Origin gets better with the best players in the NRL playing in it. The challenge is the critieria. Take Jahrome Hughes, hard to argue origin wouldnt be better with him in it.

But he played 7 years jnrs in NZ, 3 years Jnrs in Qlnd, 2 years SG ball in NSW, 2 yrs U21's in qlnd and made first grade debut for a Qlnd club. What's that make him?

It doesn’t get better with those players it becomes a watered down all stars game that has little meaning

This debate has been bubbling since sbw wanted to play maybe even sam burgess too

Ultimately the exemption for tier two nations needs to be moved

Tonga and Samoa aren’t tier anymore anyway they are on par with nz and Aus

 

[Gobsmacked]

The flip side of that argument is that Origin gets better with the best players in the NRL playing in it. The challenge is the critieria. Take Jahrome Hughes, hard to argue origin wouldnt be better with him in it.

But he played 7 years jnrs in NZ, 3 years Jnrs in Qlnd, 2 years SG ball in NSW, 2 yrs U21's in qlnd and made first grade debut for a Qlnd club. What's that make him?

I'm pretty sure that doesn't qualify him for Origin regardless of what nation he chooses.
Ponga is eligible for QLD and eligible for the Kiwis.. playing for 1 somehow disqualifies him from the other, a senseless disqualification.

 

[Perth Red]

I'm pretty sure that doesn't qualify him for Origin regardless of what nation he chooses.
Ponga is eligible for QLD and eligible for the Kiwis.. playing for 1 somehow disqualifies him from the other, a senseless disqualification.

Yeh Ponga is much more straight forward, and there is no good reason at all he shouldn't be playing Origin. even if he is a West Aussie