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Kiwis Sonny Bill Williams and Krisnan Inu have sparked a controversy across the Tasman by declaring they want to play State of Origin.
Williams last week made a plea for officials to consider letting him play for New South Wales, who he has already represented at junior level. And he was joined by Inu, who declared he also wants to play for the Blues.
Speaking on The Footy Show on Thursday night, Williams believed he should not be denied the chance to play Origin because he is a Kiwi.
"The one thing that's always burned inside of me, deep down, is not being able to play State of Origin," Williams said. "I don't see why we can't. I played New South Wales under-17s and under-19s."
Williams said New Zealand rugby league was being decimated because Kiwis such as Karmichael Hunt and Antonio Kaufusi were opting to play for Australia, simply because they didn't want to be ruled out of State of Origin.
Inu backed up that claim, saying he had contemplated turning his back on New Zealand before making his Kiwis debut last year.
"I would love to play for New South Wales," Inu told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
"It was a very tough decision when I picked New Zealand knowing I would miss out."
The stance of both Williams and Inu has predictably caused a stir across the ditch, with former New South Wales hardman Mark Geyer leading the charge.
"I have an issue with a Kiwi playing Origin," Geyer told the Daily Telegraph. "It cheapens the jersey if anyone can have a crack at it. If you want to play for the Kiwis, well, do it. But you can't play Origin and that's just the way the cookie crumbles.
"It's been that way since 1980 and it's not going to change. Don't fix it if it's not broke."
Warriors captain and Queensland prop Steve Price agreed New Zealanders shouldn't be able to play in Origin.
"I am very passionate about Origin," Price said. "Kiwi guys shouldn't be allowed to come and play just because they want a taste of Origin. It would just ruin it."
Former New Zealand selector Daryl Halligan, however, was one who supported Williams and Inu, saying Origin should be played by the best players.
"I would like to see the New Zealand players in," Halligan said. "Would it diminish Origin? It would add to it in a way. The old fan might not look at it that way but the new fan would."
