Latest news with #WorldCup9s
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Door ajar for Reece Walsh as Kalyn Ponga could be banned from entire Origin series
Kalyn Ponga has reportedly been spotted meeting with International Rugby League boss Troy Grant in a move that could spell the end of his State of Origin career. Ponga scored the match-winning try in golden-point against Manly on Thursday night, and probably did enough to retain his spot for the Maroons in Origin 2. The fullback had 19 runs for 191 metres, five tackle breaks and the winning try as Newcastle came back to beat the Sea Eagles 26-22. And while he may have done enough to retain his spot in Game 2, his future in State of Origin has been thrown into massive doubt. is reporting that Ponga has recently seen in a meeting with IRL boss Grant, in what was most likely a discussion about switching his international allegiances from Australia to New Zealand. Ponga has always been bound to play for Australia at international level because represented the Aussie team at the Rugby League World Cup 9s event in 2019. However he's never played a Test match for the Kangaroos, and has constantly avoided making a call that would rule him out of playing for NZ. It's believed Ponga hasn't wanted to turn his back on the possibility of playing for the Kiwis one day because of his Maori heritage. The IRL recently changed the rules and allowed AJ Brimson to switch allegiances from Australia to England. Brimson had been bound by the same situation that Ponga was in that he too played for Australia at the World Cup 9s event in 2019. But the IRL - headed by Grant - recently approved Brimson's application to represent England and declared the World Cup 9s event was no longer a relevant factor. The IRL said because the 9s event has effectively been discontinued, it doesn't hold any standing anymore and was "unfairly" blocking players from featuring at Test level. 'At the time, the 9s World Cup was part of IRL's calendar planning and it was intended to be held every four years,' a statement from the IRL read. 'However, the tournament has effectively been discontinued and is not part of IRL's medium term planning. 'Therefore, the tribunal felt that players who had played in the 2019 World Cup 9s were being unfairly restricted as they elected for their country based on a different set of circumstances to players who elect for a country through a 13-a-side match.' The rule change effectively opens the door for Ponga to play for New Zealand if he so wishes. And the fact he was recently spotted meeting with Grant has fuelled the rumour mill that he wants to play for the Kiwis. But a switch in international allegiances would bring an end to Ponga's Origin career. Because New Zealand are a Tier 1 nation, anyone who represents the Kiwis isn't allowed to play State of Origin. It's the same for Brimson, who has ultimately ended his Origin career with Queensland by defecting to England. RELATED: Cameron Smith's truth bomb for Billy Slater after 'weak' accusation Kevin Walters calls out Broncos amid sad Adam Reynolds situation Ponga is likely to see out this year's Origin series for the Maroons, but a switch to represent New Zealand next season would mean Billy Slater will have to find a new fullback for Queensland. It opens the door for Reece Walsh to reclaim the spot he lost this year, while Slater also has the option of using Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the No.1 jersey.
7NEWS
07-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AJ Brimson rules himself out of State of Origin contention after switching allegiance to England
Gold Coast ace AJ Brimson has been given clearance to switch his rugby league allegiance from Australia to England, ruling him out of State of Origin contention but opening up the chance to play against the Kangaroos in the Ashes. The 26-year-old utility has played four times for Queensland in Origin and has played his entire club career at the Titans over seven years. But England will take on a new focus after having his application for a change of allegiance granted so he can play for the country where his mother Vanessa was born. With Australia and England both 'tier 1' nations in international rugby league, Brisbane-born Brimson had to ask for permission from an International Rugby League tribunal for the switch, having previously represented Australia at the World Cup 9s in 2019. That switch was confirmed on Wednesday, with IRL Chair Troy Grant calling Brimson's 'a unique case' and explaining why stooping the move would be unfairly restricting the player. Explaining the clearance, Grant said: 'A player who qualifies for two tier-1 nations had elected to represent one of those nations in 9s, and was therefore unable to represent the other nation in 13s. 'Yet the player has had no further opportunity to represent his elected nation in 9s, as he had anticipated, and has also not played a senior international match. 'The aim of the international eligibility rules is to ensure that the best players are able to represent a nation for whom he or she qualifies, but in this case the player had been left sidelined.' There are no guarantees Brimson, who never played a Test for the Kangaroos, will waltz into coach Shaun Wane's England squad for the eagerly awaited first three-match Ashes series in 22 years at Wembley, Liverpool and Headingley in October and November. Brimson has plenty of competition for places at fullback or in the halves, with Wane able to call on players of the talent of Jack Welsby, George Williams, Mikey Lewis and Harry Smith. If successful, he would join other NRL players in the England side like Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Kai Pearce-Paul and Morgan Smithies.
