Wayne Bennett has endorsed the landmark changes to State of Origin’s selection criteria but has warned Australian rugby league chiefs not to alter core eligibility rules regarding how players can qualify to play for New South Wales or Queensland if they are not born in either state.
Previously, State of Origin coaches had only been able to select players who met fundamental eligibility rules and had elected to play for Australia or a tier two nation. As part of those rules, players must have either been born in their respective state, have lived there before the age of 13 or have had a parent play State of Origin footy.
That meant that players who may have been born in New South Wales or Queensland but had chosen to play for either England or New Zealand were unable to play in the annual three-match series.
Under the new guidance, players are able to play for NSW or Queensland regardless of their nationality, but still need to have satisfied the core qualifying criteria.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs coach backed the changes, but urged lawmakers to be careful not to diminish State of Origin’s authenticity.
‘They’ve got to preserve the Origin, they’ve got to preserve what state versus state means,’ Bennett said to The Courier Mail.
Wayne Bennett has endorsed the landmark changes to State of Origin’s selection criteria but has warned Australian rugby league chiefs not to alter core eligibility rules
Rugby league bosses announced earlier this week that players can now qualify to play for New South Wales or Queensland regardless of their international allegiances (Pictured L-R: Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo)
However, under the changes, players must still have been born in NSW or Queensland, have lived in their respective state before their 13th birthday, or have had a parent play for either side
‘If they don’t preserve that, then they will lose the fans with Origin. Fans need to know it’s a genuine rivalry between two states.
‘You can’t come here at 20 years of age and play Origin. That will destroy it. They can’t touch that rule. It doesn’t become authentic.’
The rule changes are an exciting development for rugby league and have removed a big obstacle for multiple players who had previously been ineligible to play in the three-match series or were considering defecting to play international footy for a tier one nation.
Players like Addin Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney but elected to play for both Tonga and New Zealand at the international level, can also now represent New South Wales.
Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga has previously spoken of his desire to play for New Zealand, sparking concerns among Maroons fans that he would therefore no longer be able to play in State of Origin. However, the new rules will benefit the Mount Isa-born fullback, who can now play for the Kiwis without giving up his Queensland jersey.
‘Moving from that point to the internationals. I’m a fan of what they’re doing with that stuff because they’re only going to make the international games stronger,’ the former Queensland coach added.
‘We’ve seen what’s happened in the last five years with regards to Tonga and Samoa and PNG. I’m amazed at times that people want to make a fuss over nothing.
‘People don’t understand, that’s all. They’ve had the tier two players that can have the option if they don’t play for Australia, they can go back and play for Tonga and Samoa.
The changes mean Kalyn Ponga (pictured) can now play for New Zealand and keep his Queensland jersey
Tonga star Addin Fonua-Blake (pictured) is now also eligible for selection for New South Wales
‘If you’re a New Zealander or an Englishman, you can’t do that.’
Roosters star Victor Radley is another player who was unable to qualify to play for New South Wales, because of his allegiances to England.
Radley elected to play for England, his father’s home, ahead of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.
‘I’ve always felt for Victor Radley – he’s a wonderful player and he’s been here all his life,’ the veteran coach added.
‘Why can’t he play for New South Wales? That only enhances the game as well if you can get the best players playing.
‘And then if he wants to go and play for England as he does, well that’s great, I’m happy for him.’
However, the rule changes raised concerns among former Australia coach Mal Meninga.
He told the outlet: ‘I worry about the future of Origin. I worry about Origin in terms of where the Queensland kids and Indigenous kids go.
Mal Meninga (pictured) admitted that he didn’t nlike the rule changes, stating he feared for the future of State of Origin
‘Are they going to get beaten up by the Islanders?
‘That’s my only issue with it.’
As a player, Meninga played 32 times for the Maroons between 1979 and 1994. He’d later go on to coach the side in 30 matches between 2006 and 2015.
‘I hope this doesn’t stand in the way of guys of genuine Queensland heritage playing State of Origin,’ he added.
