Origin teams should play Cup: Lewis

[Ryan]

RUGBY league Immortal Wally Lewis has pushed for Queensland and NSW - not Australia - to contest the World Cup in order to make the tournament competitive.

But the former Kangaroos skipper reckons international teams would still find it hard to match the Maroons and Blues.

Great Britain have threatened world No.1 Australia in the past but they won't be contesting the upcoming World Cup after splitting into England, Scotland and Ireland for the tournament Down Under.

Lewis said that decision had “weakened” the tournament which starts with a PNG-England clash at Townsville on October 25.

“It's very difficult but if other international teams have been broken up into other bodies and the strength has been weakened it makes it very difficult for those teams to beat Australia which is at their best,” Lewis said in Brisbane.

“If they are divided up it makes it a little bit tough for them.

“Really Australia is the only team that doesn't suffer.”

Lewis believed the introduction of Queensland and NSW would make the tournament “a hell of a lot more even”.

Lewis still doubted whether the Maroons and Blues would be threatened at a World Cup.

“Particularly when you look at the standard that's set in interstate football,” the veteran of 33 Tests said.

“State of Origin level has probably been raised to a bar that you have to question even whether the international football is going to get there.

“(Then) ... you are combining both those teams and putting them in the one Australian team.”

But Lewis admitted that playing for his country was his greatest honour and proudest moment of his glittering career that also included 31 Origins for his beloved Queensland.

Australia are runaway tournament favourites at $1.18 with bookmakers ahead of New Zealand ($6.50) and England ($7).

Lewis was also shaking his head over the eligibility controversy that has marred the build-up to the tournament.

Tonga are threatening to take the international federation to court after it ruled Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were ineligible.

And they are also reeling from the sudden withdrawal of squad member Anthony Tupou after he received a last minute call-up from Australia.

Lewis felt for Tonga which loomed as a major threat to Australia.

“If anything else he could have created a huge amount of confidence in their team if he played (for Tonga),” he said.

“It's very difficult to expect they are going to have a great deal of strength.”

In other Cup news, Manly centre Steve Matai was cleared to join the New Zealand squad after seeing a medical specialist in Sydney on Monday.

Matai played through Manly's NRL championship title run with a shoulder injury. But he was told Monday his shoulder would not require immediate surgery.

And it seems the guessing game over Broncos centre Justin Hodges' availability will end Tuesday.

ARL doctor Hugh Hazard said Hodges would visit a surgeon and discuss scan results on his injured shoulder on Tuesday morning.

QLD vs NSW World Cup Grand Final! - I like it, but I'm not convinced it's what's best for the sport.....

[Paul]

what a stupid idea

a world cup is international teams,not states.To do this would make the WC a mockery

[Steve]

what a stupid idea

a world cup is international teams,not states.To do this would make the WC a mockery

Agreed.

Splitting up Great Britain isn't splitting into states, it's splitting into countries.

Trying to lower the bar (not that Origin teams would be lowering anything) is not the way to go.

[Chaos]

Most people want to see a top of the line rep tournament with all the top players available.
The State of Origin only allows Australian players and we can only field 17 Australian players in an International game..
But if you looked at the top 100 players in the world...over half would be Australian players, making it hard to include the best playing against the best.

I'd rather see the 'State of Origin' introduce International teams.

[quins rl]

Crackpot idea...
England wont be any weaker than GB would have been,i cant think of 1 player(with the slim posibility Danny Brough)from Ireland or Scotland who would have made a GB team
After
looking at the squads i think Ireland will be the whipping boys unfortunately.

[C-Whiz]

I get what Wally is hinting at, but the reality of Origin is it is an intense rivalry born of resentment and loathing and festering hatred that has grown into what it is today. Also, you couldn't maintain Origin style intensity a whole tournament IMO.

[Ryan]

I Also, you couldn't maintain Origin style intensity a whole tournament IMO.

Good point, origin games could lose intensity if flogged too much. Keep it to 3 quality games a year.

[C-Whiz]

Good point, origin games could lose intensity if flogged too much. Keep it to 3 quality games a year.

Yeah, and don't forget, if Qld has beaten NSW for the past three years, well that would be like about half a century in RLWC terms!

[daveyk]

Yeah, and don't forget, if Qld has beaten NSW for the past three years, well that would be like about half a century in RLWC terms!

hahahahahahahahahhahahhaha - very well put

[curly_11]

Would make it more competitive and NSW people are Mexicans anyway but its best left as Countries. Cant help it if we have all the talent at the moment!

[DIEHARD]

Queensland wouldn't do bad as its own country especially with our Origin and Olympic form.

But its a ridiculous idea and I'm disappointed it was mentioned and thus mad into an article.