![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
It remains unclear whether Hughes would be eligible, given uncertainty over whether he arrived in Australia before his 13th birthday, but the Kiwis star ruled himself out of contention. <\/p>\n
Speaking on the 167 Podcast alongside Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen, Hughes said he lacked the passion for his state that makes Origin so special. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll give you this exclusive – I\u2019m not gonna play Origin,\u201d Hughes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if I\u2019m eligible or not. I would only play for a cash grab and I wouldn\u2019t do that. I feel like Origin is such a good game or spectacle, because they are so proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look at Mun, he is a proud Queenslander, he would die for that jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I put a Queensland jersey on, I just wouldn\u2019t have that same passion as if I put on the Kiwi or Maori jersey, or even a Storm jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jahrome Hughes will not play Origin.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old was born in Wellington and has played 10 Tests for New Zealand, but moved to Queensland in 2008 and attended Palm Beach Currumbin High School.<\/p>\n
Hughes made his NRL debut with the Titans in 2013, before a three-year gap until his next game with the Cowboys in 2016.<\/p>\n
Hughes then signed with the Storm for the 2017 season and has scored 69 tries in 168 games for the club, winning a premiership in 2020. <\/p>\n
Brimson ready to return to Queensland | 01:24<\/p>\n
QLD BOSS\u2019 CAVEAT ON ORIGIN ELIGIBILITY<\/p>\n
A day after the new State of Origin eligibility rules were confirmed by the NRL, Queensland Rugby League (QRL) CEO Ben Ikin has revealed that players will not be selected unless they are \u201cgenuinely committed\u201d to the state.<\/p>\n
In the biggest rule change in the 46-year history of State of Origin, the NRL declared that players born outside of New South Wales and Queensland would still be able to play in the prestigious arena if they resided in one of the two states before their 13th birthday.<\/p>\n
This will allow several stars of the game to put their hand up for selection and also not represent Australia on the international stage.<\/p>\n
Speaking with Code Sports<\/a>, Ikin, who made 17 appearances for Queensland, stated that players like Briton Nikora, who are now eligible for selection, won\u2019t be picked unless they bleed Maroon.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s true now. The eligibility rules have been broadened and I accept that because the international game has become a huge focus and there are some anomalies in the current set up,\u201d the QRL CEO said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut for as long as Origin has existed in Queensland, what has always been true is that unless you are genuinely committed to the Maroons cause then you don\u2019t get a jersey and that will not change. <\/p>\n \u201cThat is something that is ingrained in every player that\u2019s been part of every squad by every coach who has ever been in charge. <\/p>\n \u201cWe see that as our competitive advantage. You can\u2019t fake your way into a Maroons jersey, mate.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n SHOOTING: Bulldogs legend fighting for life after being shot twice in attack<\/a><\/p>\n CHALK AND CHEESE: Inside the coaching evolution of Benji… and \u2018turning point\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018SHOCK OF THEIR LIFE\u2019: These two Aussie twin mums plotting incredible comeback<\/a><\/p>\n Ben Ikin and Dave Trodden.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n While the likes of Nikora and potentially 2024 Dally M Medallist Jahrome Hughes are now available for selection, Queensland have a storied history of picking players who were born outside of Australia.<\/p>\n Jeremiah Nanai, Moeaki Fotuaika, Robert Toia and Xavier Coates were all born outside of Australia. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, former Queensland stars Brad Thorn, Tonie Carroll and Petero Civoniceva had represented another country on the international arena.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not the coach and you have to back the coach\u2019s judgement,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on the bloke we\u2019ve got in charge currently, there are multiple meetings, pre-series engagements, how they play. Billy knows and understands whether or not a person\u2019s connection to Queensland is legitimate. <\/p>\n \u201cHe spends an inordinate amount of time watching every game, every week for every player that\u2019s part of his broader squad. He tries to identify the habits that he believes makes a Queensland Origin player.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports NRL Sportmail. Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\n Utai in serious but stable condition | 02:03<\/p>\n JOHNS BACKS ORIGIN ELIGIBILITY CHANGES TO SAVE INTERNATIONAL GAME<\/p>\n Matty Johns believes the new Origin eligibility laws will save the international game and allow the best players to feature for both state and country. <\/p>\n Speaking on SEN radio<\/a>, Johns noted that either Origin or the international game would suffer from not having the best players available if the old system was maintained. <\/p>\n \u201cI like it. I think they\u2019ve figured out a really good system,\u201d Johns told SEN 1170 Drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day, it was either going to be Origin or Test football that suffered significantly.<\/p>\n \u201cSamoa and Tonga cannot remain a tier 2 country. When you go into a World Cup, you\u2019ve got two sides who\u2026 can beat anyone on their day\u2026 they\u2019ve got to move into tier one.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was either going to have a situation where the best players in the world aren\u2019t playing State of Origin in about a decade or sides who were boosting the international game by playing for Samoa and Tonga suddenly pledge their allegiance to Australia because they want to play State of Origin football.\u201d <\/p>\n 2026 SEASON PREVIEWS<\/p>\n TITANS: Big roster question for new coach… and $12m mistake he can\u2019t afford to make<\/a><\/p>\n STORM: \u2018Real genius\u2019 behind Bellamy… and weakness that could bring Storm undone<\/a><\/p>\n