Yes, the NRL should look to expand the greatest and most successful sporting mini-series throughout our region of the world.
Let’s take Origin to the next level. All the best rugby league players from the Australian / Pacific region should be made eligible for selection and playing in the series if they have the ability!
State of Origin should be rebranded “The Origin Series” and expanded to three teams. Yes three teams!
The three teams playing in a round robin event with each team playing one home and one away game.
The two teams finishing at the top of the table after the round robin will play off in the Origin Series Final.
The final will be hosted by the winner of the round robin series. Wins, then points for against will apply to the standings.
Josh Addo-Carr of the Blues celebrates after a try scored by James Tedesco. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The three teams and the players who would be eligible to be selected under strictly enforced guidelines from the following countries/states are as listed below.
The Blues including players from NSW, ACT, Fiji and Tonga.
The Kiwis including players from New Zealand.
The Maroons including players from Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and any other Australian state or territory.
Whilst players will play in an expanded origin series, strict eligibility guidelines would dictate what country they represent at World Cup level. E.g. If Semi Radradra was playing in the NRL, he would be eligible to play for the Blues but would only be eligible to play for Fiji at Test level.
Why expand the series?
There are a range of reasons to expand the series.
To ensure we have the best players playing at the highest level without comprising Origin integrity.
To increase rugby league interest in New Zealand and other Pacific Island nations where rugby union has traditionally dominated.
How good would it have been to see Sonny Bill Williams or Benji Marshall leading a strong Kiwi team taking on one of those great Queensland sides captained by Cameron Smith in an Origin final over the last ten years.
Instead of a weak Blues team backing up for a dead rubber with the strong likelihood of a 20-point Queensland win and a series whitewash, every game in the expanded series will have some bearing as to who plays in the final or who takes the Origin Series title.
For a club fan, there nothing more frustrating than one of your stars getting injured while playing in a dead rubber Origin match.
Can we accommodate three qualifying games and one final Origin game in a season? Yes we can, but games will need to be played on Sunday night not mid-week so players will have a minimum of a seven-day break prior to the game.
The Sunday timeframe makes it easier for fans to get to the stadiums and players are not then being expected to back up in 2-3 days after the Origin game like they are being in its current format. No player will be playing more than three games.
How will Queensland and NSW supporters feel about having out of towners playing for their state/team? I can only guess it won’t, because not much has been said or done about over the last 40 years.
Israel Folau or James Tamou are just two examples of so many ex-pats who have played Origin with absolutely no affiliation to that state team whatsoever.
This might even be an opportunity to implement a marquee player supplement payment to keep superstars in the NRL rather than losing them to overseas rugby clubs.
Who would not prefer for Radradra to be playing in the NRL and playing in Origin than playing for a French rugby club?
Some additional dollars and the opportunity to play Origin might just do the trick. Increasing the interest in rugby league in Australia and overseas will result increased revenue opportunities for our great game.
MUCK
Guest
We could also have The Melbourne Cup in Auckland on the 3rd Sunday of Feb , Bathurst in Townsville , The Boxing Day Test first up in November and why not get rid of National sides and have the appointed Capt of each team take turns of picking from a pool of players of any code of any sport. We could have an AFL rep team in Origin because its not fair that they miss out . Im up for it , lets change everything thats awesome just the way it is so we can include everyone and make everyone happy all the time ..... itll be great . Why even keep the colours , lets change them each year by an online poll.....
Caractacus
Guest
Please don’t mess with Origin because it’s one of the highlights of the sporting year in my view, I’m British but I couldn’t love Origin any more than I do. I’m a massive Blues fan, I can’t really remember why I chose to support them other than I liked Paul Harragon who’s still one of my favourite ever players.
R. Burrows
Guest
Why wouldn't State of Origin never be the pinnacle of Rugby League? It is now and always be. The International side of Rugby League is an embarrassment
Tex Redmund
Roar Rookie
Sorry, I hate to be negative, but no no no no no. Allowing players from other countries, ineligible to represent Australia into Origin... it has a few issues in my opinion. You suggest it be called "The Origin Series"... the Origin of where? They wouldn't be Origin representative sides, they'd be All-Stars teams. They couldn't be called Queensland and NSW, when potentially those regions make up the minority of players in each squad. All-Stars games have been tried but have never captured the imagination of the fan-base. This would be no different, and would kill the very concept and interest in Origin. Why? The same reason for both... Identity. All-Stars teams are a mish-mash of players from all over, a concept which lacks an identity... which fans are unable to identify with. This is the very strength of Origin. They are Queenslanders. They are New South Welshmen/women. They stand united for their tribe... clearly identifiable tribes of traditional rivalry. A shared-border. Decades of deriding. It means something to the citizens... sure more so to Queenslanders, but also to NSW. This suggestion would destroy that entirely. Maroon All-Stars vs Pale-Blue All-Stars. Then there's the impact on the Kangaroo's. It would deny potential Test players the opportunity to trial in and gain experience in this elite level of footy - whilst providing the opportunity to direct rivals. Good on you for thinking of an innovative idea, but with respect, not all innovation leads to desirable outcomes.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
you do realise there's only 700 registered rugby league players (500 adults + 200 youth) in victoria right?..union on the other hand has over 20k registered footy players in that state and a thriving amateur club competition at all levels..
