State of Origin eligibility

[saint.nick]

I think the system is weird/amateur. It doesn't make sense how if you choose to represent NZ, you aren't eligible for SOO, yet if you've already played a game for Fiji, Tonga, PNG, Samoa and etc, you're still allowed to play SOO. Can someone please explain that? I also don't understand why they let players represent 2 countries in their career. I understand it levels up the playing field a bit, but the whole point of internationals is to play the best players from your own country, not someone who was born in Australia, lived there all their life, but also just happens to have a quarter Samoan or Italian ancestry.

 

[Godz Illa]

imo, they should completely remove the link from State of Origin to international football, and open up the eligibility. That would maintain (even improve) the hype and prestige of Origin while protecting the Internationals.

Sam Burgess for example is an England player, but since he played his first Australian senior match for a NSW club he can play for NSW in Origin.
Benji Marshall could have played for Queensland while being a NZ player.

 

[saint.nick]

imo, they should completely remove the link from State of Origin to international football, and open up the eligibility. That would maintain (even improve) the hype and prestige of Origin while protecting the Internationals.

Sam Burgess for example is an England player, but since he played his first Australian senior match for a NSW club he can play for NSW in Origin.
Benji Marshall could have played for Queensland while being a NZ player.

Benji Marshall and QLD doesn't make sense though. His only link has been to NSW through the Tigers. Therefore, that would only help diminish some of SOO's credibility. But imagine if they let SBW play for NSW IN 2008, and Kieran Foran too.

 

[Godz Illa]

Well I was thinking Benji for Queensland because he played for Keebra Park on the Gold Coast.. but I guess the details of when and how you qualify for state need to be nutted out.

My point is I don't like the idea of players like James Tamou and Karmichael Hunt choosing Australia over NZ simply because they want to play State of Origin. And being paid handsomely for it. It's essentially providing financial incentive to ditch their home country

 

[saint.nick]

Both true points.

 

[64 Dragon]

SOO is a money making proposition. The powers-that-be don't care who plays as long as they make money. But that's just my opinion.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I think the system is weird/amateur. It doesn't make sense how if you choose to represent NZ, you aren't eligible for SOO, yet if you've already played a game for Fiji, Tonga, PNG, Samoa and etc, you're still allowed to play SOO. Can someone please explain that? I also don't understand why they let players represent 2 countries in their career. I understand it levels up the playing field a bit, but the whole point of internationals is to play the best players from your own country, not someone who was born in Australia, lived there all their life, but also just happens to have a quarter Samoan or Italian ancestry.

The main reason for this is it's an amateur sport run by idiots

 

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

No. I'm aghast. Yes, SOO is a farce and should be removed from the calendar anyway. That's a separate argument.

But it's the only rep game apart from tests between Australia, Great Britain and NZ that has any meaningful integrity. There are loopholes and grey areas but it's for people who were born or have resided in NSW or Queensland under strict residential criteria. In order to meet that criteria, you must have a connection to either NSW or Queensland that is consistent with the idea of "of Origin". And if you have that "of Origin" connection with NSW or Qld you have to be, by definition, Australian.

The fact that there's this stupid joke of a world cup with players from f*****ng Parkes or the Shire getting picked for Kazakhstan doesn't mean that we should start diluting the integrity of what has become, with the decline of the game in northern England, the primary representative contest.

Just no. Burgess can't play for NSW. It's not his State of Origin by any definition. His State of Origin is Manchester or Batley or wherever the f*** he comes from.

It's like saying Van Persie should be playing for England in the World Cup because he's in the Premier League.

Even so. Having said all that. SOO. Stupid and over rated waste of time that detracts from the real thing for eight weeks. If Saints played NSW, losing to that pack of idiots would be like losing to the Scum.

 

[Godz Illa]

SOO lost it's integrity a while back. Bowraville's Greg Inglis and Minto's Israel Folau made a mockery of it even before Kiwi James Tamou pulled on a blue jumper. The Burgess twins have been NSWelshman longer than Inglis was a Queenslander.

