It used to be that State of Origin was an international trial. Get the boys together, play the best against the best and then pick a Kangaroos team.
If you look at the greatest Kangaroos teams, from 1982’s Invincibles and 1986’s Unbeatables through to 1994, perhaps the last true touring party, they coincided with the birth of Origin through to the golden age of the early 90s. It was the ultimate finishing school.
Now, however, that aspect has fallen away. The continued failings of Great Britain might be part of that – and please be gentle to your humble Pommy journo in the comments section – but the major issue, to my mind, is that Origin no longer really looks like it did in 1994, and indeed, neither does international footy.
If you want to know the difference, our much-talked-about 2022 State of Origin wingers would be a good place to start.
In the blue corner you get Daniel Tupou, who played for Tonga at the 2017 World Cup, and Brian To’o, who might yet turn out for Samoa later in the year.
In the maroon corner you have Xavier Coates, born in PNG and all but nailed on to play for the Kumuls in October, and Selwyn Cobbo, a proud Indigenous man who has already featured in the All Star game.
For reference, the wingers in Game 1 of 1994 were Rod Wishart, Graham Mackay, Michael Hancock and Wille Carne. All great players of course, and all played for Australia.
Tupou has already spoken of his conversations with Brad Fittler about Origin eligibility and the upcoming World Cup. Indeed that dilemma might come up as soon as Game 2, with Tonga slated to face New Zealand in Auckland the day before Origin in Perth.
“Freddy and I have spoken about it and I definitely want to play for Tonga at the end of the year,” he said. “I’ll see how things go for the [midyear] Test.
“I wanted to know if I could still play [for Tonga] at the World Cup and I can. Freddy knows how important it is for me to represent Tonga and my culture is pretty serious to me. He understood that and respected that.”
(Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
Good news, then, for Josh Addo-Carr. On the other wing, To’o is yet to confirm his team for the World Cup, but last year he expressed a preference for Samoa.
“I had a good talk with my family about it, especially my brother and my dad,” he said. “They’re backing me whatever I decide. Pretty sure my goal would be Samoa so, we will see how it goes.”
The wingers aren’t the only ones. The Australian trial features almost half of all participants eligible, and indeed likely, to play elsewhere. Of New South Wales, only six of the squad are Australia-only players.
Where 36 Origin players might have once whittled down to 24 in a squad for the World Cup, now that is far more complicated.
You can immediately take away Tupou and Kotoni Staggs, who have most recently played for Tonga, plus Junior Paulo, Jarome Luai and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who have already repped Samoa, and Api Korosau and Jacob Saifiti, who will surely turn out for Fiji.
Jeremiah Nanai, Stephen Crichton, Joseph Suaalii, Murray Taulagi and Payne Haas are also eligible for Samoa but unconfirmed.
Felise Kaufusi and Josh Papalii more recently played for Australia but have represented Tonga and Samoa respectively in the past, as have Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Tariq Sims with Fiji.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
On the other side of the world, nobody is expecting James Tedesco to turn down the Kangaroos for Italy – whom he last represented in 2017 – but should Nicho Hynes and Pat Carrigan not be selected for Australia, Scotland and Ireland would certainly come calling, as would Wales (or Tonga) for Tyson Frizell.
The list of names and nations is a little bewildering, but hard as it is to remember after two years without international footy, it represents a sea change both in playing talent and for rugby league in general.
Prior to 2017, eligibility rules meant that Australia – and the money and recognition that came with it – ruled the roost, while everyone else had to wait.
Now eligibility rules for the international game treat State of Origin like what it is, an internal Australian competition akin to City-Country or junior reps.
Australia, which has shown little to no interest in the international game for years and has largely treated other nations, especially those in the Pacific, as chumps, now will see as many as half of its prime selection trial turn out for someone else.
(NRLPhotos / Nathan Hopkins)
On the other hand, the real winners are the players: they get to have their cake and eat it. They can play Origin, then not have to play for Australia.
It’s undeniable that Origin is the highest example of rugby league, featuring the most good players on the field at the same time, and they can play in that while also having the chance to represent something that matters to them on a personal and family level.
Perhaps it is me, not being from these parts, but it seems like the only rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland is based on the fact that they play each other at sports.
The Australia that organised State of Origin was primarily by and for Anglo-Celtic Australians who enjoyed their intramural sports day followed by bashing up on the Poms afterwards.
In a lot of ways it’s a vestigial organ of those times – that’s why we love the old footage, including the punch-ups, that form a guilty pleasure of a bygone age. It reminds us of who we were and the heritage of the game.
