Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo has a dream to play State of Origin — and hopes an eligibility rule change may also help him obtain it.
Taumaolo is unable to symbolize Queensland given he has performed 10 video games for tier one nation New Zealand. But ought to the foundations be modified he’ll bounce on the alternative to play in rugby league’s showpiece occasion.
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“It’s always been a question that has popped up,” Taumalolo instructed Code Sports.
“I will wait until the rules are decided and we’ll go from there, but it would be awesome to play for Tonga and Queensland.”
“Origin is the best arena with the best names.
“It (playing Origin) is something that has definitely crossed my mind, but I guess we’ll see if the rules change and whether they let me play.”
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As it stands, a participant can solely be chosen for New South Wales or Queensland in the event that they haven’t represented a tier one nation on the worldwide stage.
The tier one nations are Australia, England and New Zealand.
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Taumalolo made his debut for New Zealand in 2014 and performed his ultimate recreation in 2017 earlier than pledging his allegiance to tier two nation Tonga.
The 29-year-old did have a chance to play Origin when then-Maroons coach Mal Meninga wished to pick him in 2012. Taumalolo was born in New Zealand however moved to Queensland earlier than he was 13, making him eligible to symbolize the state.
But he in the end selected New Zealand.
Then in 2021, Taumalolo’s supervisor sounded out former Queensland coach Paul Green with the thought of discovering a technique to let the famous person lock play Origin. But the NRL shut that down.
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There’s been a push to alter the eligibility guidelines — which grew even stronger in the course of the Rugby League World Cup after amid speak of presumably elevating Tonga and Samoa to tier one standing. That would drive the likes of Brian To’o and Junior Paulo to make resolution between representing NSW or Samoa.
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Veteran coach Wayne Bennett stated in November “it’s not that complicated” and (Origin) “players should be available for selection for a whole lot of countries outside Australia.”
“What a lot of people seem to be struggling to understand is that these players like Junior Paulo and Jarome Luai and Brian To’o, they’ve all grown up in Sydney,” he stated.
“So under the criteria as it is now they qualify for Origin.
“Then you have a bloke like Tom Burgess, who doesn’t tick the boxes, because Tom grew up in England. So he shouldn’t be playing Origin.
“So the criteria stays the same in that respect.”
It was additionally reported in November that the foundations had been going to be reviewed by ARL commissioner Wayne Pearce.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
