Johns backs Origin change to preserve international game

Matty Johns has supported the NRL’s changes to Origin eligibility, believing it is the right step towards preserving international rugby league ahead of the World Cup at the end of 2026.

On Monday, the NRL announced major reforms to the current State of Origin selection criteria, ruling that players who currently represent a Tier 1 nation other than Australia, being New Zealand and England, are eligible for Origin provided they played rugby league in NSW or Queensland before the age of 13.

The change means some of the NRL’s biggest names, including Addin Fonua-Blake and Briton Nikora, are eligible for Origin selection.

The change also opens the door for current and future Origin players yet to represent Australia, such as Kalyn Ponga, Scott Drinkwater or Isaiya Katoa to pledge their allegiance to New Zealand or England ahead of the World Cup at the end of the year while keeping their Origin dreams alive.

With players now able to represent whatever country they wish without it impeding on their desires to play Origin, Johns believes that the change will help keep international rugby league healthy and diverse in talent.

“I like it. I think they’ve figured out a really good system,” Johns told SEN 1170 Drive.

“At the end of the day, it was either going to be Origin or Test football that suffered significantly.

“Samoa and Tonga cannot remain a tier 2 country. When you go into a World Cup, you've got two sides who… can beat anyone on their day… they've got to move into tier one.

“It was either going to have a situation where the best players in the world aren't playing State of Origin in about a decade or sides who were boosting the international game by playing for Samoa and Tonga suddenly pledge their allegiance to Australia because they want to play State of Origin football.

“I think we've found the perfect mix, and it's just like it's exciting to think that… Addin Fonua-Blake, we were always curious as to how he would go in State of Origin, it's a fair chance now we're gonna find out.

“About a decade or so ago, there was talk that the Australian system, as far as players coming through, wanted to get their pledge of allegiance to Australia.

“They're trying to get the young Kiwi kids early, so you signed to play for Australia (and) you're going, ‘hang on, Australia's got enough players'.

“Do we want to end up being like the NFL where it's Australia versus nobody?

“At the moment, it's the best we've seen International Rugby League for such a long, long time.

“You don't want to destroy that, and I think this is a step in the direction of preserving it.”

Johns played four matches for NSW between 1995 and 1998.