That’s not a criticism, by the way; that’s what Origin was for and largely reflected Australia and Australian rugby league in 1982. It means an awful lot if you’re Rod Wishart from Gerringong or Michael Hancock from Stanthorpe. Heritage, in a sport like rugby league, is vital.
However, if you’re a dual-culture kid from Mount Druitt or Logan City, that heritage might not always feel like it’s yours. It might be some of it, but the international game might be the other part.
I’m pretty sure the Indigenous and Maori players feel the same way about the All Stars fixtures at the start of the season. Origin scratches one itch, but that week scratches another.
Origin is a showpiece for our game at the highest level that everyone can wallow in, retro punch-ups and all. But it shouldn’t be the pinnacle anymore.
The FIFA World Cup isn’t the pinnacle of football and the T20 World Cup isn’t the pinnacle of cricket; the Champions’ League and IPL have taken over. But nobody looks at the international tournaments and complains that the standard isn’t as high.
I think of it as Origin providing recognition from your peers, proof that you’ve made it at the highest level, but international footy providing the highest level of recognition from your community.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
I’m yet to meet a Pasifika player who wasn’t excited about turning out of their nation at the World Cup, and the most common thing they talk about isn’t the footy, it’s the culture.
It’s their mums and dads, giving back, the struggles they went through to give them the chance they are now taking.
It’s good that rugby league has this major event that everyone looks up to but also now has something else that offers the modern multicultural NRL and displays that at the highest level.
Australian rugby league needs to recognise that too and back its players in. Last year’s actions that saw the World Cup cancelled at the whims of the NRL clubs were circling the wagons around 1982’s mentality.
If this year’s Origin – now a World Cup trial for other nations – is anything to go by, they need to do it now or have the choice taken out of their hands.
Nat
Roar Guru
Hey factsy, do you know what Robert Burgin’s actual role is? Hint: it isn’t GM of Brazilian Rugby League. Again 1 minute on google. 0-5 boy. Keep coming factsy, try another angle. I can do this all day.
Nat
Roar Guru
Again, another absolute BS statement made by factsy. " With rapid improvement, in 2018 Brasil won both the men’s and women’s Latin American Championships in Sao Paulo, paving the way for the women to qualify for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England" https://www.intrl.sport/member-profiles/brazil/ Tell me factsy, where is Sao Paulo? Oops. Now, do you "get it"? 2 minutes on google, try it sometime. Maybe then you could back up one single statement because right now you are 0 - 4. I don't hate any sport. I've been to many Lions, Reds, Wallabies and 2 Roar games. I'm sure you are fully aware that I've interacted with a with of your folk over on the soccer tab when they so proudly declared they don't need casual fans. Then I found myself amongst 20 people at the game. The Dolphins League Club doesn't bother opening the restaurant for Roar games, the cafe can take care of that amount of people. You are the poor soul who has to hide behind 20 profiles, come over to the league thread and acquire the name factsy. Big bold statements and not one is right. One day boy, one day.
Eric
Guest
Na Nat Brazil has never played in Brazil.. do you get it yet? Getting flogged by all those Aussies that holidayed in Sth Africa once. Rober Burgin is one of the 5 "internationalists" in Australia who think "international" Rugby League is a thing. What sport that calls itself an International sport needs to have Internationalists and expansionists Nat? It's existed over 127 years yet still needs these people. It's why the sporting society has a field day with you lot.. Now Nat which sport do you hate most?
Nat
Roar Guru
So, what, Brazil can only play in Brazil? Your best retort is they "played in Noosa"? What huge stadia do the Brazillian union team fill factsy? It's right there on google factsy, come on? Is it because Robert Burgin is Australian, he cannot be GM of Brazil. Tell me factsy, where's Raelene Castle from? Andrew Abdo? Who is the coach of the English Rugby team? I would rattle off a few from Football Australia but no one has heard of them. See, I give you plenty of chances but you have nothing beyond telling me what you think I don't like. I do like that you follow every league game and yet in this very thread you have not dropped a fact or supported a statement. You spend so much time following the game around the world and still cannot land a shot. But again, don't run away. I want you to counter any point I've made in this thread, just one. You keep dodging and throwing up new ones but run away from any type of reply that would give you one ounce of credibility. Surely you want just a one bit?
Eric
Guest
Cmon Nat let me land a blow hahaha stop owning me National!! I saw the game that stopped Sth Africa and Brazil in its tracks in NOOSA Nat! Poor old Rugby League couldn't even get the anthems right at the sheep paddock in NOOSA they were playing on. Brazil play Rugby. Their national team actually play in Brazil like every other respected international sport. Which is the sport you hate most? AFL because it dwarves RL in Australia? Or Soccer and Rugby because they dwarf RL globally??
