SOO Eligibility Criteria Changed

[Damien]

Pretty massive news with implications for the international game:

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) today announced the modernisation of State of Origin international eligibility rules to reflect the continued growth and global strength of Rugby League.

Under the updated rules, any player who meets the existing State of Origin eligibility criteria will be able to play State of Origin, regardless of the nation they represent in international fixtures.

Previously, players were required to be eligible to represent Australia or a Tier Two nation as defined by International Rugby League (IRL). The updated rules remove this restriction, allowing players who represent Tier One nations — and who meet the traditional State of Origin criteria — to now be eligible.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/02/16/state-of-origin-international-eligibility-rules-modernised/

 

[Hopie]

On one hand this means Australia can't use Origin to keep players for the Kangaroos, but to be honest that was a weakening threat over recent years. My main concern is that this is a move to weaken calls for mid-season internationals.

If only Australian players play Origin then the other nations could realistically play at the same time, if Origin takes top players from all nations, then there can be no international window at the same time, and along with the game limits for individual players this limits the number of internationals that can be played.

[Dunbar]

This is what I wrote on the subject last year.

I think it would be a huge mistake on the part of the ARL / NRL to open eligibility in State of Origin to tier 1 nations. It may produce a boost in player numbers and fill some clear gaps in quality in the current squads, but in the medium term it would simply water down the rivalry which is what made State of Origin special in the first place.

They can either leave it as it is and accept some of the best SOO players will represent their heritage nations - or they can become more strict and say that State of Origin selection means you are declared to play for the Kangaroos.

The latter would not be great for the increasingly competitive international game however.

I feel pretty much the same now. The rivalry is what made State of Origin so successful and it you were seeing players representing your state and then going on to play for New Zealand then surely it would start to feel less and less authentic. 

[Douglas]

6 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

This is what I wrote on the subject last year.

I think it would be a huge mistake on the part of the ARL / NRL to open eligibility in State of Origin to tier 1 nations. It may produce a boost in player numbers and fill some clear gaps in quality in the current squads, but in the medium term it would simply water down the rivalry which is what made State of Origin special in the first place.

They can either leave it as it is and accept some of the best SOO players will represent their heritage nations - or they can become more strict and say that State of Origin selection means you are declared to play for the Kangaroos.

The latter would not be great for the increasingly competitive international game however.

I feel pretty much the same now. The rivalry is what made State of Origin so successful and it you were seeing players representing your state and then going on to play for New Zealand then surely it would start to feel less and less authentic. 

What’s the difference in playing for your state and then New Zealand compared to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji?

[Douglas]

Potentially the big winners are New Zealand and England and the big losers Samoa and Tonga.

[Dunbar]

2 minutes ago, Douglas said:

What’s the difference in playing for your state and then New Zealand compared to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji?

No difference. Just amplifies an existing problem.

[Dunbar]

4 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Potentially the big winners are New Zealand and England and the big losers Samoa and Tonga.

How would England be winners?

[Pulga]

Huge for England and NZ. Good call. 

[Douglas]

1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

How would England be winners?

Aussies with 1 or 2 English born parents could play origin and represent England.

[Douglas]

4 minutes ago, Pulga said:

Huge for England and NZ. Good call. 

Definitely but New Zealand are the biggest winners by far what with the huge number of New Zealand born or New Zealand heritage players currently in the NRL junior pathway competitions.

[Dunbar]

3 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Aussies with 1 or 2 English born parents could play origin and represent England.

So more Australians in the English team. I don't mind a few, especially those like Radley who chose England over the chance of Origin... but England being a back to choice for Origin players not being picked for the Kangaroos, no thanks.

[Douglas]

2 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

So more Australians in the English team. I don't mind a few, especially those like Radley who chose England over the chance of Origin... but England being a back to choice for Origin players not being picked for the Kangaroos, no thanks.

Where would you draw the line?

English born Australian citizens or Australian born with English parents?

[Coggo]

 

[Dunbar]

2 minutes ago, Douglas said:

Where would you draw the line?

English born Australian citizens or Australian born with English parents?

I have stated a few times on here that I am comfortable with Australians with Emglish parents representing England. But I would prefer they go 'all in' and don't also represent an Australian state.

[Douglas]

14 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

No difference. Just amplifies an existing problem.

A problem that hasn’t really affected crowds or TV viewing figures or sponsorship etc.

state of origin has never been so popular as it is today hence states outside of Queensland and NSW bidding for games and now even countries bidding for games.

[Dunbar]

2 minutes ago, Douglas said:

A problem that hasn’t really affected crowds or TV viewing figures or sponsorship etc.

state of origin has never been so popular as it is today hence states outside of Queensland and NSW bidding for games and now even countries bidding for games.

We will see how it pans out. 

I don't want an English player to play for Queensland and England, it feels weird. I would like to see how a dyed in the wool Queenslander feels about cheering on a Kiwi or an English international. 

The passion and rivalry of Origin is its magic. Take that away and see what happens. It won't be immediate but something will change and not for the better.

[The Rocket]

31 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I would like to see how a dyed in the wool Queenslander feels about cheering on a Kiwi or an English international. 

