South Sydney rookie Luke Keary gives NSW Origin fans something else to blue about

RABBITOHS rookie Luke Keary has been delivered into the Maroons' stable by the man NSW fans say should be wearing blue, Greg Inglis.

Souths v Knights

SOUTH Sydney sensation Luke Keary has been delivered into Queensland's State of Origin stable by Greg Inglis, the Maroons superstar the Cockroaches say should be wearing blue.

Born and raised in Ipswich, Keary moved to Parramatta aged 10, and has technically played the majority of his rugby league in NSW.

In 2010, he played for NSW Combined Independent Schools and state officials on both sides of the border remain unsure if that sets his eligibility in stone.

It is understood NSW Rugby League officials have tried to lure Keary to choose the Blues and in the complicated Origin eligibility checklist, he ticks more blue boxes than maroon.

But the athletic halfback is a Queenslander and grew up idolising the Maroons.

The Rabbitohs' Queensland stars Inglis and Michael Crocker alerted Queensland officials of Keary's potential, urging them to move quickly to ensure that the youngster was declared eligible for his preferred state.

Souths v Knights

Keary has played just four NRL games, but is already rated so highly it is no wonder he is the centre of an Origin tug-of-war.

Keary starred for South Sydney in their 32-4 demolition of the Gold Coast Titans last Sunday, scoring two late tries including a runaway 50m solo special.

Asked if he was a Queenslander, Keary fired back immediately, leaving the Blues with no doubt about where his loyalties lie: "Definitely," he said.

The former university student played down his breakout performance, which occurred in the same city he was based in for a season at Burleigh in 2011.

"This is just my fourth game. Madge (coach Michael Maguire) has given me another shot and I'm just trying to make every opportunity count," he said.

It is understood Queensland Rugby League officials wanted to select Keary in a junior representative team last year to remove any doubt about his eligibility, but he was only named 18th man leaving him open to poaching.

Under Origin's new laws, you must be in the state you choose to represent before your 13th birthday.

Keary also represented Australia in rugby union at schoolboy level.

Keary's form is so strong Rabbitohs coach Maguire said he had made staff rethink their game plans heading into the finals series.

Maguire even suggested Keary could force five-eighth John Sutton into the backrow.

"He's best suited to the halves and that allows us to put John Sutton in the middle and look at how we could play the game in a different way," Maguire said.

"I'm sure if he had an opportunity to start he would definitely perform for us and he showed that tonight," he said.