Grant admits Origin eligibility an issue
By Ian McCullough, 20 Jun 2012
- Tagged:
- John Grant, maroons, NRL, NSW Blues, Rugby League, State Of Origin
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ARLC chairman John Grant says if the Rugby League International Federation clarifies the ambiguity regarding Test match eligibility then State of Origin of selection will largely take care of itself.
With speculation mounting that Canterbury’s Auckland-raised prop Sam Kasiano will be picked for Queensland in next month’s State of Origin decider, Grant admits there are issues regarding the entire make-up of representative selection.
“There’s Origin eligibility … and there’s international eligibility which is defined by the international federation,” Grant said at the NRL’s Women in League lunch in Sydney on Thursday.
“We have a strong say, but it (RLIF) does not review the rules according to what we want.
“We’ve got to work through that process and merge those two.
“It is an issue, and we have to be more clear about who can play for who and whether it be Origin or their country.”
While there’s the ongoing debate about which specific state players are available for, Grant believes that if the RLIF at least makes it clear whether a player is eligible for Australia then there’s no question about whether a footballer is actually entitled to be selected for Origin.
Ball-playing forward Kasiano is the most recent case in point.
New Zealand-raised, he moved to Brisbane after finishing high school where he played for Queensland Cup side Aspley Devils.
Although he has not represented the Kiwis, he signed a letter in March pledging his allegiance to the land of his birth.
However, this agreement is not legally binding and the 21-year-old can opt to play for Queensland if he informs the RLIF that he wants to declare his allegiance to Australia.
This was a path taken by Feleti Mateo, who captained Tonga last year, as he bid to play for NSW.
The selection of Kiwi-born James Tamou for Australia in April’s Test match against New Zealand made him available for the Blues and he has gone on to be a huge success in this year’s opening two matches.
Palmerston-North native Tamou moved to Sydney as a 13-year-old and played his junior football with Paddington Tigers in Sydney before joining North Queensland from Sydney Roosters.
However, he was included in New Zealand’s train-on squad for the Four Nations campaign last year, only to be overlooked by coach Stephen Kearney.
This allowed Australia selectors to move in and persuade him to play for the Kangaroos in April’s Anzac Test against the Kiwis, with Blues coach Ricky Stuart then naming him in his team in May.
Grant conceded the decision of the likes of Tamou will have been influenced by the financial rewards available to Origin players, who can earn in excess of $20,000 a game. There is talk that figure could soon move to $50,000 a game.
The current situation which allows players to swap allegiances was designed to help smaller rugby league nations to be competitive in the international game.
But Grant said this may also need addressing by the RLIF.
“International rules define who can play for who and you have to be respectful of the rules that are in place and also the players personal desires,” he said.
“If the rules are wrong then change the rules.”
© AAP 2013
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The Crowd Says (9) | Page 1 of Comments
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- Explore:
- John Grant, maroons, NRL, NSW Blues, Rugby League, State Of Origin
June 20th 2012 @ 6:59am
p.Tah said | June 20th 2012 @ 6:59am | Report comment
Excuse my ignorance, but is this really an IRLF issue? (genuine questions) Isn’t it the NRL who decides you must pledge alliance to Australia to play SOO? If they dropped that criteria would there be an issue? Does the IRLF say you can’t play for the Kiwis if you play State representative footy in Australia? If they say you can switch between national teams I can’t see them saying you can’t play for NZ if you played for NSW. Perhaps I’m wrong.
June 20th 2012 @ 12:57pm
Von Neumann said | June 20th 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Its all so convoluted, isn’t it. But This was about addressing the relevancy of the International game as much as anything, and Origin fits into that picture.
Well it would seem the NRL uses the IRLF rules to clarify who plays for Australia. As far as I know they have done so since the federation was set up.
In recent times they have only made changes to origin eligibility rules, thats the set of rules the NRL can deal with.
I believe its an IRLF issue. Because look at Kasiano and players in his position. They were born in NZ but came to Australia. Its like they have a foot in both camps to start with, and because they played their first junior match or whatever it is now where they did (qld/nsw) they supposedly get a tick in another box when it comes to Origin selection. So they need to make an international choice EARLY on.
The problem is exacerbated when we know we are talking about 2 sets of eligibility rules and also all of a sudden a player is on the verge of selection, and he suddenly declares for Australia/Origin. Its not on.
What Grant has asked for, is that NZ raise the issue at the IRLF. I think its the right call. We should go down the right avenues.
This was about addressing the relevancy of the International game as much as anything.
I don’t know but I think it would be very hard for mal meninga to select Kasiano now. And if I were Grant I would be saying, like he has, that its fair for Kasiano to play while counseling the player that he [hopes] he should play for NZ.
