As tier two nations Tonga and Samoa await what is now an inevitable move up to tier one status, plenty of questions remain around the Origin eligibility of the players who don’t represent Australia.
With 12 Origin representatives across the two sides, the NRL will likely have no other choice but to change the eligibility rules if both nations are bumped up to tier one.
As many ideas began to circulate surrounding the best way to enhance international rugby league whilst maintaining the quality of Origin, SEN’s Scott Sattler believes removing the tiers is the best solution.
“I don’t like the idea of tier one (and) tier two, I just think we should have international rugby league,” Sattler said on SENQ Mornings.
“We just have to try and embrace international rugby league the best we can, I’m not a big fan of the tier system, I think everyone should be asked to play against each other at any given time on a calendar year.
“Then when it comes to State of Origin, I think when you register to play rugby league at the age of 12 you (are) asked about your Origin heritage.
“I think by that age you know who you support at Origin level, but you can still have the country of your heritage as well.
“I don’t have a problem with Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Junior Paulo playing for NSW and for Samoa, I think we are heading down a really dangerous path in the modern era if we are going to pigeonhole players in where they should and shouldn’t play.
“If we want the game to continue to go the way it looks like it’s heading, on the upward spiral, we need to make those players available for those nations.
“The simple question is, where does your heart lie, I think Stephen Crichton summed it up beautifully.”
Crichton told media before the World Cup Final that he wants to be able to represent his hometown and the country of his heritage (Samoa).
“I think in that short summary from Stephen Crichton, that should answer the question that we are talking about now,” Sattler said.
“We are seeing the decline of England trying to keep up with the NRL standard, don’t get me wrong, another example is Viliame Kikau… he was born in Fiji but taken over to North Queensland as a 16-year-old, I don’t think he should be eligible to play for Queensland.
“I feel as though it should be a younger age, where you’re registered to play your junior rugby league and you’ve played the majority of your junior rugby league in those states.”
A formal decision is yet to be made on updated Origin eligibility rules, with a likely change set to come upon the agreement of a new CBA.