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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters will watch Wednesday night\u2019s State of Origin series opener knowing up to 15 of the players in action could take on host nation Australia at this year\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n The former Test player and Maroons Origin coach knows it will be up to him and his players to develop \u201cspirit and culture\u201d within the team to stop that tally from growing in future years.<\/p>\n The changes to the Origin eligibility rules at the start of the year have paved the way for New Zealand\u2019s Casey McLean and Briton Nikora to make their debuts for NSW and Queensland respectively, along with Addin Fonua-Blake, who made a cameo for the Kiwis at the 2017 World Cup, and England\u2019s Victor Radley (both NSW).<\/p>\n The big question being asked once the Origin rules were overhauled in February<\/a> was what impact would the change have on the Kangaroos\u2019 set-up in years to come.<\/p>\n The ARL Commission agreed to allow New Zealand and England players to now feature in Origin games, provided they still met the Origin criteria, including being born in either state, or were a NSW or Queensland resident before they turned 13.<\/p>\n As former Australia coach Mal Meninga said at the time about the increasing number of Samoans, Tongans and Kiwis featuring in the interstate series: \u201cMy fear is for the kid who actually wants to play for Australia, but is overlooked for Origin.\u201d<\/p>\n The tally of 15 players is a huge jump from the four Origin players who took on Australia at the last World Cup on home soil in 2017. Those four players were James Tedesco (Italy), Josh Papalii (Samoa), Jarryd Hayne (Fiji) and Andrew Fifita (Tonga).<\/p>\n This year\u2019s NSW squad includes Brian To\u2019o (Samoa), Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Kotoni Staggs (Tonga), Tolu Koula (Tonga), Fonua-Blake (Tonga), Haumole Olakau\u2019atu (Tonga), Radley (England), Jacob Saifiti (Fiji), McLean (New Zealand), while for Queensland Kalyn Ponga (New Zealand), Tabuai-Fidow (Samoa), Rob Toia (Tonga), Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui (Samoa), Briton Nikora (New Zealand) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Tonga) are committed elsewhere.<\/p>\n Of those players, Staggs and Fa\u2019asauamaleaui are a chance of remaining with Australia, while Queensland debutant Sam Walker is in the sights of the England camp.<\/p>\n Despite the growing number of Origin players he won\u2019t be able to select, Walters remains confident Australia have plenty of depth, and he listed a handful of Kangaroos hopefuls who would not be in action at Accor Stadium on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Origin players likely to play against Australia at the World Cup<\/p>\n NSW: Brian To\u2019o (Samoa), Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Kotoni Staggs (Tonga), Tolu Koula (Tonga), Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga), Haumole Olakau\u2019atu (Tonga), Victor Radley (England), Jacob Saifiti (Fiji), Casey McLean (New Zealand).<\/p>\n Queensland: Kalyn Ponga (New Zealand), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Samoa), Rob Toia (Tonga), Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui (Samoa), Briton Nikora (New Zealand), Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Tonga)<\/p>\n But he also hopes that if NSW and Queensland selectors were stuck on two players for the one position that they would lean towards the player who is eligible for Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not concerned at all,\u201d Walters said on Sunday. \u201cAnd how many players who were on last year\u2019s Kangaroos tour are now sitting on the sidelines this Wednesday night, including Dylan Edwards, Reece Walsh, Keaon Koloamatangi and Tom Dearden [who is injured], just to name a few.<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia has had a lot of success at recent World Cups, and it\u2019s been great to see the emergence of other nations [over] the past 10 years. That\u2019s a good thing for the international game.<\/p>\n \u201cI would believe [Origin] coaches and selectors in the future will take into consideration the Australian team at the end of the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThings have changed from years gone by, I accept that. At the end of the day, you want young players aspiring to wear the Kangaroos jersey, and that\u2019s up to myself and the rest of the group of players and staff to make sure that remains a top priority on the players\u2019 to-do list.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"NSW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dd58a5ba5663d30c73f5306842fa5839098f87c9.jpeg\")
NSW centre Stephen Crichton is set to play for Samoa in this year\u2019s World Cup.Sitthixay Ditthavong<\/p>\n
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