———–* SO its right that NZ should be involved in sorting out their own players. And I think any proposal needs to make it clear that if you pick playing for a big nation like Australia or NZ, then you need to do so 3 years before you are eligible to be picked.
———-* ALSO I would like to see the rules slated for flexibility for players to play for NZ. Not because they are weaker right now, but because SO MANY NZ people come over here. We don’t ask them to live in NZ to be eligible, so I think the avenue to play for them needs to be kept as open as possible, should they want to play.
June 20th 2012 @ 2:23pm
NickF said | June 20th 2012 @ 2:23pm | Report comment
Is this just John Grant passing the buck, blaming it on the IRLF. He wouldn’t want to upset the Queenslanders. Maybe if Kasiano gets to play for QLD, then maybe NSW should pick Benji Marshall, he lives in Sydney doesn’t he?
But where is Sydney?
“THAT’S IN QUEENSLAND”. we all sing.
June 20th 2012 @ 11:00pm
Meesta Cool said | June 20th 2012 @ 11:00pm | Report comment
Von — you commented: “I don’t know but I think it would be very hard for Mal Meninga to select Kasiano now. .” ( I left the last bit out because, although it was senslble and logical, I thought it was not applicable this series,)
For this series the precedence has been set, there is no difference between Kasiano being ‘invited’ to play for Q/Land and Tamou playing for NSW!, NONE at all!!…
However, this madness MUST end and it must end THIS year, with the introduction of a definitive set of guidelines for eligibility, — anyone selected this year that fails these eligibility guidelines cannot play in future games (Unless a timeline is set).. We cannot change the rules with one game to go, especially when Tamou has contributed so much to NSW success. !.
June 20th 2012 @ 11:33pm
Sylvester said | June 20th 2012 @ 11:33pm | Report comment
I’m not sure how the rules could be changed to make Tamou or Kasiano ineligible, unless pushed out to 10-plus years, which still may not be enough. The ARL could introduce a rule that any players who have played for or have signed letters of intent are off limits. A gentleman’s agreement, if you will.
June 21st 2012 @ 12:40am
Roarsome said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:40am | Report comment
I saw a clip of Benji playing school boy footy on the gold coast and an interview of Wayne Bennett asking him if he’d like Benji at the Broncos. Bennett’s response was along the lines of, I don’t mud which club he goes to as long as he’s eligible for QLD. It was then confirmed on the show that Benji would be eligible for QLD should be choose to play Origin. This was years ago on the Sunday footy show and I haven’t seen the clip again.
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June 21st 2012 @ 12:09pm
Curious said | June 21st 2012 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
NZRL will NOT pursue rugby league player eligibility quickly as their current representative side has at least 5 Australian born players.
Two readily spring to mind e.g. Hoffman/Mackay; Nightingdale/Sydney. NZ are no worse nor different to the way Aussies select borderline players whose nationality is vague e.g. pacific islanders seem a ready made source for inclusion into NZ/AUS rather that being available for their own countries of birth.
Naturalization; Residency are further cans of worms.
I agree that much much more needs to be done to clarify legibility BUT one must be mindful of individual player wants and desires.
Whatever decision reached and agreed upon by the RLIF some concern about past players e.g.Bob Fulton’s, eligibility as a rugby player for Australia, New South Wales, means place of Birth; Naturalization; where first game played [Junior/senior]; length of residency; Ancestors grand parents; and most importantly the individual’s desire WHERE he/she wants to play – for which country. One would not want one of our immortals, Bob Fulton, deemed irrelevant if the new criteria puts him out of the picture for Australian representation – it ought to be consistent with past & present players conditions.
June 21st 2012 @ 4:19pm
Boz said | June 21st 2012 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
I recall hearing that the rate of NZ migration to Australia has continued to increase over the last few years. We are in a special situation here with Origin and International Rugby League. Origin is such a powerhouse – and great marketing tool for the game, that people often don’t realise that a lot of Kiwis really follow the Origin with long standing loyalties to either QLD or NSW.
Imagine somebody born in NZ, who leaves their country to live in either NSW or QLD at the age of 10 years of age. He then starts playing league – and gets swept up in SOO fever every year. Now this kid – if he is good enough – would love to play origin for the state he supports when he gets older. But just because he loves origin, and dreams of either playing for NSW or QLD – shouldn’t mean that he should have to abandon his national identity – New Zealand.
I say we should let players be able to pick the state they wish to play for as well as their country – without one affecting the other. The days of the interstate clash serving as a selection trial for the national team were buried when mid season test series against New Zealand or Great Britain went out the door.
By doing this, I believe it would only help strengthen New Zealand rugby league. Players would no longer be tempted to turn their back on their country by having an origin jumper dangled in front of the. And those that did play – would then be better for the experience, which would help international rugby league in the long term.
June 23rd 2012 @ 3:38pm
Meesta Cool said | June 23rd 2012 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Boz You are Spot on.