'Rugby league has changed': Huge Origin shake-up announced days after Kalyn Ponga bombshell
Updated . First published
The NRL has announced a huge shake-up to eligibility rules surrounding State of Origin and international football.
The Australian Rugby League Commission will now allow players to represent Tier 1 nations that aren't Australia - so either England or New Zealand - and still represent New South Wales or Queensland in the annual interstate series.
In recent years, several players have snubbed the Kangaroos to play for the Kiwis or England, thus ending their chances of playing Origin for the Blues or Maroons.
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Monday's news means the likes of Victor Radley - who jumped ship to play for England several years ago - can now also play Origin for their state.
The announcement comes days after Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga declared he wants to play for New Zealand, a move that formerly would have ruled him out of playing for the Maroons again.
Cameron Munster, Kalyn Ponga and Felise Kaufusi of the Maroons celebrate victory. Getty
Ponga can now play for the Kiwis at the 2026 World Cup, and still be eligible for Queensland next year and beyond.
To be eligible for Origin, now a player must have been born in NSW or Queensland, or lived in either state before their 13th birthday, or their father represented either state in Origin previously.
"Rugby league has changed, the international game has grown, and our rules need to reflect that," Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys said.
"If a player is eligible to play State of Origin, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they've represented New Zealand or England at Test level.
"State of Origin is about where you're from and what State you're eligible for — not which country you represent internationally. If you're eligible, you should be able to play for your state.
"Over 45 years, State of Origin has developed into something special, and we want the best players playing if they're eligible."
Blues player Matt Burton tackles Kalyn Ponga of Queensland. Getty
Earlier on Monday, the NRL also confirmed it will take a State of Origin game to New Zealand for the first time in 2027.
The announcement was made in a 5.30am press release on Monday, just hours after the NRL All Stars game finished in Hamilton.
The Indigenous and Maori men's teams drew 16-16 in front of more than 18,000 fans in the New Zealand city.
Next year, the Blues will face the Maroons in one game at Eden Park in Auckland.
"Auckland is a great sporting city, so it's fantastic that an iconic event like State of Origin will be coming here next year," Auckland mayor Wayne Brown said in a statement.
"This city is the home of rugby league in New Zealand, and thanks to the recent success of the Warriors, the sport here has never been bigger.
"From the outset, Auckland made it clear we wanted to bring State of Origin to our city, and we've worked hard to secure it.
"We know how to host major events, and we know the value they bring. This match will mean full hotels, busy restaurants and bars, and thousands of visitors experiencing everything our region has to offer. Aucklanders will turn up - we always do - but we also want the planes full of Queenslanders and New South Welshmen heading across the Tasman."
While Origin is played between NSW and Queensland, one-off games are regularly played in Perth, Melbourne, and even Adelaide, although at least two games of the three will be played in Sydney and Brisbane each series.
The league famously took an Origin game to America in 1987, although it was a fourth game for that year and didn't officially count towards the series result, which Queensland had already won.
"Rugby League is the number one sport in Australia and the Pacific, and the growth we have seen in New Zealand over recent years has been nothing short of extraordinary," V'landys said.
"State of Origin isn't just a football match — it's a cultural phenomenon. It's the greatest rivalry in Australian sport, and in 2027, it will be showcased on one of the most famous sporting stages in the world.
"The eyes of Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and beyond will be on Eden Park, and it will be a milestone moment for the game."
It's not yet known whether the first or second game of the 2027 series will head across the ditch.
