Phil Gould has thrown his support behind the “sensible” State of Origin eligibility rule changes, with two Sharks players likely to benefit from the move.
The NRL announced this week that players who fit the criteria to represent Queensland or NSW would be able to do so, regardless of which country they represent.
Prior to the change, any player who had represented England or New Zealand, who are deemed tier one nations, were not eligible for Origin.
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That has all been brushed aside now and while some rugby league purists were up in arms over the decision, Gould believes it should only be seen as a positive.
“It’s a more sensible rule now,” he said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus.
Phil Gould. Nine
“Suddenly everyone wants to say, who qualifies for Origin this year? That’s not what it’s about. It’s not about who can qualify this year – it’s about what the future looks like.
“If you go and look at all the junior representative teams, academy programs, junior league teams … they are predominantly Pacific Islanders. Those teams are dominated by Pacific Island players, many of them are second and third-generation Australians.
“A lot of New Zealand people move their kids across here before the age of 13 so that they qualify to play in those representative teams and what we don’t want is for kids at very young ages having to decide whether or not they want to represent their country or be eligible to play State of Origin footy, or they’re made to make a decision between Australia and their country, which they shouldn’t have to do.
“I’ve been advocating for a long time that if you qualify to play State of Origin footy, then you still should qualify to play for your country of choice. I think it’s a pretty simple application which this rule now does and thankfully at that.
“It’s not so much about now and whether or not Addin Fonua-Blake can force his way into the Origin side. It’s about kids growing up in our academy programs now not having to make that decision at a young age, knowing that they can play for their country.”
Fonua-Blake is the most obvious player who the rule change will impact, given he is one of the game’s best front-rowers but has never been allowed to play for NSW.
Addin Fonua-Blake. Getty
The 30-year-old played one Test match for New Zealand almost a decade ago before pledging his allegiance to Tonga, where he has become one of the side’s leaders.
But due to his sole game for the Kiwis, it meant the Mascot Jets product was unable to pull on a Blues jumper until now, where he is seen as a shoo-in to partner Payne Haas.
Fonua-Blake admitted the previous rules did have an impact on him when he was rubbed out of Origin, but is prepared to answer the phone call if and when it comes.
“At the time, yeah [it bothered me] but I just got on with my life,” he told 9News Sydney.
“If I’m blessed enough to perform well and get the call-up, who wouldn’t be going at the opportunity to play? The physicality you know, the refs are a bit more lenient and that’s the game I fell in love with when I was younger, the brutality of it all.
“Mates of mine that I grew up with always get into me about not playing for the Blues.”
Addin Fonua-Blake representing NSW as a teenager. Nine
Fonua-Blake represented his state as a teenager and was reminded of his time donning the Blues jersey, where his hatred for the Maroons first started.
“That was a while ago now,” he said.
“There’s obviously a dislike for each other … I’m pretty sure we beat them.”
Fonua-Blake isn’t the only Cronulla enforcer who could benefit from the changes either.
Briton Nikora, who has become a staple for the Kiwis in recent years and is regarded as one of the NRL’s elite edge forwards, grew up in Queensland after the age of nine.
The 28-year-old attended Keebra Park High School on the Gold Coast and would add some serious punch and class for Billy Slater’s team if he was to earn a spot selected.
Briton Nikora. Getty
Another player who could factor into selection discussions is AJ Brimson, who last year decided to pledge his allegiance to England ahead of the Ashes and World Cup.
Brimson has previously played for the Maroons and under the new rules, he is free to do so again – something that was off the table until earlier this week.
“It doesn’t affect us – he should have the right to do so,” Gould said.
“I hear some of the old-timers saying ‘they won’t be as passionate when they’re playing for Queensland if they want to play for another country’ … I don’t think that’s the case.
“A lot of these really good players that come through our system, they’re already playing junior rep football for NSW and Queensland on the way up and I’ve always said if you qualify for that, you should be able to play at the big time too.
“A lot of our Pacific Island players in the NRL are not coming from the islands. They’re not even born in the islands. They’re second, third-generation Australians.
“They were born here, schooled here, educated here, played their junior football here, go through academy programs – but family and national heritage is so important.
“I always said it – when you put your hand on your heart and listen to the national anthem, there’s only one that stirs you, and that’s the one you play for.”
Casey McLean, Victor Radley, Sam Walker and possibly Jahrome Hughes are among the other players who could be affected by the change in the eligibility rules.
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