State of Origin will no longer have the farcical situation of players playing for one state, when they were where born, raised and played their first senior football in another state.
Greg Inglis, I’m talking about you.
Born in New South Wales, raised in Kempsey on the NSW mid-north coast, went to high school in Newcastle at Hunter Sports High. You may feel more like a Queenslander, but you shouldn’t be playing for the Maroons.
The Courier-Mail revealed last week that the NRL, QRL, NSWRL and NZRL have discussed introducing stronger eligibility rules for representative footy. The bodies’ officials have talked about a more thorough assessment process, with a player’s eligibility to also be determined by where he went to school, where he played his junior football and, particularly in international cases, his parents’ heritage.
These new guidelines are expected to be in place before the 2013 Origin series.
Under the current laws a player’s Origin status is determined by where his first senior game was played after the age of 16.
Under the new rules the Inglis selection, and that of his former Melbourne Storm teammate Israel Folau, wouldn’t have happened.
Folau, now playing AFL for Greater Western Sydney Giants, was born in and raised in Sydney. He went to Lurnea Public School and Westfield Sports High School, along with Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne. His family later moved to Brisbane.
Because of the Storm’s link with Queensland Cup clubs as feeder outfits, emerging talent like Inglis and Folau played in Queensland. They then went on to star for the Maroons in the toughest rugby league arena of all.
Queensland fans will look at this and say it is all NSW whingeing, simply because the Blues have lost the past six series in a row. But this is about fairness and common sense.
No one player can win a whole Origin series, barring maybe “The King” and Joey Johns.
If you take Inglis or Folau out of the past six Origin periods, I would bet Queensland still would have won.
This is instead about fixing the problems of the past and avoiding dramas in the future. And it’s long overdue.
Doc
Guest
The SOO concept was the first rule changes to make the state game fair, the rules you talk of now are nothing, zero, obsolete compared to what the original SOO rule changes meant to QLDers! NSW made of joke of the state game for 80 years, you guys have nothing to wine about, the only people that should be here winging are QLDers, and yep, it runs deep, thats our passion! For 80 years QLDers (our boys) were made to play for NSW until the fairer rules of State of Origin came into effect. And you guys have the hide & arrogance to wine as such on one player. No wonder QLDers love to beat you. Let that be the end of it!
jesse
Guest
Wasn't Peter Sterling born and raised in Toowoomba? These rules only come in when it suits NSW. That's how its always been. This rule wouldn't have even been considered if Queensland haven't been dominant over the last decade. Also, if they want to make the rule where you are from, then the Blues are going to really struggle considering their best players on their team are all KIWIs.
Vince
Guest
Guys its simple , If you were born in NSW you play for the Blues, If you were born in Qld you play for the Maroons, if you were born in Australia you play for Australia. Then its black and white no fudging. Its the only way it can be if we are fairdinkum about the QLD/ NSW rivalry (Hate) on the footy field.
Truth 88
Guest
Sports Freak, you can add James Tamou to that list of players that somehow became New South Welshman. Havent heard the Hot Tip yet.
Big john
Guest
I agree with the rules being clarified, because personally I am a fan of the concept where you play for the State in which you were born . The real reason for Origin is being forgotton, not helped by the fact that the NRL run it, instead of the NSWRL and QRU, and all the NRL see is dollar signs. Some of us are old enough to recall the floggings that were handed out to Qld resident teams by NSW teams loaded with ex-pat Qld players. And for those who concern themselves with Inglis , remember that Peter Sterling was born in Qld, Michael O'Connor was raised in the ACT and played his rugby in Qld, James McManus born in Scotland, Willy Mason born NZ. Incidentally, Sam Thiaday was born in Sydney. So forget about where they played their junior football or had their first cuddle behind the bike sheds, if you were born there, thats where you play.
Shemp81
Guest
What about Akuila Uate?
