State of Origin eligibility - please explain?

OK, so I am old and slow. But can somebody please explain the eligibility rules for the state of origin selections?

I always thought you were eligible to play for the state where you played your first senior football.

Apparently its not so. Greg Inglis was granted eligibility to play for Kweensland because he played for Wavell High. Is high school football now regarded as senior football?

If that is the case, the time he had playing for the Bowraville Tigers in the NSW Group system senior grades doesnt count? And before all the Kweenslanders give me the old howl, "He wants to play for Kweensland" just ponder this for a second. Hes an aboriginal boy of the Daingatti (hope I spelled that right) tribe. Their country is Northern NSW and DOES NOT EXTEND TO KWEENSLAND. There are in fact two other tribal areas between where his country is and the Kweensland border, Gumbainggir and Bundjalung. I dont know ANY aboriginal who disowns his own people or country.

I am also at a loss to understand how some players who were born and bred in Neuseeland and Neuguinea are able to play proudly for "their" state, and then be allowed to represent other countries at test level (and some have done so) and others are not.

And NO I am not singling out any state cause its happened on both sides of the border.

I reckon we either simplify it by making you eligible for the state in which you were born, or we simply ask the player to nominate which state he wants to play for and let them be selected him on his merits. I would like to see the latter because the speed at which the Kweensland population is growing (with our old retirees moving North and not producing any more children), they wont be able to keep up with us in about 20 years.

Look at the ABS birth rates children. You are not keeping anywhere near up with us and the Vics and the Croweaters. Perhaps if we teach our next generation of youth from Indonesia or China to play we all might have a chance.

Food for thought. Fire away. I'm still a blues supporter and were all still here. We're not going away.


Old Hutcho 🤖

Its usually where you have played your first Senior Grade game. In Inglis' case, there has been an admittal (soemwhere) that they stuffed it up and overlooked his NSW garde games when he nominated for QLD. As for the others, Lam, Mason etc, why not? If they wish to play at that level and are good enough why not let them play??

Penguin.

Thanks for the civil reply.

It wasnt just Lam or Carroll I was thinking about, there have been some from NSW, like Mason, who is eligible to play for Tonga! Go figure. If Mason is allowed to play for "his" state why not SBW, Asotasi, and a heap of others.

OK. If they stuffed Inglis up why not correct it. OR if anybody wants to play for Kweensland or the Cattledogs, why not just let them play where they want to?

Old Hutcho