Eligibility dilemma isn’t fazing Qld ahead of Representative Round

Origin players with Pacific Islander heritage face a dilemma in Representative Round: represent your roots or add to your Origin caps.

Lindsay Collins is hopeful no Queensland stars will opt to sit out of this year’s second Origin game. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Maroons forward Lindsay Collins is confident Queensland’s players with Pasifika heritage will opt to play State of Origin in Representative Round rather than in the Pacific Tests scheduled for the same weekend.

At the same time, Collins said he understood why his Sydney Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou had given serious thought as to whether he would represent Tonga or NSW in a fortnight’s time, as revealed by News Corp.

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NRL players are able to play State of Origin and represent a foreign country for which they are eligible, provided that country is classed as a tier 2 or 3 nation by the International Rugby League.

Under the laws, every overseas nation other than New Zealand and England fits into either tier 2 or 3.

The rule gives Australian citizens with Pasifika heritage the chance to play at the highest level for the Kangaroos or in State of Origin without needing to renounce their roots.

Josh Papalii and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are both eligible to play for Samoa. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

However, these players will face a dilemma in the upcoming Representative Round given Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Cook Islands will all feature in Test matches in the days before Origin II.

Players who elect to appear in the Pacific Test matches won’t be able to play in the State of Origin on June 26 and vice versa.

Of the 34 players who featured in State of Origin I, 15 are eligible to represent at least one of the tier 2 or 3 nations playing in Representative Round.

The majority of those 15 played for NSW last week, but Collins said he was confident the Queenslanders fit and available for selection in either the Tests or Origin – Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Papalii, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai and Felise Kaufusi – would choose to play for Queensland.

“To have as close to the team that we had for the first one would be great,” Collins said.

“There’s a lot of connection there, good relationships built.

“We mingled really well as a team, so I’m looking forward to hopefully being back there in the second Origin.”

Daniel Tupou (left) and Kotoni Staggs (right) are two of seven Blues from game one who have previously represented Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji or the Cook Islands. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Collins’ comments came on the morning his Roosters teammate Daniel Tupou pulled out of a press opportunity after News Corp revealed he was considering playing for Tonga rather than NSW in Representative Round.

Tupou called NSW coach Brad Fittler on Sunday night to confirm he would be available for the Blues for the remainder of the series but wants to play for Tonga at the World Cup later this year.

Collins said he understood why Tupou would give serious consideration to the Representative Round decision.

“It’s the international game that we need growth in to further develop rugby league,” he said.

“So when you have stars like Tupou playing for Tonga … the more stars we get playing for those second and third-tier nations, for Samoa, Tonga or those other Pacific nations, it grows our game.”

Collins said he hoped to see players electing to represent tier 2 or 3 nations at the World Cup.

Tonga looms as a World Cup powerhouse if players opt to follow their roots; Kotoni Staggs, Jason Taumalolo and Siosifa Talakai are among the elite NRL players of Tongan heritage.

“It’ll be great to see more players choosing that heritage side come the end of the year,” Collins said.

Originally published as Eligibility dilemma isn’t fazing Qld ahead of Representative Round