3 replies to this topic

[R L Winger]

Why 'State of Birth' doesn't work

side from the usual controversies, the major talking point to emerge from this year's State of Origin series is the question of player eligibility – and more specifically the matter of New Zealand stars being "poached" by New South Wales or Queensland.

The decision of New Zealand-born James Tamou to represent NSW and Australia dominated the lead-up to this year's Australia v New Zealand Test, and now there's plenty of debate going around about the possibility of Sam Kasiano being picked for Queensland despite signing a letter of intent to play for the Kiwis just two months ago.

With the rules as they stand, it's hard to really blame the states or the players for this situation. The Maroons and the Blues want to select the best players possible, and the game's best players want to play in rugby league's biggest event. The fact it pays very well (with talk match payments could rise to $50,000 per Origin game under the next broadcasting rights deal) means that playing Origin is also simply a smart financial decision for players whose careers won't last forever.

ARLC chairman John Grant has admitted that the eligibility situation is "an issue" for the game, saying, "we have to be more clear about who can play for who and whether it be Origin or their country".

But unfortunately there's no easy answer.

The simple answer is to restrict Origin to players who were born in a particular state. But that black-and-white rule could actually bring more harm than good.

Here's why

State of Origin stands out as a sporting contest for two reasons: the quality of the players on the park, and the passion those players have for their state.

The latter notion is the sole reason that Origin is the brutal, no-holds barred contest that it is, and not just a rugby league equivalent of a novelty American-style All Star game. It's also – strangely enough – a reason why a "State of Birth" rule could hurt the contest.

A case in point: few Origin series wins are more memorable for the "passion" factor than Queensland's in 1995, when the Paul Vautin-coached underdogs beat the Blues 3-0 despite being without their galaxy of Super League-affiliated Brisbane Broncos stars.

Probably the most memorable moment of that series was Maroons lock Billy Moore yelling "Queenslander" as the Maroons walked out of tunnel before kick-off. It instantly became part of Origin legend, with Moore the personification of Queensland's much-vaunted "passion".

Moore was born in New South Wales. He grew up in Wallangarra, just on the north side of the border, but was born just south of the border in Tenterfield. A "State of Birth" rule would meant he would have to play against the state he loved.

Queensland's halfback for that 1995 series? Adrian Lam, who grew up in Brisbane from the age of seven but was born in Papua New Guinea.

A "State of Birth" rule would have made Sam Thaiday a Blue, and Peter Sterling a Maroon. Fiji-born stars Petero Civoniceva, Lote Tuqiri and Akuila Uate – and even Canberra-born Queensland centre Willie Tonga – would never have been allowed to compete in the series. Civoniceva, whose family moved to Queensland before his first birthday, has been a fixture for the Maroons for more than a decade and is set to play his 33rd match in this year's decider.

Yes, having "hired guns" from overseas lining up for a State of Origin team isn't a great look, but it's not like the current rules allow just any player to be picked by the Blues or Maroons. The Rabbitohs' English superstar Sam Burgess may live in Sydney but can't play for New South Wales Origin, because he played no junior football in the state.

Critics of Origin elgibility rules have pointed to the infamous Greg Inglis situation, and for good reason. The NSW-born and raised Inglis was snapped up by the Melbourne Storm as a 15-year-old and played for Storm feeder club Brisbane North Devils, making him eligible for the Maroons under the old Origin eligibility rules. He then proceeded to break the hearts of Blues fans with a string of match-winning performances in Queensland's six-year domination of the series.

But under the current rules, Inglis would have been a Blue – even without the need for a rule basing eligibility purely on birth.

So do the rules need another change, to stop New Zealand and other nations losing their best players to Origin?

Put simply, there's no obvious solution. Some have argued for teams to be picked based on residency – a rule that could move Origin towards NBA All Star game territory, where the "passion" would arguably be lacking. We've suggested that foreign-born players should be able to represent a state as well as their birth country – an idea that is also obviously open to plenty of scrutiny.

One thing's for sure – a strict eligibility rule based on birth would have given State of Origin a very different history. Here's a full 17-man team of players who would have had a different allegiance if eligibility was based on birth alone.


The current rules for eligibility to play Origin

For selection in the U/20s and U/18s SOO for 2012 and beyond, the following criteria will identify a player’s eligibility for such and subsequently, for senior SOO representation:

1. If a player has already represented Rugby League at SOO U/18s or Senior level, City or Country at Senior Level or, Senior National level, then that stands, if not, then the following points 2-7 require answers and a majority will determine eligibility. In a case where there is not a clear majority, the player may ask to have his eligibility determined by a criteria sub-committee with representatives from QRL, NSWRL, CRL and the NRL, chaired by the NRL.

2. In which State of Australia was the player born?

3. In which State of Australia did the player play Rugby League for the majority of years from U/6-U/18 inclusive?

4. In which State of Australia did the player spend the majority of years at School i.e. Yrs K - 12?

5. In which State of Australia did the player first play Rugby League in a State run Jun rep competition at U/15s or above.

6. For which State of Australia did the player first play School State Representative Rugby League?

7. If none of 2-6 above answer as NSW or QLD, in which State of Australia was the player first registered to play Rugby League within a State-Based competition?

