Phil Gould Advocates for ‘Open Slather’ Origin Eligibility: A Call for Change in Selection Rules

Renowned as one of the most iconic figures in the history of State of Origin, Phil Gould has voiced his opinion that it’s high time the rules evolve to match those of the international game.

The conversation around eligibility has reignited following Payne Haas’s revelation that he is contemplating a switch to play for Samoa.

This comes mere weeks after speculation emerged about Kalyn Ponga potentially committing to New Zealand, despite his current involvement with the Maroons.

Currently, the rules dictate that players are ineligible to both participate in Origin and represent any tier-one nation outside Australia in international competition.

This rule predominantly affects players from New Zealand and England, effectively sidelining several high-profile athletes who could contribute to NSW or Queensland.

Players who represent tier-two nations, aside from the Kangaroos, and who were either born in or moved to NSW or Queensland prior to turning 13, are permitted to play for Origin.

In recent years, nations like Samoa and Tonga have shown remarkable progress on the field, even defeating tier-one teams, yet they still remain classified as tier-two nations.

Feeling perplexed? You’re not alone.

According to Gould, it may be time for rugby league officials to review these regulations and permit all eligible players to wear the blue or maroon jersey, irrespective of the national team for which they play Test football.

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“Why shouldn’t they be able to do that? Why shouldn’t the game be promoting that? I’ve said it before: we need to present our game as a truly international sport,” remarked the former NSW coach during an episode of Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus.

“When the national anthem plays, you know which country you should represent; it’s the one that resonates with you, and that’s where you should play your rugby.”

“The qualifications we apply domestically must evolve alongside this. Rugby league globally cannot be held hostage by Origin eligibility. If you meet the criteria for Origin football, you should be able to represent either NSW or Queensland, irrespective of your heritage.”

“Internationally, players should have the flexibility to choose their national team as long as they don’t switch back and forth between countries.”

“Players like Payne Haas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui should be able to play for Samoa, as they aren’t tied to tier-one nations. We need to adopt a more open policy.

“Internationally, players should choose where they want to play based on their qualifications. If you’re qualified for Origin football, you should be able to compete there too.”

Brad Fittler, a legend of the Blues who has coached for six series, concurred with his former mentor.

“This conversation must be addressed,” he stated on Nine’s Freddy and The Eighth.

“We need to clarify eligibility and the tier system. The conversation surrounding Origin remains constant.”

A shift of this magnitude would undoubtedly require careful consideration, but it has the potential to reinvigorate both Origin and international formats.

It could prove a mutually beneficial arrangement, with Ponga able to represent both the Maroons and Kiwis, honouring different aspects of his heritage, as Gould suggests.

This change could also alleviate ongoing frustrations encountered annually when players like Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, and Stephen Crichton represent both Samoa and NSW due to current regulations.

The prospect of introducing new talent to the Origin arena could be endless.

Take Addin Fonua-Blake, for instance, who was born and raised in Sydney and played his junior football with the Mascot Jets, yet is currently barred from representing the Blues.

Why the restrictions? Because he played a single match for New Zealand in 2017 before deciding to represent Tonga instead.

If he had chosen to play for Tonga from the beginning, he would have undoubtedly been a regular fixture for NSW, given his prowess in the sport.

Similarly, Jason Taumalolo’s situation highlights the issue, as he is eligible to represent Queensland but began his international career with the Kiwis. After shifting to playing for Tonga, he has never had the chance to compete at the Origin level.

Victor Radley also stands to gain from a rule adjustment.

Having narrowly missed out on multiple selections for Origin yet remaining on the brink of a debut, the Roosters standout chose to pledge allegiance to England in 2023, effectively ending his chances of representing NSW.

Since Radley was born and raised in Sydney and played his junior football for the Clovelly Crocodiles, he would undoubtedly give his all for the opportunity to don the blue jersey. However, a technicality in the ruling prevents him from doing so.

Panthers forward Scott Sorensen, who has represented New Zealand but grew up in the Shire, would likely have been on NSW’s radar during Penrith’s four consecutive titles had it not been for his Kiwi association.

“The tiering needs to be scrapped for anyone who is in Australia before the age of 13,” Andrew Johns echoed.

“For Kalyn Ponga, for instance, there’s speculation that he wishes to play for the Kiwis. He’s a local, so he has the option to play for New Zealand as well as Queensland. Similarly, Victor Radley wished to play for England due to his father’s heritage, but he’s from Bronte and eligible to represent us.”

Then there’s the flip side, where players who could have represented New Zealand instead opted for Australia to guarantee participation in Origin.

Josh Papali’i, originally from Auckland, has impressively played 23 games for the Maroons and 11 Tests in the green and gold, culminating in a notable representative career.

Others, such as Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai, and Moeaki Fotuaika, have followed the same path, forgoing the chance to play for New Zealand in favour of recent Queensland debuts.

While State of Origin is the pinnacle of domestic rugby, should it truly wield such an influence over which nations these elite athletes can represent on the global stage?

If one of the most esteemed coaches in Origin history supports a change, one must question why those governing the sport should not consider it also.