How State of Origin picks will shape Rugby League World Cup squads

When new Queensland coach Billy Slater and his New South Wales counterpart Brad Fittler announce their State of Origin squads next month, a picture will emerge of what the Australia squad will look like at the World Cup – and which players will be left on the cutting room floor for other countries. Australia coach Mal Meninga will not select many players for the World Cup who have not represented their state this season, so the Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Scotland, Italy and Lebanon coaches will be waiting to see which of their dual-international players he picks and, crucially, which he leaves out.

State of Origin is only for players eligible to represent Australia. Players cannot represent more than one country in a calendar year but they can switch from a Tier 1 nation (Australia, New Zealand, England or Great Britain) to a Tier 2 or Tier 3 nation at the drop of a hat, as long as they “nominate” their chosen country at least three weeks before a tournament begins. So, by 25 September at the very latest, the smaller countries – including potential World Cup contenders Tonga and Samoa – will be able to pick up players not wanted by Australia, New Zealand and England. In reality, they will have a pretty good idea who will be available within the next month.

A number of NRL players know they will be at the World Cup but not which dressing room they will be in. James Tedesco can assume he will make the Kangaroos squad but, if Meninga picks a younger full-back, Tedesco will probably return to Italy, who he represented at the 2017 World Cup. Prop Paul Vaughan and second-row Nathan Brown are in similar positions. Their last international appearances were for Australia, too, but all three could end up playing for the