Reds stars Harry Wilson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto could be forced to play against mates in State of Union proposal
Rugby’s version of State of Origin will be played next year and several of the game’s biggest stars will be forced to make shock allegiance switches. SEE THE POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
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He was involved in several fiery exchanges with them last weekend, but Reds star Harry Wilson could find himself in the same backrow as Lachlan Swinton and Michael Hooper next year in rugby’s State of Union origin game.
Wilson’s Reds teammate Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is another who would have to switch state allegiance for the match.
Plans are being hatched to stage the game either midway through next year’s Super Rugby tournament, or as a stand-alone event after the grand final.
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The eligibility criteria has been worked through and Rugby Australia already has a list of players who qualify for either NSW or Queensland based on their state of birth or club affiliation.
News Corp Australia has obtained the list and compiled the two teams if they were picked today.
Wilson, one of the form Australian Super Rugby players of 2020, is a Gunnedah product.
So while he has played all of his professional football in Queensland, Wilson would be one of NSW’s premier picks.
Salakaia-Loto, who grew up in Campbelltown, is another who would find himself battling against Reds teammates, having joined Queensland in 2016 after a season at Randwick in the Shute Shield.
Conversely, Waratahs stars Rob Simmons, Karmichael Hunt and Will Harris would qualify for Queensland, although Simmons is heading to London Irish at the end of this season so most likely would not be available.
The Brumbies front row trio of Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a and Allan Alaalatoa are all NSW products, and would scrum against Canberra teammate James Slipper, originally from the Gold Coast.
Brumbies halfback Nic White, born in Scone, would play for NSW at representative level for the first time.
That would be the same for Melbourne and Wallabies star Reece Hodge, a Manly boy, who has played all of his Super Rugby for the Rebels.
Fijian-born Wallabies Tevita Kuridrani and Isi Naisarani qualify for Queensland because of their club affiliation.
While neither has played for the Reds, Kuridrani grew up in Brisbane and played for University of Queensland, while Naisarani, who has played for Western Force, Brumbies and now Rebels, played for Souths in Brisbane’s club rugby competition.
The Queensland team could field a Wallabies-stacked backline, with Rebels playmaker Matt To’omua and Brumbies flyer Tom Banks qualifying for the northern state.
RA has pitched the State of Origin style game in their broadcast package offering, and will work with the eventual rights holders on the finer details of the match including potential rule changes.
The idea to stage rugby’s version of Origin, Australian rugby league’s most infamous rivalry, was first suggested at a meeting in the Ballymore boardroom in early 2017, which coincidentally was attended by RA’s interim chief executive Rob Clarke, who at that time was chief operating officer at the organisation.
RA’s commercial director Anthony French was another at the meeting with then Queensland rugby boss Richard Barker, however the concept never got off the ground due to schedule and training conflicts under the established broadcast deal.
Now, RA has revived the idea given they are starting with a clean slate, seeking to woo broadcasters with inventive new content under Clarke and new chairman Hamish McLennan.
RA had previously mulled the prospect of a Probables versus Possibles Wallabies match for additional content this year and beyond, however the State of Union game will be the key grudge match in Australian rugby’s calendar.