"[iUnder State of Origin eligibility rules, it is where the player began his first senior football when aged 16, which determines their origin status.[/i

The whole concept is marketed as QLD V NSW, it would be worthless if it was QLD with a few Samoans V NSW with a few Kiwis.

Just because it has been a fantastic concept that sells well and every player would love to experience why should it be changed to allow other nations?

Let the Kiwis have their own game North Island V South.


Every bugger wants to jump on the band wagon.

But the fact is that it already is QLD with a few Samoans Vs NSW with a few Kiwis.

Well not exactly, but you get my drift.

My whole point is that juniors should choose to play for the country they feel they are from. Origin should not come into the equation.

But it clearly does, and it is clearly hampering the development of other national teams.

There are 3 overseas born players in tonight's game all coming to Australia as young kids.
They had a choice of where their loyalty lies and could have done what many others have done like Benji Marshall.
Maybe they should state that they don't consider themselves Australian when they are selected for the Australian Schoolboys team.

On the subject of hampering overseas development maybe the dozens of Australians that played under other nations flags in the World Cup should not be allowed to do that in 2013

Still no one has answered the question of why you should have to be eligible for Australia to play SOO?

Because the people that make the rules are switched on.

Look whats happened to Superleague.


Aussies and Kiwis galore ....and the Pommie national side suffers as a result.

Imagine if the Poms had a similar series here and the sides were full of Aussies and Kiwis?? They would whinge more than ever!


Its a great idea to keep it an all Aussie eligible thing. State of Origin. One of the toughest series in world sport. The Aussie national side are ranked number one because they play in the best series in the world. Anyone who plays in Origin who is not eligible for the national side is doing a potential Kangaroo out of valuable experience.

so you agree then that it is to discourage Australians who are eligible to play for another country from choosing that country over Australia, there by missing out on chance to play SOO. Glad we cleared it up!

Now what's the excuses when NZ have another "shock" win in the quad nations?

You say that like it's supposed to be a bad thing.

I'm with you, why is a bad thing for Aussies to choose to play for their country rather than somewhere they left or their ancestors left.

Let me answer this one.



Ah DEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!

what do you want???

being 'eligible' for another country does not mean you must play for the smaller country to make them competitive. playing for a country means a commitment to that country, and it shold be for life. it is disgraceful that players such as hayne, jennings etc were allowed and encouraged to play for other countries because they didnt make australia to even up the tournament and 'create' competitive teams, and face no punishment when they are now needed for nsw and possibly australia at years end. if you play for a country, a national team, you should have to commit to them for life, which a lot of players had no intention of doing. we had australians in 9 out of 10 world cup teams because they werent good enough for the kangaroos.

in saying that, why would a player do that in the current climate when countries rarely play test matches and big tournaments. there needs to be a mid season rep break, where aus play origin, nz play rep footy and countries such as png, tonga, fiji and samoa play meaningful test matches in order to give all players a choice of who they wish to represent. if you choose nsw/qld and australia, so be it, if you choose the country of your families heritage then thats great for international rugby league, as long as you make your decision and arent allowed to change it.

Right, it seems you Aussies need things explaining a few times.

Origin is not a competition between people from NSW and Queensland. You've already admitted that. McManus is from Scotland/Darwin.


It is a competition where selection is based on where you first played senior rugby league. Am I right?

In which case, can somebody please explain why the hell you have to give up the chance of representing your homeland in order to play?