Phil
Guest
Ken,you have answered this article with the exact reasons why it should never be considered.I vividly recall the first origin match and the 2 great players from my Parra team,Beetson and Cronin on opposite sides and big Artie laying one on Mick.We then knew it was for real and the intensity has never really dropped,although these days the judiciary has quietened it down a bit from the early days.
Fieldy
Guest
State of Origin is and always will be the pinnacle of Rugby League. There is no changing this
Daniel John
Roar Pro
For full detail read the article posted, but in short: Tinker too much with eligibility criterion and it will turn into an all-stars game. No connection. Furthermore, if you satisfy the current criteria and pledge allegiance to Australia as your tier 1 nation then no dramas, you qualify. But Something many of us forget is not every gun player is from NSW or QLD. What works with origin is the rivalry translates to passion for both player and fan and the beauty of this conjured up concept works for the masses. It does not need another team. But this is just my opinion.
ken gargett
Guest
any suggestion which improves the game is worthy of consideration and whether one agrees or not, good on all those trying to do so. but tinkering with Origin completely misses the point. i would argue that anyone even thinking about including players from PNG, Fiji, NZ, Victorian et al, does not fully understand Origin and most especially has no idea of the history that brought about its conception. Sure, a player like Taumalolo is good enough for Origin but his inclusion in a concocted side means it is nothing more than an exhibition. personally, i think we have enough serious league not to ask players to play those sort of games. and who would really care anyway? Origin came about because of the fact that year after year, NSW gave Qld a hiding (with an occasional exception), and often did so with a heap of Qlders in their side, as they were playing in the Sydney comp at the time. go back to 1980, the first year of Origin, and in the first two games (pre-Origin), NSW had guys like Reddy, Morris, Boustead, Quinn and Lang in their run-on sides (Smith, Oliphant and Beetson could not make the NSW side but were not available for Qld). So we had to watch Qlders beat Qld. As a digression, the second interstate game in Sydney had a crowd of 1,300. look at the crowds Origin gets today. they must be doing something right. But Qlders were sick of it. now, it really is 'state v state'. does anyone want it to go to 'an artificially concocted collection of players' v 'an artificially concocted collection of players'? i'd rather be stuck front row in a lengthy german opera.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Precisely :laughing: How many Storm stars were born in Victoria? How many played their junior rugby league in Victoria?
Dayer
Roar Rookie
Q? Where are they gonna select their players from bar the the storm players. maybe if they created a second and or third team in Victoria i.e. Geelong (greyhounds) and one more in Melb. Monkees. :silly:
Dayer
Roar Rookie
NO way!! imho, its a stupid suggestion to bring in the kiwis NZL in the origin stage, the name kiwis NZL should only be in the International stage. why have them play in the origin and then later the same team plays test matches what happens when they get hammered in origin by qld or nsw .... ? The solution would be a Pacific team picked from the very best of NZL, Tonga, Samoa etc Its a better idea than adding these nations to Qld and NSW. :silly:
King in the north
Roar Rookie
Nope. If it ain’t broke, don’t nix it!
Big Daddy
Guest
The NRL season is hard enough without adding extra rep matches to the schedule. If this did happen it's just a money making idea which puts extra pressure on an already heavy schedule. Leave it as it is.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I believe there is some merit to your suggestions. State of Origin is the best of rugby league in my humble opinion. Expansion of the game is the aim of the powers that be, but great care and consideration needs to be taken when it comes to ducking around with this great and much loved series.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
With all this love and respect for the Melbourne Storm, why not add Victoria to the ‘States’ of Origin? Thoughts? :silly: Western Australia adding a first grade team to the nrl comp?? Thoughts?? (they play rugby league in Western Australia I’m told) We could have a four team States of Origin competition? Expansion is the key according to Mr V’landys. .
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
What is the actual concept you believe this will kill off? Teams selecting players on their Origins not on contracts? James Taumo was born & grew up in NEW Zealand, played 3 New Zealand Maori games & 14 Origin games for NSW, explain that to me. Israel Folau was born & grew up in Liverpool NSW but played Origin for Qld. BTW the stadiums were still sold out & the Maroon fans loved him. Radradra played for Australia but wasn't eligible for Origin. Ask yourselves as sports fans, when watching a sport, how much more interested are you in it when your countrymen are playing in it? Yes it easy to say we should just play more internationals but most of these countries are not competitive at international level & there are also logistical problems. Origin is always going to be a success, if Jason Taumalolo plays for the Blues due to his Tongan heritage, blues fans are not going to boycott games they are going to be excited by seeing him slamming into the big Maroon forwards & offloading to Nathan Cleary etc.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
The less Origin is messed with the better; with the possible exception of keeping it at the end of the season. I respect most authors for giving an article a crack, but I think this has missed the mark.
ken gargett
Guest
the worst idea that league could contemplate. why stuff up what is not broken? "without comprising Origin integrity"?? This wouldn't compromise it - it would shatter it. You'd be left with exhibition games which would interest no one. Clubs, coaches and players are not going to want to be involved mid-season and i suspect even less so post season, so when do all these meaningless games get played? honestly, i would have thought this was intended as humour or satire but there is nothing amusing about it. i can only surmise that Mr Right is not an Origin fan. Do not even think about doing this.
Deavo
Roar Rookie
I like the idea of expanding the Origin series but you can't be serious about bringing non-QLD players in to the Maroons outfit (or likewise for the dirty roaches)? Just make the 3rd team an "all comers", selecting the best of other-Aussie (i.e. not eligible for Qld/NSW selection), British and SEAP nations