State of Origin was enshrined as one of the great events in the Australian sporting calendar with one shining (or shiner of a) moment, which had nothing to do with the footy itself.
One Arthur Beetson, the greatest forward in Australian history, punched out Mick Cronin, friend and all round nice guy, to prove this wasn’t another game, this was war. Mate against mate, state against state was born.
The problem is that certain players have a professional choice, when selection should be automatic. No offering of contracts, deciding where you’re more likely to get a spot, choosing where you’re more likely to win a series.
From the second you pull on a jumper and run out with an official referee, you should know what your Origin jumper will look like if you are one of the gifted few.
Whether this is through automatic selection, if you were born in the state you played your first footy, or if you apply to have different allegiance when you first sign your life away to your local club, not once should you be able to make a decision.
That Greg Inglis chose Queensland irked many NSW fans who cried “Judas”, but the man clearly adores his Maroon jersey (and his future place in Origin folklore as one of the best centres to grace either jersey).
The problem was the conversation should never have been made when he was registered for an NRL club, let alone in the starting XIII.
If he thought down the track he’d run out for the Maroons, then it should have been down on paper.
Martin Kennedy, similarly, has had the Daily Telegraph in a furore, and the Herald-Sun in a fit of ecstasy, as another option for who will fuel the engine-room to assist the greatest backline in Origin history in chasing a sixth straight victory becomes apparent.
The issue at hand is, Martin Kennedy was born in New South Wales, before moving to Ipswich to play for Ipswich North’s (after playing in NSW as a young ten-year old according to the Roosters profile), but was a Rugby Union player with Ipswich Grammar, and played first “Senior” (international rules) football when running around for the Roosters upon being shipped back down south in NSW territory.
He represented Queensland at U-17 level. A tricky scenario, it would seem.
Under the rules he would seem well within his rights to select to play for Queensland, and his claim that he “bleeds Maroon” means he’s made his choice (unless of course the prop forward was having difficulty understanding how you can bleed Blue).
Having lived 20 of his 22 years in New South Wales, if the boy bled Maroon before he became a man, it should have been down on paper to take away any professional decision on Origin selection being made, to stop inevitable questions being made.
Has the decision been made to increase marketability? Has the retirement of Steve Price, and Petero Civoniceva playing at first grade level these days rather than origin, made him think he could claim a spot, off the bench or otherwise?
Or is it to almost guarantee victory in this year’s series?
The Blues have some solid options in Weyman, Galloway and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, as well as rising superstars Kade Snowden and Aiden Tolman who are pushing for selection in the early stages of 2011, and could ensure he plays limited games as the years roll on. Did this influence his decision?
You would hope none of this would matter, but you can’t rule it out. The issue isn’t the fact that a player would do this, some would, and some wouldn’t. The issue is that they can.
Based on form with the Roosters so far, Kennedy could poke a nose through the neck of a cane toad jersey come May 25, and would at least be on the initial squad list.
In international rugby league, there is a tendency for players to switch national sides, in essence to increase the depth of many squads who would be unable to compete at a professional level.
In Origin, this is unnecessary, and can herald back to the days of New South Wales playing a Queensland side with the best Queenslanders who weren’t good enough to play in the NSWRL.
Early last year Sam Burgess, the England international, claimed if the rules were loosened he would pull on a Blues jersey, his favourite team from his living room in Leeds.
On the Sydney Morning Herald website, 38% of the 6000 people asked said yes.
Can 38 per cent of rugby league fans really not understand what State of Origin means? Or was this just a reflection of the desperation of Blues fans after five straight years in the wilderness? Or, perhaps, a sense of “getting one back” after the Inglis saga?
Rugby league was made to be a professional sport, and allowed free movement of players. State of Origin was made to almost counter-balance this idea, to hark back to the days when the nation was a collection of colonies, you weren’t Australian, you were a Queenslander, a Victorian, a New South Welshman.
