Gilly: Cup laws tearing apart Origin
RUGBY league hard man Trevor Gillmeister fears the precious fabric of State of Origin football is in danger of being ripped apart by controversial World Cup eligibility laws.
NSW winger Brian To’o (pictured) has declared his allegiance to Samoa for the World Cup in England this year, while a group of players, including Queensland’s Josh Papalii and NSW trio Junior Paulo, Stephen Crichton and Jarome Luai, will wait for Wednesday’s State of Origin decider before committing to Australia or Samoa.
The expectation is that Crichton and Luai are leaning towards playing for Samoa.
“I just feel it should have been all sorted out before Origin started,’’ Gillmeister said.
“I don’t blame the players. You just have to make sure Origin stays special.
“I think if you are available for your state you should be available for Australia and if you don’t get picked for Australia then you should be available for other nations.
“It has got out of hand because no one wants to hurt anyone’s feeling. Everyone is tiptoeing around it. All my mates have been saying ‘what are they doing?’
“I went over to Perth for the second Origin game and there were mainly AFL people and they are so jealous of rugby league’s State of Origin. They just think it is the bee’s knees.
“I have no problems with people playing for their home country but you have to remember how Origin started. It’s about the underdog and the bloke who thought he was no chance of getting a start getting one.’’ Maroons prop Papalii said he was undecided about pledging allegiance to the Kangaroos or Samoa for the World Cup – or whether he would play at all.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I might not even go. A nice holiday would be nice. It’s great to see (To’o commit to Samoa).
“I’m in a different mindset. I’ve got the maroon one for now.
“That’s where my focus is at.”
To’o would have been in a strong position to claim a wing spot for the World Cup while Luai’s path to the five-eighth spot would most likely have been blocked by Cameron Munster.