Would including Pacific Islanders destroy State of Origin?

NSW Captain Paul Gallen and Queensland Captain Cameron Smith pose with the State of Origin Shield during the 2015 State of Origin Series. Photo / Getty Images.

Bending the rules to allow Pacific Islanders to play State of Origin may destroy what is great about the concept, Wayne Bennett says.

The master coach admitted Origin eligibility rules may have to be addressed again in the future but believed power brokers should not rush into tinkering with a winning formula.

In the wake of the hugely successful recent Pacific Tests, the NRL are considering overhauling the Origin eligibility rules to allow Polynesians to play for NSW or Queensland.

Under the proposed changes, Pacific Islanders could represent both their home nation and the Blues or Maroons.

It is understood the NRL believes the move will help further develop the code in the Pacific Test nations Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and PNG.

There have also been calls for an Origin series between the Kiwis and a Pacific side to build on recent development of the game in the islands.

Bennett enjoyed the Pacific Tests but did not believe now was the time to start tampering with Origin eligibility criteria again.

"I have seen too many different competitions around the world in other sports that work and people get too smart with it and all of a sudden they don't have as much credibility as before and no one is as interested as there in the past," he said.

"It's not something we should rush into.

"That's not saying you can't change it in 10 years' time - there may be a better reason then there is now.

"But right now it works."

The rules were changed in 2012 following the outcry over Kiwi-born James Tamou switching his allegiance to Australia and NSW's outcry over Greg Inglis' selection for Queensland, despite being born at Bowraville, in northern NSW, and playing all his junior football in the area.

The key change was that no player would be eligible to play for NSW or Queensland unless he had lived in that state before the age of 13.

"The reason it has gotten bigger and better is the genuine Queensland versus NSW psyche that goes with that," Bennett said.

"As soon as you start bringing people outside of that arena, they come from New Zealand for example at 20 years old and all of a sudden you can play Origin, I think you lose what makes it great - mate versus mate, state versus state."

Asked if Polynesians being allowed to play Origin would help the developing nations, Bennett said: "There's (already) rules in place and they understand it.

"That's what I like about it.

"I think it works and will continue to work if we apply some rules to it and recognise why the fans embrace it the way they do."

-AAP