Nat
Roar Guru
At a touch over $260m, it’s a bit above 20% but you’ve never been that flash with numbers have you factsy. What does the suburban sport make every year? Exactly how much are all the union fans paying to sell out all these matches and still be broke? No, I didn’t. I was watching the Brazillian union team play. Oh wait, do they play union? Right up there with Romania! Tell, where do their major event happen? You “must be spewing” you cannot land a blow? You come up short with every fact but just blow past when proven wrong. You don’t even try anymore. What happened? You just love my interaction. Is this the most amount of respect you get - none at all. Keep coming factsy, you’ll have no option but to be here FT when The Roar just close down the soccer threads, especially since they cannot be bothered blogging the biggest event in your world.
Eric
Guest
Yea RU and football must be wishing it could be 20% the size of Mungoball Nat. Did you catch the Brazil vs South Africa?? "International" game played today in... Noosa hahahaha that's right! Noosa!! Right where Robert Burgin lives the manager of "Brazil". Rugby Union and football must be spewing they can't get International games the magnitude of that in Noosa Hahahaha God love you Nat as you can see I'm more than happy to pour money into your suburban sport Nat as you can see it needs every little bit it can get
Nat
Roar Guru
100 comments is the sum total of a whole week over in the football tab. You don’t comment there, who would yell into an empty chamber. You keep pouring money into league with each comment so I’m ok keeping you here. So the little suburban game earns more per year than SR AU, NZ and Eng RFU combined. You tell me how long it will last? You will never be half of what I am. You throw stones from 100 different profiles. No research and never back up one comment. My boy, you make an old league player appear a genius. That’s where you’re at. Now don’t disappear, prove me wrong. Make your old girl proud she didn’t just swallow you.
Eric
Guest
Yea geez I wish I could be half of what you are! Now Nat, how long do you think your 2 state Suburban sport has got left? It can't grow and the fans of it are growing older. I just hope it doesn't die because you elderly men that follow it now hate all other sport and I don't want to see you left with nothing.. On a positive we got Mike over 100 comments. Just wait till the "World" Cup Mike. You'll earn some dough then hahahaha
Nat
Roar Guru
I am and a lot more. One day you’ll grow up and become half of what I am.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
Blathering nonsense. Origin is delicious. I'd say I'm counting the sleeps but I'm just too excited to sleep.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
The point of playing for NSW or Qld is to represent your state of origin. (There's a little hint in the name of the series...) And if greed is the primary motivation of these players, would they not choose to play for Australia and get larger match payments? I guess in your view that's why so many of them have tears in their eyes when they line cup before the games - their thinking of the cash they've missed out on...
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
God I love Leaguies. If you aren’t attacking football it’s Union and AFL you lot are hating on. No one here attacks AF, RU or Soccer and you're the only one attacking and hating on RL and it's followers. Did you ever play League?
Eric
Guest
You are Rugby League Nat.. Nothing more to be said hahaha God love ya
Nat
Roar Guru
Guess again factsy. Tell me what the average NRL attendance is this year. Your best is our worst. Boy, you are the one jumping onto every league sites to shout your own BS. Not the other way.
Nat
Roar Guru
Bite me waynekerr.
PeterCtheThird
Guest
Can I suggest that you two get a hotel room and get up each other there? The rest of us actually don’t give a rat’s a*se. Thank you.
Eric
Guest
They're the excuses I wanted to know Nat! God I love Leaguies. If you aren't attacking football it's Union and AFL you lot are hating on. No wonder the sport attracts so many new fans haha.. Now the Barca training run was a Thursday night where NRL teams can't get 10,000 on a weekend at that stadium. The Barca team were majority teenagers against a mix A League team... But I want to hear more about come as your favourite plastic seat round in the NRL.. well that's most rounds Nat
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes Origin is the best of the best in the NRL and it is better because of all the Pacific Islanders that play in it. The NRL finals culminating in the grand final are the best because RL is a team game and those teams have a season of playing together and developing their attack and defense.
Jonathan Carroll
Guest
Origin out grew the international game because it meant more for Queenslanders to beat New South Wales than it did for Australia to beat New Zealand or England or vice versa. The idea that State of Origin was just a trial match for Australian selection is very NSW idea, we would regularly field teams full of players that were no chance of Australian selection even when Queensland won. I don't doubt that players value playing their ethnic identity even more than playing in origin, I think you are being unwittingly divisive to suggest that being a Queenslander does not continue to make a big part of the identity of the Islander and (especially) indigenous players.