The first league players to take advantage of new State of Origin rules have been selected.
Queensland selected Kiwi Ferns forwards Brianna Clark and Otesa Pule to be part of their Women’s Origin I squad on April 30 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales.
Previously, players couldnot represent the Maroons or Blues if they represented New Zealand or England at an international level, but this rule has been changed and opened a pathway for those like Clark and Pule to play in the interstate rivalry.
Clark was born in Queensland but chose to represent New Zealand because she qualifies through her mum, while Pule was born in Auckland but played junior rugby league on the Sunshine Coast.
Clark had also played one Origin game before for Queensland in 2021, but the opportunity for further games was stripped from her once she decided to play for the Kiwi Ferns.
“I made my choice … but always in the back of my head I was thinking, ‘surely there’s going to be a rule change’," Clark said.
Brianna Clark is part of the Queensland squad for the Women's Origin match on April 30 after eligibility rules changed. Photo / Photosport
“There had been talk about it … but I had accepted my fate and thought ‘that’s fine’.
“Then once I saw the rules change, I literally called [Queensland assistant Meg Ward] straight away and I was like, ‘Can you please tell your people that I am available and extremely keen?’
Clark felt the rule should have been changed a while ago and argued it helped to strengthen the international game.
New Zealand's Otesa Pule can also represent Queensland after Origin eligibility rules changed. Photo / Photosport
“When you give people an option to go represent something a little bit higher than [just themselves], to go back to their own cultures – I was representing my nan and my mum by going to the Kiwis – it means something to you.
“It’s a really cool opportunity to have.
“Here, I represent Queensland for myself – like this is mine – and then, for international football, I can go and express myself through giving back for my mum and my nana.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s game, Cronulla Sharks prop Addin Fonua-Blake and teammate Briton Nikora have expressed interest in being selected to play in Origin now that they qualify under the rule change.
The changes also allowed Kalyn Ponga to switch his allegiance to the Kiwis after he had only made appearances for Australia in the Junior Kangaroos and the Rugby League World 9s in 2019.
