QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has called for an independent avenue for appeal over State of Origin eligibility criteria, after rookie Luke Keary was locked out of playing for the Maroons by the NRL.
Keary, a self-proclaimed Queenslander, has been told he must play for NSW because the new eligibility rules deem him a Blue.
Keary was born and raised in Ipswich, but moved to Sydney when he was 10 with his family.
Desperate to play for the Maroons in the future, Keary made a written plea to NRL CEO David Smith for an exemption to be made so he could play for the state of his choice.
His request was rejected.
Meninga admitted there was very little that could be done under existing rules to change the situation.
“I don’t know of any other way for Luke to state his case. There is no independent way for him to pursue the matter now,” Mal told fogs.com.au.
“He wrote a letter to David Smith asking for consideration, but basically you are asking for the NRL to overrule itself.
“It was hopeful at best, but really the only option available to him. It is very insular. There is no fairness in that I don’t think.
“There should be some forum where he is able to state his case. They will say that rules are rules, but there needs to be intervention when the rules don’t apply to all.
“Luke ticks all the boxes for NSW because his family moved to Sydney when he was 10. Both his parents are Queenslanders, he grew up in a Queensland family thinking he was a Queenslander.
“He was born in Queensland, played junior footy here, and moved back when he got the opportunity to. But because of his ability, he was signed up by a Sydney club and went back south again.
“He is a victim of circumstances beyond his own control, but because of that, he now ticks more boxes for NSW than Queensland, and he doesn’t get the chance to pursue his dream of playing for Queensland. It is a real shame for him.
“By the time you are 10 years old, you’ve got a fair idea of who you support, who your favourite team is and who your favourite players are.
“Luke knew then he was a Queenslander, but now the rules tell him he is from NSW.”
Mal said Keary being the first test case for the eligibility rules would not have helped his chances of being cleared to play for Queensland.
“Maybe if he had been the second or third case where a players allegiance didn’t align with what the rule book said, there was have been some flexibility and sensitivity shown,” Mal said.
“But because he is the first, the NRL was probably determined to ensure the new rules stayed as black and white as possible.”
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