And I don't see the issue of players representing countries they weren't born or raised in. If it's ok for South African Kevin Pieterson to play cricket for England, or Sydney born and raised Ante Seric to play soccer for Croatia, it's ok for the Sims brothers to play for Fiji.

Origin already lets players choose which state for regardless of where they were born or raised or whatever. It's not truly representative. So I say stop being racist. Open it up to everyone.

 

[Minh]

imo, they should completely remove the link from State of Origin to international football, and open up the eligibility. That would maintain (even improve) the hype and prestige of Origin while protecting the Internationals.

Sam Burgess for example is an England player, but since he played his first Australian senior match for a NSW club he can play for NSW in Origin.
Benji Marshall could have played for Queensland while being a NZ player.

Would certainly make it interesting, perhaps even cap that number at say 3 players of international origin being eligible per team.

 

[saint.nick]

SOO lost it's integrity a while back. Bowraville's Greg Inglis and Minto's Israel Folau made a mockery of it even before Kiwi James Tamou pulled on a blue jumper. The Burgess twins have been NSWelshman longer than Inglis was a Queenslander.

And I don't see the issue of players representing countries they weren't born or raised in. If it's ok for South African Kevin Pieterson to play cricket for England, or Sydney born and raised Ante Seric to play soccer for Croatia, it's ok for the Sims brothers to play for Fiji.

Origin already lets players choose which state for regardless of where they were born or raised or whatever. It's not truly representative. So I say stop being racist. Open it up to everyone.

I have no problem with that either, it just looks ridiculous when players represent 2 countries in their career, and that's not something you see in soccer.

 

[TonyTrugett]

I have no problem with that either, it just looks ridiculous when players represent 2 countries in their career, and that's not something you see in soccer.

I thinks it's a promotional thing to help expand the game (not saying it works) with players like Kite and Minichello given the opportunity to representing other countries after their rep careers in Australia are over

 

[jubbsy]

imo, they should completely remove the link from State of Origin to international football, and open up the eligibility. That would maintain (even improve) the hype and prestige of Origin while protecting the Internationals.

Sam Burgess for example is an England player, but since he played his first Australian senior match for a NSW club he can play for NSW in Origin.
Benji Marshall could have played for Queensland while being a NZ player.

Yep I think the same now, just open it up and let anyone play. But please can we piss it off to the end of season or something. I have changed my positions on SOO and now believe it is damaging the NRL comp.

 

[64 Dragon]

Queensland will never let SOO go. They are now giving NSW the hidings that we used to give them before SOO started.

 

[jubbsy]

F**K Queensland. What is it about Queenslanders they seem to have a huge chip on their shoulders (generalising) It's like they're Queenslanders first Australian second.

 

[bottle]

F**K Queensland. What is it about Queenslanders they seem to have a huge chip on their shoulders (generalising) It's like they're Queenslanders first Australian second.

You've answered your own question. Got it in one.

 

[Godz Illa]

Yet another example of State Of Origin seriously harming the international game. James Segeyaro, the best current PNG player, wants to dump his home in favour of playing for Queensland. Appalling imo.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ensland-selection-chances-20131102-2wtd6.html

 

[God-King Dean]

Everyone in this thread is eligible to play for Queensland.

 

[tumbidragon]

I like SOO, but why It has any bearing on International eligibility is insane!

 

[TruSaint]

Yet another example of State Of Origin seriously harming the international game. James Segeyaro, the best current PNG player, wants to dump his home in favour of playing for Queensland. Appalling imo.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ensland-selection-chances-20131102-2wtd6.html

Thus why the RLWC is slowly becoming a farce. If not already one.
How can these pacific nations build on their talents, when players choose a state over their nation. Sad indeed.

So long as SOO is held up to be pinnacle , this will happen.