Warriors Prop Addin Fonua-Blake talks about his move to the Warriors. Video / Supplied
With State of Origin eligibility rules under the spotlight, star Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has confirmed his desire to compete on that stage should the rules be eased on player selection.
The showpiece of the rugby league season down under, State of Origin has always been a game between Australia'sbest, with players who have represented the game's other tier one nations - New Zealand and England – excluded from selection.
Fonua-Blake, who was born in Australia, represented New Zealand at under-20s level and played just one test for the Kiwis in 2017, before switching his allegiance to Tonga.
"I didn't really understand it back then," Fonua-Blake admitted of how his decision to represent New Zealand at the under-20s level would impact his ability to play State of Origin.
"I thought it was just a 20s thing, I didn't know it carried on to first-grade. I've got no regrets and am happy with my decisions, I just didn't understand the eligibility rules at the time.
"I would have definitely thought about it more if someone had explained it to me."
Addin Fonua-Blake in possession. Photo / Photosport
That rule has seen several of the game's biggest names unable to take part in its biggest series of the year. This week, there have been suggestions the rules could be eased to allow players like North Queensland Cowboys star Jason Taumalolo to be selected.
Taumalolo was born in Auckland and represented New Zealand in 10 tests from 2014-17, before also switching his playing allegiance to Tonga. Despite spending his entire 198-game NRL career thus far with the North Queensland Cowboys, dating back to 2010, he cannot be selected in the Queensland State of Origin squad.
"I feel like it would only help to grow the game," Fonua-Blake said. "Jason's one of those players who puts bums in seats. You see a lot of people saying you have to be born into it, but if you put the more quality players in the game, the more people would come to watch it."
The debate of Origin eligibility rules is one that often rears its head when a transcendent star is unavailable to play. Former South Sydney Rabbitohs middle forward Sam Burgess was another case who could not play in the series as he represented England.
While the NRL have - in 10 of the last 12 years - run an All-Stars game before the season begins for players such as these to have a showcase, the one-off game doesn't generate anywhere near the excitement of the three-match Origin series, usually held midway through the season. Much like the NBA All-Star game, most fans view it as an exhibition, whereas State of Origin sees the players take their intensity up a level and produces some of the most competitive games of the season year after year.
Fonua-Blake said if eligibility rules were eased, he would be among those players eager to step into the arena.
"100 per cent I would.
"I was born in Queensland but played my first footy [in New South Wales] so I'm not sure where my eligibility lies. But if that rule gets passed – they'd obviously have to select me first – but if I did make the team, I would love the opportunity to represent the state. They've got a really good team, the Blues, and so do Queensland – they won the series last year.
"But if they called on me, I'd jump on the spot, welcome it with both hands and back-fence it."
Addin Fonua-Blake runs out on to Central Coast Stadium. Photo / Photosport
League guru and former New South Wales representative Phil Gould slammed the situation this week on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles with Gus podcast, saying the eligibility rule was out of date and did not reflect the state of the modern game.
"When State of Origin was first formed, back in 1980, our game was predominantly an Anglo-Saxon game played in NSW and Queensland. Well it's anything but that now," Gould said.
"The demographic of our game has changed remarkably since that time and our number-one product doesn't necessarily reflect that demographic, which I think is one thing we need to look at.
"If we're going to grow Pacific Island international football, and New Zealand international football - there are plenty of people of Pacific Island heritage who are born here in Australia, who still identify as Pacific Island heritage, who would love to be able to play for their country, but they can't if they choose to play Origin football.
"So when they're young and they write on their contract, 'Do you want to play for Australia?' or 'Do you want to play for New Zealand?' or 'Do you want to play for someone else?' they've got to make a decision. And the minute they don't want to play for Australia they're not eligible to play for NSW or Queensland.
"They might be born in Queensland, come through the Queensland junior system, play in Queensland rugby league their whole life, play Queensland under-17s, play Queensland under-19s, play Queensland under-20s and get graded into an NRL club from their Queensland base, but can't play for Queensland. I find that ridiculous. I would allow them to play for Queensland."
