I don't for a fact but it could have, and that's enough to be a problem.


You just keep repeating the rule, and not justifying it. Marshall 'originated' in NSW so should be elligible to play for the team. The fact he chose New Zealand over that is all well and good, but he should never have been asked to make that decision.

Origin is not test football, and nationality is irrelevent.

Well how come Manly winger Michael Robertson played for Scotland in last years World Cup but he can also play for NSW in Origin if he ever gets selected?

Hes an Aussie

WC allows people to pick different countries.

Of course, just remembered Jarryd Hayne(Fiji), Jennings(Tonga) and they can still play for NSW and Aus. Infact Hayne deserves and will get Darius Boyds wing spot in the 4-Nations.

Just to stir things up further.

Benji Marshall played for NSW in Origin at junior levels.

Just to add some reality to it all....


Benji Marshall, born and raised in New Zealand. Went to school on the Gold Coast on a scholarship, was a West Tigers junior and lives in Sydney.


Here is a tip....Poms....go away. You have no idea what you are talking about you idiots!

So its ok if you are born in NSW and represent Q'land but not born in NZ to represent a state? Hmmm, we all know SOO is used as a drawcard to make players choose Australia. It isn't a trial game for the Kangaroo jersey so there is no reason other than that for not allowing a player who chooses to play for another country the opporunity to play SOO.

Why do you say it isn't a trial game for a Test Jersey?
It obviously is.
City V Country is a minor selection game
State of origin series
Test Team

Test players are in the main drawn from the players selected from the SOO series.

In 30 odd years there has been half a dozen players not born in Australia that have elected to choose SOO and be eligible for Kangaroo selection.
Out of the half dozen all were living in Australia from a young age and were developed from school age in Australia.
Do you really think those half a dozen players (some of them not really top shelf) have been the reason Australia have dominated Rugby League for 4 decades?


Why does this factor bother the Pommies so much?

Just trying to illustrate how your questioning is made redundant.

the SOO rules are very clear . no poms allowed to play SOO

You need to possess the ability before eligibility is an issue.

McManus born and raised for 8 years in Scotland, then raised in Darwin where he started playing rugby league.

Sounds NSW through and through.

i read he was 3 years when arrived. he played in nsw when he was young . so he is a blue

No actually I was wrong, he was 10 before he moved to Australia.

There he learnt about the game and started playing when he was 13 for his youth team in Darwin.

From there he was signed for the Newcastle Knights, thus apparently being elligible to play for NSW.

All it serves to do is make a mockery of the idea of 'State of Origin'. McManus originally came from Scotland and learnt his rugby in Darwin, but is allowed to represent NSW, when players like Benji are excluded based on their nationality.

Maybe McManus has an Aussie passport???

I'm sure he has if he moved there as a child.


Benji Marshall is a Kiwi.

He won't have one.


Also Newcastle Knights are an NSW team.


So there is your answer.

Wests Tigers are a NSW team.

Basically you Aussies have offered not one justification for the rule.

Newcastle sign a player from a youth team hundreds of miles away, and he is said to have 'originated' in NSW.

Whereas Benji was at least educated in NSW, started his career there, but is not said to have 'originated' there.

It's a joke, and you all know it, which is why everyone is getting so defensive.

Origin is not test football, and nationality should be irrelevent.

I think you are Benji Marshall and I claim my $5

[i"Under State of Origin rules, players are selected for the state in which they first played senior (or registered) rugby league. Players must also be eligible to represent Australia at an international level.

Under those rules, Queensland-born players can represent NSW, and vice-versa. A famous example of this is Parramatta halfback Peter Sterling (13 origins for NSW, 1981-8icon_cool.gif, who was actually born in Toowoomba; Brisbane-born Chris Johns represented NSW for nine origins. Overseas-born players, by virtue of this rule, have also played origin. "[/i

What don't you understand?

some of the english posters on here have been as dumb as bat s*t.

yes guys, they invented state of origin football so australia could pinch kiwi and polynesian players

I understand the rules, but I don't understand the point of them.

Origin is not test football, why is nationality relevent?


That's not what we're saying, but that is the direct impact. Oh and players miss out.

Never argue with an idiot.


See, an idiot will always been an idiot. They will never get it, no matter how hard you try.


JB, well, he's an idiot. I could use all sorts of fancy terms, but idiot just sums him up.


Don't argue with JB, he's an idiot.

so benji went too school in gold coast qld. played for tigers. so he can play for nsw .qld. roo's .kiwis .

damn I have a forum stalker! Does LF ever post anything now that doesn't relate to me. Of all the fanatics to have I had to attract LF!

See, he's an idiot!