Truth 88
Guest
I guess Sport Freak has different rules on what makes players eligible for NSW. Pretty sure Akuila Uate, Peter Sterling, Peter Wallace, James McManus, Timanu Tahu, Ken Nagas, Willie Mason, Benny Elias and Hazem El Masri weren't born in NSW. What's the Hot Tip that made them New South Welshman
Real Deal
Guest
Sports freak what actually constituted Akuila Uate, Peter Sterling, Peter Wallace, James McManus, Timanu Tahu, Ken Nagas and Willie Mason being New South Welshman. Even Benny Elias and Hazem El Masri were born in Lebanon.
Truth 88
Guest
Sports freak what about Akuila Uate, Peter Wallace, James McManus, Timanu Tahu, Ken Nagas and Willie Mason.
Carlos
Guest
The big untold story here is that Queensland have been riding on the back of the Storms cheating (and also the Broncos mysterious ability to have a side stacked with rep players and not break the cap). I would loved to have seen a non NEWS ltd Sydney club run out a team year after year that had, Hayne, B Stewart, Gasnier, Farrah, Carny, Lewis all playing club footy together... Queensland have had the massive advantage that their stars have been able to develop well drilled combinations in week to week competition and regular finals /Grandfinals games. SOO has been so uneven for the last few years its become a joke, not helping is the ongoing issue of Archer as ref, the guy has been screwing us for years and they keep letting him back, its same thing every game an unequal penalty count benefiting Qld, dubious calls (or non calls) then after the game is gone a couple of quick penalty's to NSW to make the penalty count seem more square. Will watch again this year but will be last time if its just a boring repeat of the last few years
Sports Freak
Roar Pro
So living in QLD for six years makes you a Queenslander Truth 88? Thanks for the hot tip
Truth 88
Guest
Pretty sure Israel Folau's family moved to Qld when he was 12. So he played most of junior football and all of his senior football in Qld. So get your facts right before you open your big mouth; Sports Freak.
QLDER
Guest
As a QLDer, Personally I am very keen for them to revise the rules. I want bred QLDers playing for us, not Kiwi's or southern welsh men. It was depressing having to watch Ken Nagas when he was selected for the cockeroaches not to mention all those years before origin.
jayden
Guest
DJ u do realise Lote tuqiri,Adrian Lam,Neville Costigan,Tonie Carroll did the same with qld? as for qlders calling us whingers greg inglisisnt even eligable for qld?i remember the melbourne storm getting done cheating they got punished i remember nathan fien being ruled ineligable for nz in 06 nz got punished ,i remember greg inglis being ruled ineligable for Qld, qld get away with cheating!!!as for origin rules blokes like uate,mcmanus,nagas shouldv never represented nsw but qld well there worse than the current england cricket team
eclipz
Guest
It's about time this mess was sorted out. The debate has been raging forever and i'm not the only one who is sick of hearing about it - from BOTH sides.
Jaceman
Guest
DJ, I think I agree with you. Its a dogs breakfast and its in all codes and hemispheres http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/12/international-rugby-eligibility-the-breakdown
Ken
Guest
If you go through with a rule like that all of those guys will still play Origin, they just won't play for those other nations. Personally I don't think that's the ideal scenario.
DJ
Guest
I have to dissagree once you decide that you wish to play for another country wether because of heritage or you were born there you have pledged your loyalty to that nation and can't be taken back to NSW or QLD wether you lived there or not . For NSW supporters to cry fowl over Inglis or folou and then turn a blind eye to the others is hypocritical I agree the rules need to be changed but to try and argue something is unfair whilst efectivley doing the same thing just makes it sound like sour grapes from the NSW camp.
DJ
Guest
Didn't Keneedy go to School at Ipswich Boys Grammar in QLD and play For North Ipswich Rugby league in QLD :D
Ken
Guest
I think you missed my point entirely DJ, I agree that there is a big gray area on changing the country you represent. There's points on each side of that argument but it's not the topic here. The point was that almost all of the players you mentioned, including Mateo who you say the Blues were denied, were born and raised in NSW. It's not their NSW eligibility that's under a cloud, that is rock solid, it's their eligibility for those other nations that's on the dodgy side. By the way, I never complained about Folau and accepted Uate. I actually specifically noted they both came under the same technicality. I did point out that Inglis is in no way eligible for QLD which is undeniably true.