Jason Taumalolo speaks on controversial Origin eligibility debate

Hulking NRL superstar Jason Taumalolo said it would be “pretty special” to achieve the one goal he hasn’t been able to reach so far in his career.

Jason Taumalolo at the Kayo Grassroots announcement.

North Queensland Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo has achieved almost everything there is to achieve in his glittering NRL career.

The hulking forward is one of the best players in the game, having played almost 200 games for the Cowboys since 2010, won a competition in 2015, won the Dally M Medal in 2016, played for New Zealand and helped Tonga become one of the rising powers of the international game.

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But having played all his junior football in Queensland and having spent half his life in the Sunshine State, the 27-year-old Taumalolo has one more goal he’d still like to achieve — a Maroons State of Origin jersey.

Normally considered unthinkable, the NRL is currently considering a State of Origin qualification rule that would allow players from Pacific Island nations to play in rugby league’s showpiece event.

The rule would allow stars such as Taumalolo to play in the State of Origin provided they lived in NSW or Queensland before the age of 13.

The debate caused plenty of backlash when it was proposed, seemingly sparked when NSW coach Brad Fittler called for Polynesian players to be allowed to play last year when COVID-19 postponed mid-year internationals.

Jason Taumalolo has led Tonga to become an international rugby league powerhouse.

Former Queensland coach Wayne Bennett called it a “waste of time”, Immortal Mal Meninga said “it shouldn’t even be a debate and Queensland legend Gorden Tallis said “I would rather lose as a Queenslander with the best Queensland kids than win having non-Queenslanders in it — it’s as simple as that”.

That was just a few of the objections.

But speaking to news.com.au at the launch of Kayo’s Local Sport promotion, Taumalolo said he would jump at the chance to represent the state he has called home for most of his life.

“Coming to Townsville as a 13-year-old kid I didn’t think I’d be eligible for Origin but obviously with the new rules and everything else, it kind of puts me in contention,” he said.

“It would be pretty big if I was able to play Origin. I grew up playing in the Queensland Schoolboys team and I went through all the grades but Queensland Origin is the only game I haven’t played. So if I do that, I think it would be pretty special.”

While plenty of the objections with Taumalolo have to do with him having represented New Zealand, he changed his allegiance from his country of birth in 2017.

Tonga have had incredible success in recent seasons, even defeating Australia in a Test match in 2019.

Regardless of the decision around Origin eligibility, Taumalolo said he would keep playing for Tonga.

Taumalolo said it’s not just about him.

But he added that there are plenty of NRL players who have a Pacific Island heritage who would jump at the chance to represent their state and their heritage.

“A lot of the good Origin players now have a tie to their Pacific Island nation at the moment so if that means they can play Origin and then go back to represent their heritage and make International footy a lot stronger then I’m all for it,” Taumalolo said.

“I have ties to both, even though I wasn’t born here, I have ties to both Queensland and Tonga and have pretty much lived most of my life up in Townsville. I’d like to consider myself a Queenslander but I guess everyone has their own opinion and if the rules make me eligible to play, I’ll play, and if not, I won’t lose sleep over it.”

Currently dealing with a broken hand suffered at training after the Cowboys’ round one lost to Penrith, Taumalolo is hoping to be back for Sunday’s game against the winless Bulldogs.

The Cowboys claimed their first win of the season over the Tigers in round five, a win Taumalolo said was “pretty brave” with all the emotion of the death of league legend Tommy Raudonikis.

However he said the side still let in some soft tries, something coach Todd Payten has been frustrated with throughout the season so far.

Taumalolo is hoping to return for the Cowboys this week.

Taumalolo said he’d known Payten for some time now and was working towards understanding his new role under his new mentor.

Known for running more than 200m a game regularly, and sometimes 300m, Payten made headlines after round one when he called Taumalolo out for defensive errors and being more accountable.

He also laid out an unfamiliar game plan for the hulking forward he hopes will ensure he is at his most effective for years to come.

“When he was at the Warriors, we’d keep in contact so I’ve known him for a long time so our relationship is sweet,” Taumalolo said. “Obviously the results the last four weeks haven’t helped, not winning any games, but me and Toddy are sweet.

“(Playing shorter, more impactful minutes) is still a bit new to me, it’s something I haven’t done before. I just need to get back to doing the little things right again and hopefully if I can do that then hopefully you’ll see more quality in my minutes being out there just playing footy.”