In relation to the upcoming 2012 U/20s SOO:

1. Players are required to be eligible for either NSW or QLD based on the above criteria to ensure players from WA, SA, TAS, and VIC who play in the SG Ball and Mal Meninga Cup with heritage from these States may also be considered; point 7 above.

2. Players are required to qualify via their age i.e. not have turned 20 years of age in the preceding year (until midnight on the 31st of December i.e. turning 20 years of age in 2012)

3. Players are required to have reached the age of 17 before the date of the match (minimum age for debut).

4. Players are required to have a Registered NRL Playing Contract to ensure the NRL Rules and Schedules of Judiciary, Code of Conduct, Illicit Drugs, Gambling etc are enforceable.

5. Players are required to have not previously represented at Senior SOO or Senior National teams.

6. Players are required to be eligible and have nominated to be eligible for selection for Australia.

Eligibility Explanatory Memo.doc 22/03/2012 Page 3 of 4

Note: The above will ensure a player who may have played NYC in 2011 and is now in the top squad of the NRL for 2012 or a State League team but not a seasoned NRL player is still eligible and any players who may have spent 2011 in NYC or the State Leagues but are still eligible by age, are available for selection.

7. Given NZ will not begin their proposed version of the U/20s SOO until 2013 in line with their proposed senior SOO comparative, it is proposed that all ‘dual-eligible’ players (i.e. NZ and Australia) be advised of the following:

Players who are eligible and qualify for the 2012 U/20 SOO and are selected and play in either 17 man team for NSW or QLD, will not be eligible for selection in a NZ junior team in that calendar year i.e. if they wish to play for either NSW or QLD as an U/20s player they will not subsequently be considered by NZ for other than a senior representative team i.e. not an age division team. This will ensure the Eligibility Rules are strong and encourage players to make a decision as for whom they wish to represent. This has been agreed by NZRL.

A team of stars who didn't play for their state

1. Karmichael Hunt (Born New Zealand, played for Queensland)
2. Lote Tuqiri (Born Fiji, played for Queensland)
3. Timana Tahu (Born Victoria, played for NSW)
4. Greg Inglis (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
5. Akuila Uate (Born Fiji, plays for NSW)
6. Mat Rogers (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
7. Peter Sterling (Born Queensland, played for NSW)
8. James Tamou (Born New Zealand, plays for NSW)
9. Adrian Lam (Born Papua New Guinea, played for Queensland)
10. Petero Civoniceva (Born Fiji, plays for Queensland)
11. Sam Thaiday (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
12. Tonie Carroll (Born New Zealand, played for Queensland)
13. Billy Moore (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
14. Frank Pritchard (Born NSW, plays for New Zealand)
15. Matt Gillett (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
16. Michael Crocker (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
17. Willie Tonga (Born ACT, played for Queensland)

[G Las D]

With all that set out we might still be biased one way or another but at least it will be informed bias!

On the serious front I'd rule out what a player wants and the money as a significant factor to determine policy.
You have to have a basic principle. All the above starts I guess from that but has been modified, extended and stretched to allow for circumstances that have occurred over many years.
With the complexity of a system shown above and the controversies that are thrown up each season on this subject it is overdue for a complete review of the qualifying rules.
It's just that the rules have been stretched so far that it seems almost anybody can play for either state.
Yes, people might want the best two possible teams facing each other, but if there's any more flexibility in the qualification criteria you'd have to consider changing the name of the comp.

State of Origin, State of Choice, State of Mind, State of Confusion ...

[kiwityke]

Too easy to say "rule out the money". In your first post you acknowledge that money is a factor. Why has Kasiano made a switch after saying he wants to play for NZ?
As Kiwi I don't want anyone in the team that isn't dedicated to Kiwis and good bye to those who don't, they won't be missed. The one in your list that always raised my hackles is Tonie Carroll. He had the gall to play for us and then Oz. Yuck!

[Futtocks]

A team of stars who didn't play for their state

1. Karmichael Hunt (Born New Zealand, played for Queensland)
2. Lote Tuqiri (Born Fiji, played for Queensland)
3. Timana Tahu (Born Victoria, played for NSW)
4. Greg Inglis (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
5. Akuila Uate (Born Fiji, plays for NSW)
6. Mat Rogers (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
7. Peter Sterling (Born Queensland, played for NSW)
8. James Tamou (Born New Zealand, plays for NSW)
9. Adrian Lam (Born Papua New Guinea, played for Queensland)
10. Petero Civoniceva (Born Fiji, plays for Queensland)
11. Sam Thaiday (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
12. Tonie Carroll (Born New Zealand, played for Queensland)
13. Billy Moore (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
14. Frank Pritchard (Born NSW, plays for New Zealand)
15. Matt Gillett (Born NSW, plays for Queensland)
16. Michael Crocker (Born NSW, played for Queensland)
17. Willie Tonga (Born ACT, played for Queensland)</span>

Just for fun, here's a team of genuine Queenslanders who played in the Blue jersey before the Origin concept was born. The list is courtesy of the Fraser Coast Chronicle and it makes wonder what kind of matches we'd have had if Origin had been thought up earlier:
Kerry Boustead
John Ribot
John McDonald
John Rhodes
Lionel Williamson
John Peard
Duncan Thompson
Arthur Beetson
John Lang
Kevin Ryan
John Wittenberg
Kel O'Shea
Rod Reddy

Interchange
Elton Rasmussen
Harry Bath
Paul McCabe
Mark Harris