Minto is not in Qld anymore. Apparently.

[shasta]

Tightening Origin Eligibility Leaves Youngsters Feeling Marooned

Jarryd Jackson is eight and loves rugby league. He works hard in class, but can't wait for the bell to ring. The playground is his element. There, he can pass like Cameron Smith, tackle like Sam Thaiday, bash and crash like Dave Taylor and can kick the winning field goal like Cooper Cronk.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...219-2bnbp.html

[jargan83]

Thats gold Jerry, Gold!

[oxleymoron]

But is Palmerston North still in NSW?
Posted via Mobile Device

[blueandblack]

''I'll do anything to play for Queensland. I've got Google Maps on my iPod. I'll even find out where it is!''

[Alison]

Reminds me of this

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=mbgSh...Shiaal6E&gl=GB

[PeterM]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/nrl...-1226540721011

NRL scouts will target New Zealand's primary schools in a bid to make Kiwi kids eligible for State of Origin, NZ Rugby League high performance director Tony Kemp fears.

The ARL Commission announced on Tuesday a more defined set of Origin eligibility rules would be enforced after a year of distracting debates about what counts as a player's "origin".

From next year an NRL player will only be eligible for NSW or Queensland if he lived in that state before his 13th birthday or was the son of an Origin player.

Had the new laws applied before their Origin selections, record-breaking Maroons try-scorer Greg Inglis would be classified as a New South Welshman, and Blues and Australian prop James Tamou would be a Kiwi.

Kemp was a vocal critic of ex-Blues coach Ricky Stuart for poaching Tamou this year and Maroons coach Mal Meninga for targeting Cowboys young gun Jason Taumalolo.

Taumalolo was recruited from Auckland aged 14 and while he considered playing for the Maroons, he eventually sided with his country of birth.

Kemp, a former Kiwi Test player, said the new laws presented an entirely new problem.

"This is fantastic news but it is not watertight," Kemp told The Courier-Mail.

"Now there will be a big push to get these kids into Australia before they turn 13.

"The kids they target are getting younger and younger with this new rule. They will be dragging kids with ability to play football over to Australia to get them before the cutoff."

High schools with proud league programs like Gold Coast's Keebra Park recruit many NZ players.

Kemp is concerned the recruiting process will now start a year earlier so the player can reap the financial and status benefits Origin provides.

Queensland's seventh consecutive Origin series win was sidetracked by the eligibility issue as Kiwi-born forwards Sam Kasiano and Josh Papalii flip-flopped about representing NZ or Queensland.

Eventually Kasiano chose the black jersey, while Papalii selected Maroon.

Kemp said a crackdown on player managers recruiting youngsters would help solve the exodus of Kiwi talent.

"It is illegal for agents to sign these kids under the age of 15," he said.

The new laws also mean Victorian born and raised players, such as the Melbourne Storm's Mahe Fonua, and players bred in other Australian states or sons of migrant families who move to Australia in their teens cannot play Origin.

Previously, Victorian players could represent NSW because the Storm entered junior teams in NSW competitions.

Newcastle flyer James McManus, Melbourne centre Will Chambers and Parramatta's Luke Kelly hail from the Northern Territory.

Under the new guidelines, McManus, who was born in Scotland and bred in the Top End, would never have been eligible for the NSW call-up he received in 2009.

[Stone Cold]

Wow. NSW lose a few origins and now have to change the rules in their favour. Typical.

[jargan83]

John Grant is a Queenslander....

[shasta]

Wow. NSW lose a few origins and now have to change the rules in their favour. Typical.

Can you explain how this is in their favour?
Posted via Mobile Device