Queensland coach Wayne Bennett called for a review of Origin’s eligibility rules after admitting the Maroons were considering picking the # 6 Blues Luke Keary.
The NSW debutant was born in Queensland and lived there until he was eleven. He’ll be playing his first Origin in the sky blue, however, and Bennett believes it might be time to review the rules again.
“If all other criteria are a bit messy and mushy, then (a player’s place of birth) should be one,” Bennett was quoted as saying in The Courier Mail.
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Keary knows a thing or two about the blues
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“Most of the rules need to be revised from time to time, things change.
“There have been a lot of changes in our game and who is playing the game now. The rules may be worth checking out, but it won’t help anyone this year.”
Early in his career, Keary wrote to the NRL to allow him to play for Queensland but has since committed to the blues.
Bennett revealed that Queensland went to great lengths to secure Keary’s service and believes the rules may need to be viewed just like any rule in the game.
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“Keary was being considered for Queensland,” said Bennett.
“I understand the QRL sent letters and everything else away, but they (the NRL) didn’t think he should be a Queenslander so he plays for NSW.
“I attended a meeting about it for the first time 10 or 15 years ago because it was a shemozzle at the time. So what has changed?
“I was there all those years ago and I felt like we made good decisions back then. We haven’t had many problems with it since, but there is always an example that challenges us all.
“Queensland has done everything it can and we have to live with it.”
Bennett was being pressured into choosing a player who had previously competed for the Blues.
“I would … if he was the best player I would take him,” said Bennett.
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