NRL to make landmark change to State of Origin eligibility rules

Kalyn Ponga, Kaeo Weekes and the New Zealand Rugby League will all benefit from one of the most significant changes in Origin’s 45-year history. SportNRLNRL 2026NRL to make landmark change to State of Origin eligibility rulesBy Dan Walsh February 16, 2026 — 8.19amSaveLog in, register or subscribe to save articles for later.Save articles for laterAdd articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.Got itNormal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementKalyn Ponga will be free to play for New Zealand without jeopardising his Queensland career as the ARL Commission approves one of the most significant changes to State of Origin eligibility rules in the concept’s 45-year history.As first flagged by this masthead last year, the ARLC will revamp Origin qualification rules for the 2026 series once its eligibility changes are formally ratified.Kalyn Ponga, Kaeo Weekes and Addin Fonua-Blake would benefit from the potential change to eligibility rules.Credit: Getty Images/Monique WestermannPlayers with eligibility for tier-one nations New Zealand and England will be free to play Origin, provided they qualify through existing criteria, without affecting their international careers.The move comes as a significant boost for the Kiwis ahead of this year’s World Cup, where New Zealand loom as the biggest threat to Australia’s dominance of the tournament.Until now, players such as Maroons stars Ponga and A.J. Brimson, and English back-rower Victor Radley have had to choose between representing NSW or Queensland and playing against Australia.The eligibility shift will not open the Origin floodgates to Kiwi and English players given they must still have lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday to qualify for rugby league’s showpiece event.It will, however, safeguard Kiwi playing talent, especially given the New Zealand Rugby League cannot match Origin payments of $30,000 a game, with Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu, Moeaki Fotuaika, Josh Papalii and the like having been forced to choose between playing for the Kiwis or their state in the past.Players such as the above quartet, as well as NSW stars Brian To’o and Payne Haas, have been free to play Origin and represent tier two nations Tonga and Samoa. The rule change will put New Zealand in particular on the same footing as their Pacific rivals when players are choosing between which heritage they represent.AdvertisementKiwis such as Joe Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Moses Leota will remain ineligible for State of Origin, along with almost all English NRL imports.The ARLC’s decision is set to benefit Ponga the most, given he has weighed up his representative future over the past 18 months.Victor Radley, who has played nine times for England, can now also represent NSW.Credit: Getty ImagesPonga has played 10 games for the Maroons, which under previous rules automatically linked his allegiance to the Kangaroos.But aside from two starts for Australia at the short-lived World Cup Nines in 2019, Ponga has resisted playing at the top level for the Kangaroos. He withdrew from Mal Meninga’s 2024 squad in clumsy fashion and later apologised.Ponga qualifies for New Zealand via his parents and has represented the Maori All Stars.Former New Zealand coach Michael Maguire approached Ponga about playing for New Zealand in 2023, only to be turned down because the Newcastle captain did not want to rule himself out of playing for Queensland.Rising Tonga star Isaiya Katoa has also been pursued by the Kiwis given his shared heritage, but he has indicated his preference is to play for the island nation.LoadingKatoa was invited into the NSW Origin camp this year and is viewed as a long-term Blues playmaker.A player such as Addin Fonua-Blake (one Test for New Zealand in 2017) will also be able to represent the Blues, the Cronulla prop having grown up in Sydney and played for Mascot Jets as a junior.News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.SaveLog in, register or subscribe to save articles for later.License this articleNRL 2026State of OriginPeter V'LandysNSW BluesQueensland MaroonsDan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via Twitter or email.Most Viewed in SportLoadingFrom our partnersLoading 3rd party ad contentLoading 3rd party ad contentLoading 3rd party ad contentLoading 3rd party ad contentAdvertisement