Another Origin series has come and gone. It was great series, as usual, however, besides the usual bi-partisan complaining about referee decisions and other injustices, the one thing that seemed to dominate the headlines was, ironically, origin.
The player eligibility debate was a key component of this year’s series.
Among all the discussion, I took notice of one snippet in particular; the fact that the players, or maybe more specifically, the player managers, have a say in where his charge plays.
It seems many managers are advising their young “up ‘n’ comers” not to pledge an allegiance too early, basically saying “lets wait to see who has the better offer”!
This aspect and the recent arguments over the Kiwi contingent “pledging allegiance” is pretty much the last straw for me and a bunch of of other footy tragics from either side of the border. Besides the obviously horrendous (for NSW) injustice that Greg Inglis plays for Queensland, when he quite obviously should have been playing for NSW for the last 10 years or so, there have been numerous others on both side of the border.
No player is above the game and at the end of the day the game (league itself and therefore Origin) belongs to the people; not to clubs or administrators, players or even player managers. They are all custodians of the greatest game of all.
Therefore, it is time for the new ARLC to put an end to all of this nonsense and introduce from 2013 a new policy for selection in Origin. A policy that takes all politics, favouritism, player or player manager preference out of the equation. As with other things in life, a player should have to “qualify” for a state to play, and this qualification should not be as loose as it is now.
What about a points system, where a player needs to accumulate enough points to be eligible for selection? And not, like it is now, play one junior rep game for a state to be eligible. My suggestion would be that a player needs to accumulate a minimum of 10 points to qualify.
Points are allocated based on things like: place of birth (say five points), first junior club (5 points), first U15 rep game (5 points) first over 15 rep game (3 points) and so on. Many people smarter than me can come up with the criteria and points system but at least with a system like this we can stop the ridiculous situation we have now.
We have “Aussie” James playing for New Zealand one week and NSW the next, Greg “Bluey” Inglis and Israel “Westie” Folau playing for Queensland although both were born and played the great majority of their formative years of footy in NSW. It also takes the player manager and other self serving interests out of the equation.
It’s the people’s game and shouldn’t be held to ransom by self interest and political agendas like it is at the moment.
What do you think, Roarers? Is this a good solution for the eligibility debate?
Jason from Sydney
Guest
Now today the ARLC has changed the rules, so you have to have lived in that state in the first 13 years of your life. Under the new rules that come in 2013 does that mean Inglis plays for NSW or QLD? I like the new rules that the ARLC have made. Out of Origin in sport or Interstate in Sport I choose Interstate, just think if they had of introduced Origin in Cricket that would mean Border would have had to play for NSW not QLD, but if he wasn't getting much of a go in NSW then the move to QLD was important, that allowed him to play Shield Cricket regularly and ended playing for Australia in Cricket. Same with Adam Gilchrist didn't get much of a game in NSW so moved to WA and so played state Cricket regularly and was selected for Australia. So Origin would never work in Cricket.
mushi
Roar Guru
I reckon in that one you let them chose
Scott
Guest
The points system seems overly complex and might miss some weird situations. I'd prefer a player having to nominate a country and (if applicable) state in their first footy contract. Well before state selectors would be making offers, they could nominate the state/country with which they identify, without anything else in their minds. Hell, you could even make them choose at U15 level.
soapit
Guest
he's playing for qld because qld lied about his eligibilty and the arl didnt check. its an extreme case which pretty much wouldnt happen now
soapit
Guest
he's still gotta get picked. he was elegible for australia long before playing for the kiwis. the only aussies that use the grandmother clause are those who decide they are not gonna make origin
Rab4life
Guest
Well if thats the case so be it you need to fix up the problem otherwise these international teams will lose more then they gain
Rab4life
Guest
I think the main question is what are the odds of that actually happening lol i don't there is an nrl player today who is in that situation. And to answer your question i would say it goes back to their ORIGIN therefore queensland
LRR
Guest
Agree a points system is absolutely necessary. Only issue however is that if this is applied to International League as well, many of the Kiwi's would be ineligible to play for them. Players like Nathan Fien qualified via a meagre 3 year residency rule while playing for the Warriors (lets leave granny gate out of this). Nathan and Jason Cayless, one a world cup winning captain and both mainstays in the Kiwi squad for the best part of a decade qualified only via a grandmother. With a points system all signs would point towards NSW/Australia.
mushi
Roar Guru
It doesn't even ryhme!
