Eligibility move will aid Origin: Fittler

Brad Fittler claims widening State of Origin eligibility rules to include Australian-raised New Zealand and England players will benefit both the domestic and international game.

Crucial decisions loom on both the domestic and global front in the coming months, with both Origin eligibility rules and the tiered international system up for discussion.

The International Rugby League has indicated they will not change Samoa's status to tier-one from tier-two, meaning several big-name stars will remain eligible for Origin.

While the Pacific Nation made their first World Cup final this month, the determination between tiers is centred around each country's domestic game and infrastructure.

Under current Origin rules, players who represent tier-two nations are free to play for NSW or Queensland if they were born or lived there before age 13.

However those who represent either New Zealand or England - as the other tier-one nations - are automatically ineligible.

Fittler sees the decision to keep Samoa as tier-two - allowing the likes of Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Junior Paulo - to continue playing Origin as commonsense.

But he is adamant the ARL Commission should allow those who play for New Zealand or England to play Origin, opening the door for the likes of Victor Radley to play for NSW and Jordan Rapana for Queensland.

"For both games to flourish, if you (play) in NSW or Queensland or at a certain age then you should be able to play for NSW or Queensland," Fittler said. 

"It's simple. What you do with international football, probably needs a little more detail.

"But at the end of the day, State of Origin should be for people born or lived in NSW or Queensland, before the age of 13."

At the core of it, Fittler claims players should not be punished for wanting to represent their family's heritage.

"Sebastian Kris has played for New Zealand, he has played for NSW since he was 15," Fittler said. 

"Reimis Smith has played for New Zealand, he has grown up in NSW since he was a baby. 

"I wonder why these players don't have the chance to play for NSW because of the heritage of their father, while also getting the ability to play international football."

But beyond that, he claims it would strengthen the Origin concept while also continuing to make the World Cup more competitive.

"Of course (it makes Origin stronger), you have more players to choose from," Fittler said.

"What happens is when you play State of Origin it is a more intense game. You take that experience and you take it to another game. 

"So every game you play at a higher level you learn from that experience.

"Hopefully you take some calm and some control and be better at it next time it comes."