Loopholes are killing international rugby league

Mal will not give up on New Zealanders! I agree with Go Warriors, he should be ashamed of himself! He played for Queensland with fellow queenslanders, not kiwis! Now he is absolutely killing international league and taking advantage of the fact that nz can not offer these players the sort of money origin can. What happened to representing your country being the greatest honor?

Mal will do anything to win! Is he not taking advantage of the systems flaws and lack of clarity? As a queenslander shouldn't he care that the player in HIS side is also a queenslander? No wonder qld are notorious for poaching players!

In my opinion, the term “State of Origin” has now become more of an idiom in the Australian vocabulary, simply and singularly meaning QLD versus NSW. This is opposed to actual states of Australia playing against each other in any sport. This term was used by the ALF in their failed state based representative version, and regardless of whoever coined the term, after 31 years of continued success in league, the term is well and truly entrenched and owned by the sport of rugby league. It is the battle of QLD vs NSW. The question of why it failed for the AFL is written in the history books, but to why to this day they still keep the concept in the basement is beyond me, being their only real option for representation, apart from their Frankenstein sport they play with the Irish. But as I’ve stated previously, State of Origin is not to be touched. It in no way should be diluted with other states, and for the love of god not destroyed by the inclusion of New Zealand. Phil Gould and his other channel 9 lackeys will just have to live with the fact that Benji Marshall does not get to play in the premium event of Rugby League. Regardless, Origin works and there is no reason to change it. But that doesn’t mean we cannot add to the sport of rugby league. There is no reason why there couldn’t be an end of the year competition between all 8 regions of Australia, plus NZ and PNG. It’s up to the administrators to think of and try new ideas, and just take a few risks, and see what happens, just don't destroy what works.

The Super League and NRL need to dedicate a section of the season to representative football. Suspend both competitions so that Queensland can play NSW and Great Britain vs New Zealand and Paciific Island All Stars. If the RFL isn't interested in it then make it a series between New Zealand Kiwis and Pacific Islands All-Stars.

Nothing is set in stone, there’s always opportunity for growth and league has to grow. If that’s not the goal, we might as well pack up in NZ and Victoria and go back to separate Brisbane and Sydney comps. Compare league to AFL. We have been gifted an international level, albeit not a strong one, but international nevertheless. The AFL would kill for this, and I have no doubt that in my life time I’ll see a club start up somewhere outside of Oz. League on the other hand gave up, over ten years ago, coverage and development of league across Australia, with the culling of Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane 2 and the Gold Coast, solely to meet the needs of some noisy men and their dying Sydney clubs. Where have we grown since? A RE-addition of Gold Coast, probably just to get rid of the dreadful bye, and now it’s about to meets it’s end once again... why its end, once again poor administration of league from the NRL and Titans, and those noisy Sydney men crying "what about us?" Where does league have to grow? Where we were over 10 years ago. AFL on the other hand have pushed their way into NSW and QLD with the sole intentions to capturing new markets and growing its sport, and I ensure you their goal is become the true national sport of Australia, something I am afraid they’re getting to close to. I live in Brisbane and when I turn on the TV from Friday to Sunday, what do I see? AFL live. In Brisbane, the true league heartland, more AFL on TV then league. Embarrassed, anger, envy, defeated acceptance of my sports pathetic administrators, are just some of the feeling that swell up. If AFL had the international opportunities of league, they would not be wasted. But, once again, league has been gifted the international element and it’s up to people in charge in Australia to grow it, but as I said its tough to invest in somewhere like Samoa, when we don’t have a team in Western Australia, and we can’t support a team like Gold Coast (or let them get to the position they’re in). Regardless, State of Origin has nothing to do with International league, it’s the state of Queensland vs the state of New South Wales and must remain untouched.

players who lie about their eligibility (Inglis) ought to be band from origin.

