Storm and New Zealand star Jahrome Hughes has ruled himself out of playing State of Origin even if he is able to, despite changes to the eligibility rules.
Hughes could be one of the players to benefit from the Origin eligibility changes after the NRL introduced a new rule to allow players from tier one nations – England and New Zealand – to represent Queensland or NSW if they fit the rest of the criteria.
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It remains unclear whether Hughes would be eligible, given uncertainty over whether he arrived in Australia before his 13th birthday, but the Kiwis star ruled himself out of contention.
Speaking on the 167 Podcast alongside Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen, Hughes said he lacked the passion for his state that makes Origin so special.
“I’ll give you this exclusive – I’m not gonna play Origin,” Hughes said.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m eligible or not. I would only play for a cash grab and I wouldn’t do that. I feel like Origin is such a good game or spectacle, because they are so proud.
“You look at Mun, he is a proud Queenslander, he would die for that jersey.
“If I put a Queensland jersey on, I just wouldn’t have that same passion as if I put on the Kiwi or Maori jersey, or even a Storm jersey.”
The 31-year-old was born in Wellington and has played 10 Tests for New Zealand, but moved to Queensland in 2008 and attended Palm Beach Currumbin High School.
Hughes made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2013, before a three-year gap until his next game with the Cowboys in 2016.
Hughes then signed with the Storm for the 2017 season and has scored 69 tries in 168 games for the club, winning a premiership in 2020.
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QLD BOSS’ CAVEAT ON ORIGIN ELIGIBILITY
A day after the new State of Origin eligibility rules were confirmed by the NRL, Queensland Rugby League (QRL) CEO Ben Ikin has revealed that players will not be selected unless they are “genuinely committed” to the state.
In the biggest rule change in the 46-year history of State of Origin, the NRL declared that players born outside of New South Wales and Queensland would still be able to play in the prestigious arena if they resided in one of the two states before their 13th birthday.
This will allow several stars of the game to put their hand up for selection and also not represent Australia on the international stage.
Speaking with Code Sports, Ikin, who made 17 appearances for Queensland, stated that players like Briton Nikora, who are now eligible for selection, won’t be picked unless they bleed Maroon.
“That’s true now. The eligibility rules have been broadened and I accept that because the international game has become a huge focus and there are some anomalies in the current set up,” the QRL CEO said.
“But for as long as Origin has existed in Queensland, what has always been true is that unless you are genuinely committed to the Maroons cause then you don’t get a jersey and that will not change.
“That is something that is ingrained in every player that’s been part of every squad by every coach who has ever been in charge.
“We see that as our competitive advantage. You can’t fake your way into a Maroons jersey, mate.”
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While the likes of Nikora and potentially 2024 Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes are now available for selection, Queensland have a storied history of picking players who were born outside of Australia.
Jeremiah Nanai, Moeaki Fotuaika, Robert Toia and Xavier Coates were all born outside of Australia.
Meanwhile, former Queensland stars Brad Thorn, Tonie Carroll and Petero Civoniceva had represented another country on the international arena.
“I’m not the coach and you have to back the coach’s judgement,” he added.
“Based on the bloke we’ve got in charge currently, there are multiple meetings, pre-series engagements, how they play. Billy knows and understands whether or not a person’s connection to Queensland is legitimate.
“He spends an inordinate amount of time watching every game, every week for every player that’s part of his broader squad. He tries to identify the habits that he believes makes a Queensland Origin player.”
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JOHNS BACKS ORIGIN ELIGIBILITY CHANGES TO SAVE INTERNATIONAL GAME
Matty Johns believes the new Origin eligibility laws will save the international game and allow the best players to feature for both state and country.
Speaking on SEN radio, Johns noted that either Origin or the international game would suffer from not having the best players available if the old system was maintained.
“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.”
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Johns is excited by the prospect of Addin Fonua-Blake playing in the Origin arena after he pledged his allegiance to NSW and believes the new system will allow international footy to become even more competitive.
“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,” Johns said.
“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.
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“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.”
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