Kiwis skipper Jesse Bromwich says Semi Radradra should be able to play Origin

KIWIS skipper Jesse Bromwich has supported Fijian star Semi Radradra’s switch to the Kanagaroos and also backed his selection for NSW.

Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich says Semi Radradra should be able to play Origin. Picture Gregg Porteous

KIWIS skipper Jesse Bromwich has supported Fijian star Semi Radradra’s switch to the Kanagaroos on Friday night and also backed his selection for NSW.

State of Origin has for two decades been regarded as a selection trial between Queensland and NSW stars in the battle for green and gold jumpers.

Since revised eligibility rules introduced by the ARL Commission in 2012, it is now possible for an NRL player to represent Australia while being ineligible for Origin.

Bromwich has long given up on the prospect of Kiwis playing Origin but is adamant Radradra should not be rubbed out of league’s showcase.

“He’s an Australian player now, so good luck to him,” Bromwich said.

“How can Radradra play for Australia but not be eligible for State of Origin?

“I’m not Australian so maybe I don’t get those rules, but it just baffles me that one.’’

Radradra would not be the first player of Fijian extraction to grace State of Origin.

Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich and coach Stephen Kearney during the Captains and Coaches press conference at Hunter Stadium , Newcastle . Picture : Gregg Porteous

Former Broncos duo Lote Tuqiri and Petero Civoniceva played a combined 39 games for Queensland, while Newcastle’s Akuila Uate appeared five times for the Blues in 2011-12.

Under the code’s former Origin rules, players qualified for NSW or Queensland depending on where they played their first senior game after the age of 16.

That would have cleared Radradra for NSW, with the Eels hulk having played his first league game in Australia for western Sydney club Wentworthville in 2013.

But Radradra meets none of the five key categories under the new Origin laws, although he qualifies for Australia on residency grounds.

Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith admits in an ideal world, Radradra should be representing Fiji, but he understands why he defected to the Kangaroos.

“For a guy like myself who has been in the game a long time, I see the holistic approach to football, so I would have loved to see Semi play for Fiji,” Smith said.

“I would love to grow the game internationally and make it stronger and I think Semi would have done that for Fiji, but he has followed the rules and the rules say he is eligible for Australia.

Semi Radradra and Michael Morgan during the Australian Kangaroos training session at Hunter Stadium , Newcastle . Picture : Gregg Porteous

“If he’s available to play for Australia, he’s the best winger in the competition alongside Corey Oates, so why wouldn’t you pick him?”

Kangaroos and NSW enforcer James Tamou, one of the few New Zealand-born players who qualifies for State of Origin, admits Radradra would be a fearsome sight in a sky blue jumper.

“Origin is sort of made for a guy like Semi, with his power running,” Tamou said.

Originally published as Kiwis skipper Jesse Bromwich says Semi Radradra should be able to play Origin