Bennett wants overhaul of international league rules

Scott Bailey | July 25, 2025

Wayne Bennett has called for an overhaul to rugby league’s international eligibility rules, wanting players barred from swapping nations once they have debuted.

The ARL Commission is set to review eligibility rules in coming months, potentially allowing players to feature for any nation while also playing State of Origin.

As things stand, players cannot represent any tier-one nation other than Australia if they wish to play for NSW or Queensland. 

Tier-one nations are currently Australia, New Zealand and England, with the likes of Addin Fonua-Blake and Victor Radley currently ineligible for Origin as a result.

Under the proposed changes, any person who lived in NSW or Queensland before age 13 would be eligible for Origin, regardless of their nation of choice.

Bennett supports the move, but is adamant changes need to happen to the international game.

Namely he wants players to pick one nation for their careers, stopping the current situation where players swap from Australia or New Zealand to Pacific nations.

“That’s served its purpose. It’s time to move on from that position,” Bennett said.

“You pick one nation and you play for that nation, instead of playing for two or three nations over the period of your career. 

“Tonga and Samoa and them have come up, right up. 

“One of them played in the grand final of the World Cup four years ago, three years ago. The other played here last year in the Pacific Cup final against Australia.

“They’re very competent football teams now, so I don’t think we have to make exceptions to the rules for them.”

The likes of Payne Haas and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are understood to be weighing up moves this year to Samoa, whose set-up now has several Origin players.

But veteran South Sydney coach Bennett’s suggestion would create possible headaches for players outside of the prime of their career.

For instance, Isaiya Katoa represented Tonga in last year’s Pacific Cup, but is viewed as a long-term No.7 for Australia if he chooses to prioritise the Kangaroos.

Players have also often moved back to second-tier nations later in their careers, after representing Australia or New Zealand.

“If they’re eligible to play for Tonga and they’re eligible to play for Australia … they’re going to now make a choice and that choice stays with them,” Bennett said.

“That’s their nation of choice and that’s where they’re going to stay.”

Meanwhile, Bennett said he would have no issues with the likes of Fonua-Blake or Radley playing Origin, given the proposed changes did not make it open-slather.

“I don’t believe they’re going to play at the rules of Origin itself,” the former Maroons and Kangaroos coach said.

“That’s really important because the minute the fans realise it’s not the genuine Queensland versus NSW that it is, then we’ll lose the fans.

“The rivalry is real, it’s not false, so we need to maintain it.”