The passion and rivalry of Origin is its magic. Take that away and see what happens. It won't be immediate but something will change and not for the better.

Brad Thorn did it and it barely got a mention, maybe because he played for the Broncos and was given `honorary` Queenslander status, maybe because it was in a different code, but I think fans will be quite happy to differentiate between the two. One being state, the other country. 

All I know is that I want to see Kalyn Ponga line up for the Kiwis against Oz and it won`t bother me one fig if he`s played for Qld.

[ghost crayfish]

I'm a Queenslander and am confident this does not dilute Origin at all. Shock jocks are going to have a field day with their idiotic bleating and speculation about whether this would ever mean 'a Sam Burgess or Benji Marshall would play Origin', but the fact is, it won't. Origin eligibility rules - which are pretty strict - are unchanged.

The only downside to this change is the fact that it makes it harder to play mid-year Tests alongside Origin, but it is otherwise good for the international game - in particular, good for New Zealand - and it won't hurt Origin at all. 

[Pulga]

3 hours ago, Dunbar said:

So more Australians in the English team. I don't mind a few, especially those like Radley who chose England over the chance of Origin... but England being a back to choice for Origin players not being picked for the Kangaroos, no thanks.

There's a fix: get better.

[Pulga]

The biggest winner is Kiwi women. Match payments to play Origin are a significant percentage of their pay in the women's game.

[NRLandSL]

5 hours ago, Hopie said:

On one hand this means Australia can't use Origin to keep players for the Kangaroos, but to be honest that was a weakening threat over recent years. My main concern is that this is a move to weaken calls for mid-season internationals.

If only Australian players play Origin then the other nations could realistically play at the same time, if Origin takes top players from all nations, then there can be no international window at the same time, and along with the game limits for individual players this limits the number of internationals that can be played.

This is only going to actually affect a really small number of players (5-10). Too little to have a wider impact. Simply players who are raised in NSW or Queensland can now play origin and represent NZ or Eng at the same time.

Here's the guys this will affect off the top of my head Ponga will now play NZ, Fonua-Blake can play for NSW, Radley can play for NSW, AJ Brimson can play for QLD, Casey Mclean can play for NSW, Seb Kris for QLD, Taumalolo for QLD.

This was a very outdated rule in the first place and needed changing, Australia have already lossed far more players to Tonga and Samoa and they are allowed too play origin. Those few guys playing for NZ or England should be allowed to play origin.

[NRLandSL]

5 hours ago, Dunbar said:

This is what I wrote on the subject last year.

I think it would be a huge mistake on the part of the ARL / NRL to open eligibility in State of Origin to tier 1 nations. It may produce a boost in player numbers and fill some clear gaps in quality in the current squads, but in the medium term it would simply water down the rivalry which is what made State of Origin special in the first place.

They can either leave it as it is and accept some of the best SOO players will represent their heritage nations - or they can become more strict and say that State of Origin selection means you are declared to play for the Kangaroos.

The latter would not be great for the increasingly competitive international game however.

I feel pretty much the same now. The rivalry is what made State of Origin so successful and it you were seeing players representing your state and then going on to play for New Zealand then surely it would start to feel less and less authentic. 

Probably a third of origin players don't play for Australia. How does 3-4 of them playing for NZ or England instead Tonga or Samoa change anything at all. "What made state of Origin special in the first place" (I am asssuming you mean it being a sort of a trial for the kangaroos) has been dead for close to ten years now ever since Taumalolo swapped and Tonga and other players followed suit

This idea of Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations is outdated in the current climate, Tonga and Samoa are fielding squads as good as the tier 1 teams. This rule was outdated and in need of changing. A step in the right direction towards the plenty more rules which need changing also.

[NRLandSL]

5 hours ago, Dunbar said:

So more Australians in the English team. I don't mind a few, especially those like Radley who chose England over the chance of Origin... but England being a back to choice for Origin players not being picked for the Kangaroos, no thanks.

Playing for a tier 1 nation is still a life contract, so if a player chose England they are still rubbing off their kangaroos chances, Still a commitment.

[Dunbar]

5 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

Probably a third of origin players don't play for Australia. How does 3-4 of them playing for NZ or England instead Tonga or Samoa change anything at all. "What made state of Origin special in the first place" (I am asssuming you mean it being a sort of a trial for the kangaroos) has been dead for close to ten years now ever since Taumalolo swapped and Tonga and other players followed suit

This idea of Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations is outdated in the current climate, Tonga and Samoa are fielding squads as good as the tier 1 teams. This rule was outdated and in need of changing. A step in the right direction towards the plenty more rules which need changing also.

I have read a lot of negativity about this change online from the Australian League fans. There seems to be a real desire to keep Origin for just Australian reps.

[NRLandSL]

6 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I have read a lot of negativity about this change online from the Australian League fans. There seems to be a real desire to keep Origin for just Australian reps.

There’s a lot of old school Aussie fans who will react negatively to any change.

This was an outdated rule that needed changing. Origin hasn’t been only for Australian reps for close to a decade now.