If the man bleeds Maroon, he would have bled Maroon when he pulled on a jersey for the first time, and as such the decision should have already been made.
Along with your birth certificate, the necessary documents should include proving your eligibility for your first choice for State of Origin.
If a player has a case to play for somewhere else than their current state then sign before the dollar, or the chance of victory, or the likelihood of a starting place. Lucre and playing top-dog can cloud what should be a decision of the heart.
Big_Marn2000
Roar Pro
Just to clarify with the Inglis thing. The issue with him is not that he was born and raised in NSW and chose to play for QLD. If he bleeds Maroon then so be it (mind you I can't understand how someone born and raised in NSW could bleed Maroon). As far as I'm concerned, you can bleed whatever color you want.... as long as you're eligible. As I understand it, you are eligible for a state if you are born there, if you play junior footy there, or if you play your first senior footy there. This creates a situation where some players are eligible for two states. The problem with Inglis playing for QLD is not that he was born and raised in NSW. It's that he is not in fact eligible for QLD. Inglis was born in NSW. Played junior footy for Bowraville Tigers. Played first senior footy at age 16 for Newcastle Hunter. He is therefore ineligible for QLD.
TammyS
Guest
I sorta agree. I think there should be a 3rd team in State of Origin where all players who arent eligible for QLD or NSW can play under (eg, kiwis, poms, Pacific Islanders, Victorians, western australians etc). I dont know if Id call the team "Victoria" though. Imagine Burgess and Marshall up against Slater and Thurston in Origin. I reckon it'd be interesting at least and it would solve a lot of problems like players deciding to play for Australia instead of their home country just to play State of Origin or when the Storm or the reds (when they come in) start bringing up talent from Vic and Wa and trying to sort out which Origin Squad they'd be eligible for if they're allowed to play
Charles
Guest
I would like to see Victoria to be included in the State of Origin. This could be done by fielding players that although they may not come from that state are included as a representative for that state. This will then allow players like Benji Marshall to be included to the highest pinnacle of the game. What a great promotion for the game that would be and even more thrilling to have three states competing.
PaddyBoy
Guest
They get the same number of games though, just more spread out.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i think you will find that apart from that one article in the telegraph, people from NSW have not complained about where people are born. the only beef thet have is with inglis who lived in QLD for a very limited amount of time. never believe that the telegraph are representative of the feeling s of the general population of sydney and nsw
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
Only if we get rid of Ch 9. They will never wear three weekends a year with only one game of football
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
Stand alone weekends should be the go. The IC is going to talk about it. It would build up for a big three saturdays (don't like your two game theory sorry) and would make clubs who have good players not have to suffer. Also give an extra "bye" to many players to recover from injuries or fatigue, whilst still extending the season.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
Exactly. I think a lot of people might perceive this as a cheap shot at the Cane Toads, but NSW would do it too (especially with Ricky in the mix), my only wish is to take everything but heart out of the mix. Not saying anyone did it, but they could.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Inglis played first senior football for Norths in Brisbane I thought. And it isn't that black and white nowadays. Again, Sterling, born in QLD, represented NSW? What about those picked for the Storm during school?
Ken
Guest
Very close to full agreeance, except for pointing out that that rule actually places Inglis and Kennedy on the NSW side
Ken
Guest
The thing is there are clear eligibility requirements. Your SOO side is where you played your first senior football, where you were born has never been the requirement. It's black and white, clear as day and consistently ignored by the QLD side. It means there should have been no choice, Inglis (Newcastle) and Kennedy (Sydney) are only eligible for NSW. The list of players born somewhere else is completely irrelevant, all of those players (El Masri, Sterling etc) played their first senior football in NSW and as such were eligible for Origin.
kerapp
Guest
I have these problems with the yearly Origin series. It does interrupt the NRL club fixtures and could indirectly effect the final eight standings. Two Origin games seem sufficient to me, and thirdly, I just don't care who wins. Put another way I am not very parochial with the interstate clashes. Must say though that in recent seasons Qld have had a virtual Australian Test line-up and that is why they have been so dominant as they should.
soapit
Guest
thing is i knew i would only ever be a new south welshman well before i was 16 but i lived near the border. now if i'd been half decent i could have been scouted by a brisbane club and i would then have (hypothetically) only been eligible for qld which wouldnt have been acceptable. we've got to get a system which doesnt force people to play against a state they love but also doesnt allow people to switch just because they've got a better shot at one state or the other because of depth in a certain position.