Boo freaking hoo

It works both ways. I recall when the Warriors were first hatched, the whole organisation were virtually Ozzies from the orange boy to the board room. There also exists quite a lot of the blurring of loyalties between the two nations in other Trans Tasman codes i.e. Net Ball. If you afford NZ origin status along with Qld and NSW in Leagues case, then you automatically compromise those international League tests between Aust and NZ since the latter would be afforded state like status. , This poses a far bigger question of whether or not NZ should be joined at the proverbial Australian hip once and for all rather than continue treading the fine and precarious line of having their pav and eating it too.

It works both ways. I recall when the Warriors were first hatched, the whole organisation were virtually Ozzies from the orange boy to the board room. There also exists quite a lot of the blurring of loyalties between the two nations in other Trans Tasman codes i.e. Net Ball. If you afford NZ origin status along with Qld and NSW in Leagues case, then you automatically compromise those international League tests between Aust and NZ since the latter would be afforded state like status.

It could be very interesting. And you know how local rivalries can be; in the real pressure match form guides go out the window.

A north-south game would generate some venom actually, but could be a bit lopsided. Auckland vs country would be more even. Neither would pay as much money as SOO I would think.

I doubt it would weaken NZ that much. Have you not seen the quality coming out of NZ in the last few years. 3 NZ teams in the grand final last year.

Aha someone who thinks ACT player playing for NSW is odd. Will this be considered in the SOO review eg Michael O'Connor, Josh Dugan, Monaghan

The combined Pacific team in Rugby didnt work because of inter-island rivalries and maybe too because most of the best island players are in Europe so good luck..

Ian, I haven't got a clue what you're talking about. In fact, I cannot see where I've mentioned rugby union, blackballing men or anything else you've talked about. I simply responded to League fan by pointing out that their statement ... the majority of the Irish and Scottish squads were picked from their local domestic competions as well as a few players that were playing in the English super league. I thought they did really well too. Ireland thrashed Samoa which were full of proffesional NRL and Superleague players. ...was simply wrong. If you have anything to add to that - I'm all ears. Otherwise I'll consider the discussion over...

Kogs rugby might be global (very debateable) However in 95% of the world it is a very niech sport just like it is in Australia.

simple fix. when you get signed up to any senior club side (ie before you've come on the QRL's/NSWRL's radar big time for SOO) you have to nominate who you want to play for. and then if you change ur mind down the track you have to make the case and convince them ur genuine and not just doing it for the dollar.

The Bush said "only two (2) of those players played in Irelands domestic competition. " Just because rugby union has been blackballing men for making a living for more than a hundred years doesnt mean anyone else should. Go, make your living *and* play for your country when they call - its only rugby union that make you choose between playing for your country and providing for your retirement.

"That is rubbish KOG the majority of the Irish and Scottish squads were picked from their local domestic competions as well as a few players that were playing in the English super league. I thought they did really well too. Ireland thrashed Samoa which were full of proffesional NRL and Superleague players. That's just wrong. Ireland Squad 2008 World Cup (place of birth): Ryan Tandy (Australia) Pat Richards (Australia) Micheal Platt (England) Eamon O'Carroll (England) Shayne McMenemy (Ausralia_) Michael Mcllorum (England) Stuart Littler (England) Wayne Kerr (Ireland) Graham Holroyd (England) Ben Harrison (England) Gareth Haggerty (England) Brendan Guilfoyle (Ireland) Sean Gleeson (England) Stevie Gibbons (Ireland) Karl Fitzpatrick (England) Simon Finnigan (England) Liam Finn (?) Lee Doran (England) Ged Corcoran (Ireland) Mick Cassidy (England) Damien Blanch (Australia) Bob Beswick (England) Ross Barbour (Ireland) Scott Grix (England) So out of twenty-four (24) players, five (5) were born in Ireland only only two (2) of those players played in Irelands domestic competition. I'm neither against it or for it and would prefer the best possible world cup with as many good players playing as possible. But let's not kid ourselves, Ireland's team was about as Irish as I am...

It *is* important for rugby league that players have the opportunity to play for their country, but if you allow that, but say 'Oh, and you'll earn about a million bucks more if you're Australian', then dont be surprised if people change passports. Therefore, take the simplest solution and split Origin elegibility from Test eligibility, because at the end of the day, you can earn more playing Origin several times a year than you can playing for New Zealand.