Kiwis and Samoa should consider ‘Island of Origin’

“…if Samoan players knew they could represent their country in three annual fixtures, against top level opposition, and with the exposure that brings, surely that would be a major carrot to keep players loyal and in turn create role models and heroes for children growing up in Samoa”

If Samoa have proven one thing over the course of rugby league’s Four Nations tournament, it is that they are worthy of regular international fixtures against tier one opposition.

Close, respectable losses to New Zealand and England showed they are no easy beats and will only get better with more games at this level.

Inclusion in one-off tests, or the irregular Four Nations tournaments will not produce the level of improvement that could otherwise be achieved.

I propose an annual three test “Island of Origin” series, featuring players representing New Zealand and Samoa and using the same timing as the annual State of Origin series in Australia.

With the NRL playing a split schedule and allowing Australian representative players to play in their domestic competition, NZ and Samoan players could do the same.

It would provide a regular, high level of representative football for both the Kiwi and Samoan players, ensuring they have more time to build combinations as a playing unit, something Australia receives the benefits of every year by way of State of Origin.

It would also provide a pathway for talent in Samoa, to aspire to play for their nation and also potentially for new talent to be identified for the NRL.

Rules around eligibility would need to be tightened up to ensure the revolving door selection policy doesn’t see players switching between NZ and Samoa.

But if Samoan players knew they could represent their country in three annual fixtures, against top level opposition, and with the exposure that brings, surely that would be a major carrot to keep players loyal and in turn create role models and heroes for children growing up in Samoa.

There may be a day when other Pacific Island nations such as Tonga and Fiji would like to be included, but this series doesn’t need to be a fix-all for the growth of all nations in rugby league, and nor should it try to be.

State of Origin has long been held purely for the benefit of the players who come from NSW and QLD, and those two states have benefited immensely from this over the years.

Likewise, there is no doubt that the Australian team has benefited hugely from this annual series.

For example, think how much better it has made the combinations honed in the Queensland team over the last decade, with players such as Thurston, Slater, Cronk, Lockyer, Inglis, etc.

What better way to close the gap than by having a hard fought series run in parallel to develop the Kiwis and Samoan teams?

NZ cannot justify an Island of Origin, the concept is flawed with nearly all of the NZ representative players coming from the North Island.

But an annual series with Samoa makes sense.

NZ have long benefited from Samoan players bolstering the ranks of our national team. This is a chance to give back, and get back. Regular top level competition improves both teams.

There are also financial spinoffs for Samoa, with presumably at least one fixture there each year.

Can you imagine the public interest in Samoa, where they are starved of top level international fixtures, be it rugby union or rugby league?

The All Blacks making one appearance next year may be one thing, but at least one annual fixture against the Kiwis in a Islands of Origin series would be immense.

And this can only be good for the growth of the game globally.

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