West Australian
07-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Titans ace Brimson makes rugby league Ashes switch
Gold Coast Titans ace AJ Brimson has been given clearance to switch his rugby league allegiance from Australia to England, ruling him out of State of Origin contention but opening up the chance to play against the Kangaroos in the Ashes. The 26-year-old utility, who's played four times for Queensland in Origin and has played his entire club career at the Titans over seven years, has had his application for a change of allegiance granted so he can play for the country where his mother Vanessa was born. With Australia and England both 'tier 1' nations in international rugby league, Brisbane's Brimson had to ask for permission from an International Rugby League tribunal for the switch, having previously represented Australia at the World Cup 9s in 2019. That switch was confirmed on Wednesday, with IRL Chair Troy Grant calling Brimson's "a unique case" and explaining why stooping the move would be unfairly restricting the player. Explaining the clearance, Grant said: "A player who qualifies for two tier-1 nations had elected to represent one of those nations in 9s, and was therefore unable to represent the other nation in 13s. "Yet the player has had no further opportunity to represent his elected nation in 9s, as he had anticipated, and has also not played a senior international match. "The aim of the international eligibility rules is to ensure that the best players are able to represent a nation for whom he or she qualifies, but in this case the player had been left sidelined." There are no guarantees Brimson, who never played a Test for the Kangaroos, will waltz into coach Shaun Wane's England squad for the eagerly awaited first three-match Ashes series in 22 years at Wembley, Liverpool and Headingley in October and November. Brimson has plenty of competition for places at fullback or in the halves, with Wane able to call on players of the talent of Jack Welsby, George Williams, Mikey Lewis and Harry Smith. If successful, he would join other NRL players in the England side like Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Kai Pearce-Paul and Morgan Smithies.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Titans ace Brimson makes rugby league Ashes switch
Gold Coast Titans ace AJ Brimson has been given clearance to switch his rugby league allegiance from Australia to England, ruling him out of State of Origin contention but opening up the chance to play against the Kangaroos in the Ashes. The 26-year-old utility, who's played four times for Queensland in Origin and has played his entire club career at the Titans over seven years, has had his application for a change of allegiance granted so he can play for the country where his mother Vanessa was born. With Australia and England both 'tier 1' nations in international rugby league, Brisbane's Brimson had to ask for permission from an International Rugby League tribunal for the switch, having previously represented Australia at the World Cup 9s in 2019. That switch was confirmed on Wednesday, with IRL Chair Troy Grant calling Brimson's "a unique case" and explaining why stooping the move would be unfairly restricting the player. Explaining the clearance, Grant said: "A player who qualifies for two tier-1 nations had elected to represent one of those nations in 9s, and was therefore unable to represent the other nation in 13s. "Yet the player has had no further opportunity to represent his elected nation in 9s, as he had anticipated, and has also not played a senior international match. "The aim of the international eligibility rules is to ensure that the best players are able to represent a nation for whom he or she qualifies, but in this case the player had been left sidelined." There are no guarantees Brimson, who never played a Test for the Kangaroos, will waltz into coach Shaun Wane's England squad for the eagerly awaited first three-match Ashes series in 22 years at Wembley, Liverpool and Headingley in October and November. Brimson has plenty of competition for places at fullback or in the halves, with Wane able to call on players of the talent of Jack Welsby, George Williams, Mikey Lewis and Harry Smith. If successful, he would join other NRL players in the England side like Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Kai Pearce-Paul and Morgan Smithies.