Matt
Guest
Woahhhhh! Defensive much.
josh
Guest
you had to go there.... If bashing your missus in order to protect her is your go? You're a QLDer, (well not really) If unwanted group meetings in toilet stalls is your interest outside of footy? You're all QLDers If decorating public places in fecal matter is your idea of culture? You're a QLDer Want to play some tag under Turvey's watch? You're actually a QLDer Want to heap self righteous indignation upon other whilst being the undisputed heavyweight champion of WWNRL? You're a QLDer Want to rort and cheat your way to financial security? You're all QLDers Do you like entering via the backdoor, often the third person to do so? You're a QLDer Are you a giant man(child) who likes to throw tantrums in public about your insecurities or dabble in short-lived political careers? You're a QLDer If turning your back on your state to make money in a rival sport sounds like fun? You're a QLDer If you weren't born, raised or even visited QLD, you're a QLDer
Rellum
Roar Guru
I have been posting this exact same idea for months. Points system is a must. Simple solutions will not cut it anymore. You can steal the system banks and the public service use when judging how much ID is required to prove you are who you say you are. As the article states points for birth, junior football, where you lived for most of your life, what ever. You only qualify for QLD or NSW if you can accumulate over a certain amount of points. All non Australian Citizens are ineligible. I think a points system is the only way to answer this question from an earlier article, How do you judge the “State of Origin” for a kid that is born in Brissy, moves to Melbourne when they are two. Then moves to Sydney when they are 4. Then they are shipped off to Perth when they are 10. Then the UK till the are 14 then back to Brissy with a short stint in the US and China, but they are picked up in the Feeder structure of a NRL club that has them playing games in both NSW and QLD from the ages of 16-17?
Aleks Duric
Roar Guru
That just made my day! Well bowled mushi, well bowled
steve b
Roar Guru
The whole system needs a revamp ,,, i think it will be one of the first things announced by the new commish ,,Kiwis playing for the Blues and NSWelshmen playing for QLD its all over the place ..The simplistic approach is needed and not to many variables,,and no more Kiwis or lose the name SOO and call it something else , because it is not STATE of ORIGIN no matter how you want to twist it ...
mushi
Roar Guru
You want to glass your wife Without any strife Head on to old Sydney town Want to pick a fight Then get scared as shite Make sure ben creagh’s aroun’ Want to rip out some stiches Before firing up B$%^hes From Cronulla all the way to the cross Want to play some tag team Even if she ain’t keen Make sure then that Turvey’s your boss If you don’t like clack bunts Prefer footy as a drug front Then NSW may just be your home If you see now shame in losing Seven seasons and cruising Then pull on sky blue not maroon
Aleks Duric
Roar Guru
A points system is a great idea, but I think we really have to redefine the criteria: 1. Your favourite beer is XXXX - Minus 15 points 2. You live in a pole home - Minus 5 points 3. You're unaware of fuel injection - Minus 10 points 4. Your dog lives in your ute - Minus 5 points 5. One Nation is top of your two party preferred system - Minus 50 points Anyone in the minus is a QLDer
soapit
Guest
apparently there already is some kind of criteria list which kasiano was eligible according to however i havent been able to track them down. re this propsal i'd give less points for place of birth but would give some points for each year lived in a state.
Jayden
Guest
Well he still doesn't qualify as a qlder under old rules!its simple majority rules on residency from birth to 18 years so Ben te o 16yrs in NZ to 2yrs in qld ineligible for qld!same goes with Tamou,uate,inglis,folau,hunt,hell half of qlds fake of origin team!
Knight Vision
Guest
Couldnt agree more. The fact that Inglis is playing for QLD because he purchased an ice cream there when he was 16 yrs old is a farce. The fact that he chose to forgo his heritage is tragic. To be honest in my opinion a man of these qualities would wilt if it were not for the fact that he is surrounded by fellow champions who allow him to shine, if it were left to his own honor and integrity he would just disappear off the radar.