League: Push for Origin series heats up

The New Zealand Rugby League will continue to press its case for a North Island versus South Island Origin game as it tries to expand the depth of players available for the Kiwis.

Among the motivations for the proposal are opportunities to blood young players such as Benji Marshall before they play internationals, and decreasing the reliance on the Warriors.

The more players that come from clubs in the NRL the better, creating competition for spots, and if the Warriors are in bad form the Kiwis wouldn't have to start with a group of players lacking confidence.

Both the Australian Rugby League and the National Rugby League have given tacit approval for the plan and negotiations have begun to get at least one game in 2006, as a precursor to a three-game series like State of Origin.

But timing is the stumbling block, especially now the Tri-Nations is set in place and with a World Cup in 2008.

The Australians do not want their and our players out of the NRL at the same time - they'll lose games and fans - but there is no other obvious window.

There were two good outcomes from Friday night's 32-16 loss to the Kangaroos in Brisbane.

The 40,317 crowd, that was the best in the city since 1963, will encourage the ARL and NRL to commit to more tests there. The Kiwis team will grow in experience while the Australian one will mostly be gone by the next World Cup.

Sonny Bill Williams was in the dressing room after the game to tell the boys how keen he was to get back with them.

"I wanted to put one boot on and get out there," he said after an ankle injury reduced him to a TV comments role. "Man, it was so frustrating watching."