Queensland Rugby League is currently assessing the eligibility of a number of possible Queensland debutants after the NRL changed the qualification rules this week, with Storm champion Jahrome Hughes at the top of their hit list.
Hughes, 31, was born in New Zealand and represents them internationally, but moved to Australia sometime around his 13th birthday, going to school at Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Should the move have happened before his 13th birthday, he would immediately be available to play for the Maroons from the 2026 series onward.
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No surprise then that Queensland Rugby League has put his investigation at the very top of the pile, considering he’s easily one of the best halfbacks in the game. He’s already played 10 Tests for the Kiwis and won the 2024 Dally M Medal.
The whole thing hinges on the exact date that he and his family moved. Under the new rules, a player is still ineligible to play State of Origin if they did not reside in Australia before their 13th birthday. The only exception would be under the father-son rule (which this Sporting Base writer believes should be updated to parent-child as soon as possible).
QRL may run into some issues regarding exact dates; little documentation was kept 20 years ago.
Agents from the rugby league body are already looking into it today, though.
It would be incredible timing for Hughes should he get what would have felt like an impossible call-up just months ago, considering the 2027 State of Origin series is being played in New Zealand. Should Hughes get the tick of approval, he could line up at the Queensland no.7 in what amounts to a hometown Origin contest in his sophomore series.
It would also instantly give Queensland a boost across the spine, considering Hughes already plays alongside the state’s five-eighth Cameron Munster and starting hooker Harry Grant in clubland with Melbourne.
The Sporting Base understands that Hughes will accept the call-up should he be eligible.
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Other players who should now be eligible include Victor Radley, AJ Brimson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Isaiya Katoa, and Kaeo Weekes. Casey McLean and Briton Nikora, who both have played for New Zealand, are eligible for New South Wales, with no investigation required. Kalyn Ponga, meanwhile, is expected to defect to the Kiwis internationally. He has been quite vocal about wanting to play for the Kiwis, but had been worried he’d be frozen out of Origin if he changed his international loyalty.
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Cronulla’s Kiwi winger, Ronaldo Mulitalo, remains ineligible to play for Queensland because he did not come to Australia until after he turned 13. He had originally been thought to be available some years ago, but was denied.
“Rugby league has changed, the international game has grown, and our rules need to reflect that,” Peter V’landys said.