Stormin Red
Guest
The simple fact is that this system already exists. You can jump on the QRL website and get a list of all eligible Queenslanders any time, his name was on their at the start of the year (I remember thinking "who is this guy?"). When they sign their first contracts for the NRL they have to nominate their state. Kennedy did this, nominated Qld and that should be that. Besides, why would NSW want a guy on the field who doesn't want to play for them. If a player eligible for Qld said he wasn't sure who he felt like playing for we would not even consider him. Case in point, Craig Polla-Mounter, mentioned he would like to play origin and didn't care who for as he was eligible for both. It is origin FFS, if you are willing to play for the other team just to get an origin jumper you are not worthy. You Blues just do not get it.
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
This is a non-story. Rule is (and always has been with some slight tinkering) your state of origin is where you played your first football after turning 16. Under this rule Inglis, Folau, Kennedy, Moore, etc etc etc are all Queenslanders. End of story. Thank you, come again. Move along please, nothing to see here. Next topic
soapit
Guest
i think leave it the way it is (you play for whoever your first senior game is for) but make sure it is known to the player who they will be eligible to represent at the time (they get a letter stating it when they register for seniors) and then they have to make a written application by a certain date (say within two weeks of their nrl debut) to be able to represent the other.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
In some situations though, like Martin Kennedy, you would think most rules would make him eligible for NSW, and while you get everyone in the Telegraph being whingers about it, you should stand back and say "No, Martin Kennedy feels he is a Queenslander, therefore he is", and if he has a claim, then it's legit. No matter what any of the Telegraph writers say, NSW is not short on props, they are short on structure which will be seen in the next few years, and trying to force a kid to represent a state he doesn't want to would be a travesty. With the "write eho you want to represent" maybe I presented my argument poorly, I meant if there could be any contestng in future years, the deciding factor would be who you picked. If you were born in NSW, then played your first footy in QLD, whichever box you ticked is where you play, before marketing, opportunity, and the chance of winning becomes a factor. If you were born in QLD, and played your footy in QLD, you can tick NSW all day till your fingers bleed, you're a Maroon.
Jaceman
Guest
I like SOO but the way it is promoted by Channel Nine, I expect Don King to leading it from the control room. Efforts by the ARL to even it up, when NSW under Johns dominated, by putting Storms best players in the Queeensland league meant NSW born and raised players Inglis and Folau qualified for Qld (aside from other earlier qualification howlers - Tonie Carroll played for Qld/Australi, then NZ then Qld/Australia again) give it now an unfortunate feel of WWE...
Hoy
Roar Guru
I think that is what everyone is doing now Paddy. But that is very much simplifying it don't you think? What if they were born in Lebanon (there is nothing wrong with that), came over at 18, played for the Broncs in first grade, and said they felt like a New South Welshman? Can't you see that is where the waters get murky? So these kids born in NSW, brought to QLD, and then CHOOSING to play for whoever is the issue. The issue is it shouldn't be a CHOICE. There should be clear defined eligibility rules. State of birth would make it easier. First senior game, if there is some contention, makes it even easier. If they aren't eligible, then they aren't eligible.
Patrick Angel
Roar Guru
A big factor in why playing for QLD is a far more attractive marketing exercise for an athlete (more so than a Kangaroos jersey in many markets) so you need to make sure this doesn't enter the debate.