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April 17, 2026 \u2014 5:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n NSW officials have been urged to seek State of Origin dispensation for four-time premiership prop Moses Leota, who has spent more than half his life living in western Sydney, but falls short of the selection criteria because he arrived in Australia four months too late.<\/p>\n The NRL revamped its Origin eligibility rules at the start of the year to allow New Zealand and England internationals to represent the Blues or Maroons, provided they lived in NSW or Queensland before their 13th birthday.<\/p>\n Leota, who turned 13 in July 2008, moved with his family from Auckland to Sydney in November. He started playing with St Marys the following year \u2013 in the under-14 division two team \u2013 before he rose through the Panthers\u2019 junior system.<\/p>\n Penrith and NSW great Mark Geyer said \u201ccommon sense\u201d should prevail when it came to Leota, and if the NRL did give him the green light, it would \u201cnot open the floodgates\u201d for a host of other players to follow suit.<\/p>\n Only Queensland\u2019s Jason Taumalolo, who arrived in the Sunshine State when he was 13, and Ronaldo Mulitalo, who was picked by the Maroons in 2021, only to be sensationally ruled out<\/a> when the NRL discovered he did not meet the criteria, could make a case for being reconsidered.<\/p>\n \u201cMoses has spent more than half his life in Australia, and I used to coach against him when he was with St Marys and I was with Brothers,\u201d Geyer said.<\/p>\n \u201cMoses is as Penrith as they come. Common sense needs to prevail here. I\u2019d happily see Moses play for NSW, and I\u2019d be just as glad if Taumalolo and Mulitalo were available for Queensland.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d definitely have Moses in my 19-man squad. He\u2019s in career-best form.\u201d<\/p>\n Leota said before he flew out for Darwin with the Panthers on Thursday morning he would love to be unleashed against Queensland.<\/p>\n \u201cOne hundred per cent I\u2019d love to play for NSW, and I\u2019ve been here more than half my life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been to watch Origin games, and have always loved the hype and the intensity. I loved watching Paul Gallen and the way he went after the game, and took on anything and anyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be mad to play. I don\u2019t hate Queensland, but I\u2019m definitely a Blues\u2019 supporter.\u201d<\/p>\n Leota confirmed the Blues contemplated picking him several years ago, and he had been ready to enter Blues camp, only for officials to realise he was not eligible.<\/p>\n Greg Alexander, another Penrith great who was involved with the Blues when Leota first popped on their radar<\/a>, said he would love it if the NRL made an exception, especially given the 30-year-old missed the cut-off by a few months.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Moses would be perfect for Origin a few years ago, and nothing has changed \u2013 he\u2019s one of the best front-rowers in the game, and was crucial for us in all four grand final wins,\u201d Alexander, who is also a Panthers board member, said.<\/p>\n![\"Origin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/62d4bb9d0adea91a36fcf4dcdbd2ddc896cff76ef91cd55a58a9e74ac3bcf092.jpeg\")
Origin hopeful Moses Leota has spent more than half his life in NSW, and played junior football with St Marys.Artwork: Stephen Kiprillis<\/p>\n![\"Moses](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/109445fe60dcea205cf28f72bb25ab725e1db67f.jpeg\")
Moses Leota has been a standout for premiership favourites Penrith.Getty Images<\/p>\n
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