NRL stars face state or country dilemma
Israel Folau, Tevita Pangai Junior, Anthony Milford and Josh Papalii are among the league superstars who will be forced to make a choice between state and country due to a change in international eligibility laws that will have huge ramifications for next year’s Rugby League World Cup.
The International Rugby League has introduced changes to qualification rules that will prevent players from representing at NSW or Queensland at State of Origin level and playing for a country other than Australia in tests.
The Sydney Morning Herald has obtained a copy of the new eligibility criteria document, which states, in part: ‘‘A player who has elected to represent a nation cannot then elect to play for another nation in the same calendar year.’’
That means that dual-eligible players including Milford, Folau, Pangai Junior, Papalii, Kotoni Staggs, Jaydn Su’a, Manase Fainu and Waqa Blake will have to choose between making themselves available for Origin or a Pacific nation ahead of the 2020 World Cup.
The issue comes into sharp focus amid renewed hopes there could be some tests played at the end of this NRL season if it successfully resumes from May 28.
Under the previous rules, a player such as Broncos star Milford – who has Samoan and Australian heritage – could have represented the Maroons, Australia and Samoa all in the one season. The idea was to bolster the talent available for emerging league countries including Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea if players missed out on Kangaroo or Kiwi call-ups.
However, there will be less flexibility to move from now on in a bid to bring greater integrity to the international game.
‘‘This is not about player payments, this is about giving people the opportunity to represent the area of their heritage,’’ said the RLIF’s southern hemisphere general manager Jeremy Edwards.
‘‘It’s a chance for the player to make a decision and for the fans to understand it as well. It has been confusing [in the past].’’
Tongan officials have been in contact with cross-code star Folau – currently playing for French club Catalans in the Super League – in a bid to get him to commit to the nation. The former Wallaby had represented Queensland and Australia in his previous stint in rugby league.
The rules also govern junior international matches, meaning young guns including teen Rabbitohs fullback Joseph Suaalii will need to make a call between NSW and Samoa.
Last year’s World Cup 9s was hit by several eligibility dramas, resulting in Lebanon being stripped of one of its wins.
Under the new rules, there will be serious ramifications if a player breaches the new qualification criteria. Players can be fined up to £10,000 ($18,000), teams will be stripped of points and the offender will be banned until eligibility can be established.