New Zealand Rugby League football manager Tony Kemp says Queensland's swoop for Jason Taumalolo is an "indictment on the game" and demonstrates their concern over their own youth development.
Cowboys star Taumalolo, who has already been touted as the next Sonny Bill Williams, has reportedly pledged his allegiance to Queensland's State of Origin set up, after heavy pressure from Maroons coach Mal Meninga. That has concerned officials in this country, as the 18-year-old was the Junior Kiwis player of the year in 2011 and played all his football in New Zealand until the age of 15.
"We really need to clarify the eligibility rules" says Kemp, of Queensland's recently stated plan to target the huge wave of New Zealanders that emigrate to the Sunshine State every year. "When they are coming to New Zealand to fill their Australian spots, I think it is an indictment for the boys that grow up as Australians. The fact that they [have targeted] Jason Taumalolo, saying that 'we developed the kid, he deserves to play for Queensland' is a load of rubbish. He played all of his junior football here before being spotted as a 15-year-old and taken into the NRL system and over the last two years he has played for our junior Kiwis. I don't think it's right but I suppose it shows that Queensland are really worried about their lack of development in their younger grades and are therefore targeting our better kids."
After Taumalolo's barnstorming performance versus the Eels, Meninga travelled to Townsville for last Saturday's clash with the Sharks and talked to the teenager and his parents.
"If they are going to start putting Kiwis in Maroons and Blues jerseys, I would really like to know what the kids who are born in Australia think of that and being robbed of those jerseys by Kiwis. I think the fact that both Ricky [Stuart] and Mal [Meninga] have now got full-time roles is because of what we have been doing off the field. It doesn't stop us doing what we have been doing in connecting with our kids in Australia. There is more than just Origin; if you bleed black and you are a Kiwi, we offer a totally different experience."
