By Dan Walsh and Michael Chammas
The likes of Kalyn Ponga and Isaiya Katoa could be free to play State of Origin and represent New Zealand as the ARL Commission considers a landmark change in the game’s eligibility rules.
As Raiders rising star Kaeo Weekes commits his future to Australia – and the NSW Blues – after rejecting an approach by the NZRL to play for the Kiwis, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys confirmed he was prepared to revisit Origin qualification rules to ensure New Zealand’s playing stocks were not undermined.
Under the current rules, players such as Payne Haas, Jarome Luai and Brian To’o – all of whom are set to line up for Samoa in the end-of-season Pacific Championships – can play State of Origin and represent tier two countries.
Representatives with eligibility for tier-one nations New Zealand and England – such as Queenslanders Kalyn Ponga and AJ Brimson, English back-rower Victor Radley and Weekes – are effectively forced to choose between Origin and playing against Australia.
V’landys conceded on Thursday that the rules as they stand can disadvantage the playing ranks of New Zealand – the Kangaroos’ strongest rival of the past three decades – and that a review of Origin rules will be considered once again after this year’s Ashes Tour and Pacific Championships.
“It is something we’re going to have to look at again and to me there does seem to be a stronger push this time for change,” V’landys said.
Kalyn Ponga, Kaeo Weekes and Addin Fonua-Blake would benefit from the potential change to eligibility rules.Credit: Getty/Monique Westermann
“It is a strong argument that if you’ve played your footy in Australia before the age of 13 and you are eligible to play Origin, why shouldn’t you be able to?
“If we were to change the rules, it would only be for New Zealand and English players.
“They’re the tier-one countries impacted. [Players from] tier-two nations like Samoa and Tonga can still play State of Origin and represent those nations.
“It’s a polarising idea. When we’ve consulted on any possible Origin eligibility changes some people have loved it, others hated it.
“We want a strong international game and calendar, and we want Australia to be challenged. And we want to respect the players and the nations they want to play for, and the argument for change is one we’ll consider.
“It wouldn’t be open slather – it would be mostly New Zealand players, and any change would be considered to ensure they’re not left behind.”
Even if the NRL were to relax eligibility rules, players would still have to have lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthdays to be able to play Origin. The likes of Kiwi stars Joe Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Moses Leota would remain ineligible for the interstate series, along with almost all English NRL imports.
But as NZRL chief Greg Peters welcomed V’landys’ comments and a potential boost for New Zealand’s ability to compete with Australia, Samoa and Tonga for talent, he claimed as many as 11 players from this year’s NSW and Queensland squads are eligible for the Kiwis.
Canberra’s Kaeo Weekes is eligible for Australia and New Zealand.Credit: Getty Images
Ponga has made a high-profile move to switch his allegiance to New Zealand given his only Australian caps came during the short-lived Nines World Cup concept. The likes of Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu, Moeaki Fotuaika and Josh Papalii have also been forced to choose between playing for the Kiwis or their state in the past.
Like Weekes, playmaking prodigy Katoa was courted by the NZRL and former Kiwi coach Michael Maguire before opting to represent Tonga, which keeps him eligible for NSW under the current rules.
Weekes, 23, was born in Sydney but is eligible to represent New Zealand due to his family heritage. Given his strong form in Canberra’s rise to the top of the NRL ladder, his decision to pledge allegiance to the Kangaroos could see him emerge as an Ashes tour bolter.
Alternatively, under the potential rule change, a player like Addin Fonua-Blake (one Test for New Zealand in 2017) would be able to represent the Blues, the Cronulla prop having grown up in Sydney and played for Mascot Jets as a junior.
“A guy like Kalyn Ponga is a good example,” Peters said. “He’s a proud Maori, proud New Zealander and a proud Queenslander. But at the moment he doesn’t have the ability to play for New Zealand should he chose to. He’s a really good example.
“The other one is Jarome Luai. Who knows, Jarome Luai might probably want to play for Samoa, and good on him for doing so. But he played Junior Kiwis and the point is that his pathway to the Kiwis was shut down the moment he was selected to play Origin.
“Samoa is going to have a team stacked full of Origin players, which is great for the game, but it’s not available to us. We strongly support a review of these rules.”
Along with the lure of playing Origin as the pinnacle of the game, $30,000 match payments for the interstate series are 10 times larger than what players earn per Test match.
The most recent collective bargaining agreement reduced Kangaroos match payments to $3000 per game to ensure parity across all Pacific nations, with New Zealand previously unable to compete with Australia on a financial front.
“There’s a big monetary gain as well, so you can understand that choice of people wanting to play Origin, but New Zealand should be open to them,” Peters said.
“There are 11 players across both Origin squads who are eligible for New Zealand. There’s no guarantee they would even choose to play for New Zealand, but they don’t currently have the choice and it should be looked at. We want a strong international game.”
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