bad boy bubby
Coach
- Messages
- 16,901
The Rules for eligibility have changed. This brings AFB, Nikora and Ronnie into contention. And many more in the future.
State of Origin has undergone one of the most significant revamps in its history after the ARL Commission threw the series open to players who have pledged their allegiance to New Zealand and England.
It comes as the ARL Commission confirms it will take State of Origin to NZ in 2027 with a match in Auckland.
The landmark decision could have major ramifications for the representative careers of a host of players including Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley, Gold Coast dynamo AJ Brimson, Cronulla prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa, Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes and Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga.
Penrith centre Casey McLean and Cronulla back-rower Briton Nikora, both of whom have played for New Zealand, are now also eligible to play for NSW.
Radley was frozen out of Origin when he opted to play for England but under the revised rules, he can continue to play for Australia’s fierce rivals and represent the Blues because he lived in NSW before the age of 13 – he was born in Sydney.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga will no longer have to give up his Queensland Origin eligibility if he switches his international allegiance to New Zealand. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard
Katoa, Weekes and Ponga have all rejected approaches from New Zealand in recent years because they harbour a desire to play Origin football. They are now free to pull on a Kiwi jersey without harming their Origin chances.
Only last week, Ponga conceded he would consider playing for New Zealand once the Origin series was over. With Origin no longer an issue, he can make the call without fearing for his Queensland jersey.
Brimson, another Queenslander, likely thought his Origin career was kaput when he played for England against Australia last year. However, he has been thrown a lifeline by the ARL Commission.
So has Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney but is prevented from playing for NSW because he played one game for New Zealand nearly a decade ago, before pledging his international allegiance to Tonga.
Origin has always been open to players who pledge their allegiance to tier-two nations such as Tonga and Samoa. However, players from tier-one nations were prevented from playing in Origin under the old rules and there is a belief that the rule change may help maintain a strong international rugby league by ensuring the Kiwis don’t lose players to the Pacific Island nations because they want to also play for NSW and Queensland.
The decision by the ARL Commission has been months in the making — chair Peter V’landys conceded last year that it was a polarising idea but needed to be considered to ensure New Zealand and England weren’t left behind.
V’landys said the changes were a necessary and logical evolution for the game.
“Rugby League has changed, the international game has grown, and our rules need to reflect that,” V’landys said.
“If a player is eligible to play State of Origin, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they’ve represented New Zealand or England at Test level.
“State of Origin is about where you’re from and what State you’re eligible for — not which country you represent internationally. If you’re eligible, you should be able to play for your state.
“Over 45 years, State of Origin has developed into something special, and we want the best players playing if they’re eligible.
“The Commission has a responsibility to grow both the international game and State of Origin, and this change strengthens both.”
Ponga’s international future will now come sharply into focus given he has New Zealand heritage and spent a chunk of his childhood living there – he lived in Palmerston North for five years before returning to Queensland.
Ponga now has a genuine decision to make given he would need to formally apply to the international rugby league board for a clearance after representing Australia at the World 9s in 2019.
However, the international board has already set a precedent after clearing Brimson’s switch to England – he played alongside Ponga at the 9s that year.
Originally published as State of Origin eligibility rules overhauled in historic international shake-up
State of Origin has undergone one of the most significant revamps in its history after the ARL Commission threw the series open to players who have pledged their allegiance to New Zealand and England.
It comes as the ARL Commission confirms it will take State of Origin to NZ in 2027 with a match in Auckland.
The landmark decision could have major ramifications for the representative careers of a host of players including Sydney Roosters star Victor Radley, Gold Coast dynamo AJ Brimson, Cronulla prop Addin Fonua-Blake, Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa, Canberra fullback Kaeo Weekes and Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga.
Penrith centre Casey McLean and Cronulla back-rower Briton Nikora, both of whom have played for New Zealand, are now also eligible to play for NSW.
Radley was frozen out of Origin when he opted to play for England but under the revised rules, he can continue to play for Australia’s fierce rivals and represent the Blues because he lived in NSW before the age of 13 – he was born in Sydney.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga will no longer have to give up his Queensland Origin eligibility if he switches his international allegiance to New Zealand. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard
Katoa, Weekes and Ponga have all rejected approaches from New Zealand in recent years because they harbour a desire to play Origin football. They are now free to pull on a Kiwi jersey without harming their Origin chances.
Only last week, Ponga conceded he would consider playing for New Zealand once the Origin series was over. With Origin no longer an issue, he can make the call without fearing for his Queensland jersey.
Brimson, another Queenslander, likely thought his Origin career was kaput when he played for England against Australia last year. However, he has been thrown a lifeline by the ARL Commission.
So has Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney but is prevented from playing for NSW because he played one game for New Zealand nearly a decade ago, before pledging his international allegiance to Tonga.
Origin has always been open to players who pledge their allegiance to tier-two nations such as Tonga and Samoa. However, players from tier-one nations were prevented from playing in Origin under the old rules and there is a belief that the rule change may help maintain a strong international rugby league by ensuring the Kiwis don’t lose players to the Pacific Island nations because they want to also play for NSW and Queensland.
The decision by the ARL Commission has been months in the making — chair Peter V’landys conceded last year that it was a polarising idea but needed to be considered to ensure New Zealand and England weren’t left behind.
V’landys said the changes were a necessary and logical evolution for the game.
“Rugby League has changed, the international game has grown, and our rules need to reflect that,” V’landys said.
“If a player is eligible to play State of Origin, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they’ve represented New Zealand or England at Test level.
“State of Origin is about where you’re from and what State you’re eligible for — not which country you represent internationally. If you’re eligible, you should be able to play for your state.
“Over 45 years, State of Origin has developed into something special, and we want the best players playing if they’re eligible.
“The Commission has a responsibility to grow both the international game and State of Origin, and this change strengthens both.”
Ponga’s international future will now come sharply into focus given he has New Zealand heritage and spent a chunk of his childhood living there – he lived in Palmerston North for five years before returning to Queensland.
His international future has been a talking point for some years and only last year New Zealand Rugby League boss Greg Peters said the Kiwis would welcome him into the fold ahead of the World Cup, to be played later this year.Ponga now has a genuine decision to make given he would need to formally apply to the international rugby league board for a clearance after representing Australia at the World 9s in 2019.
However, the international board has already set a precedent after clearing Brimson’s switch to England – he played alongside Ponga at the 9s that year.
Originally published as State of Origin eligibility rules overhauled in historic international shake-up
