NRL torpedoes Origin eligibility rule change
The NRL has torpedoed any suggestions that State of Origin eligibility rules could change, effectively ending Queensland’s hopes of recruiting North Queensland enforcer Jason Taumalolo for 2021.
NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo said the ARL Commission had no plans to change Origin criteria selection in the short or long term while in Brisbane today to launch the 2021 Magic Round.
Taumalolo has already represented New Zealand and Tonga but his manager recently raised the prospect of him playing Origin for new Maroons and ex-Cowboys coach Paul Green this season.
Eligibility rules allow players to play Origin and then switch to a tier two nation like Tonga, Samoa or Fiji but players cannot switch between tier one nations Australia, New Zealand and England.
“There is certainly no proposal to change the eligibility in the short term or in the long term for that matter but of course everything will be considered over time but at this stage no,” Abdo said.
“I won’t talk about specific players around Origin eligibility but I would like to clarify something, the Commission is not looking at changing the eligibility for Origin.
“What we are looking at is standardizing and harmonising the calendar so players who do qualify to play for NSW and Queensland don’t have to choose between that and representing their country in a potential mid-season test.
“This is not about changing the definition of who qualifies for Origin this is about making sure those that do qualify and do want to play for Origin don’t have to choose.
“We are building towards a dedicated international window at the back end of the season that is good for everyone. It is good for fans, it’s good for State of Origin, it’s good for the international game and that’s really what we’re putting our efforts into.”