Apparently the Blues are going to try to invoke some sort of "code-hoppers clause" whereby they will argue Radradra played his first rugby league in Sydney. Please... Wanted man: Semi Radradra of the Eels. Credit:Getty Images Increasingly, State of Origin does not represent the best of the NRL. That is as it should be – it's NSW v Queensland, not blue team versus maroon team. The less that State of Origin represents the best of the NRL, the better that rugby league will be going – because it is not healthy for a sport to have, as it's so-called "pinnacle", a game between two Australian states. Let Origin transfix the Australia eastern seaboard by all means.

But for everyone else, we need to work on restoring the prestige of international football. And NSW or Queensland stealing players from countries like Fiji is not the way to achieve that objective. When State of Origin moves to standalone weekends - it's gonna happen, people - it's likely each country (aside from Australia and New Zealand) will be encouraged to play one international using NRL players on any one of those weekends. In other words, we might have Fiji v Tonga in Sydney or even Nadi on Friday night, England v France in the early hours of the next morning, Australian time, Samoa v Cook Islands in Auckland Saturday night and then Origin Sunday night. With 38 to 40 countries now playing rugby league, you can double, triple or quadruple the number of internationals on those weekends from the suggestions listed above. If we are strong in stopping the likes of Semi Radradra from playing Origin, those matches will have some real teeth. But if we let NSW and Queensland nick players, the concept will fall in a heap because broadcasters won't be interested.

With the NRL drawing players from an ever widening geographical pool, these games will get stronger and stronger each year. Let's allow the other states to field teams as well, perhaps as curtain raisers to the NSW v Queensland games. I'd love to see Joel Reddy play for South Australia or Ben Barba turn out for the Northern Territory Before you scream at your computer or paper: no, it does not mean more wear and tear on players - because the club season will come down to 20 weeks. No NRL player will be playing 33 or 37 games a year in future.. There is just going to be a change in focus. When we have scalpers outside regular season NRL games, we'll know we've really made it! I am hearing the NRL are already paying at least part of the Kiwis' wages each year. It's reasonable to suggest they will also pay the wages of other countries for these mid-season internationals. Again, as Axl Rose said, "all we need is just a little patience". The payday for those who commit to developing league nations and stand up to predatory recruiting by NSW and Queensland is coming, sooner rather than later.

------ THIS column often whinges about media access so let's give plaudits where they are due. After trialling a system during the Charity Shield where the major mainstream media outlets, on deadline, were permitted in the dressing rooms for 15 minutes after the game, it has now been adopted on matchday by several clubs. Additionally, clubs are making their entire squads available on media days. South Sydney did it this week. Hopefully you will notice a greater variety of stories as a result of this policy. Well done to all involved.

------ THANK YOU to everyone who has followed my #stupidsaturday blog on League HQ so far. I'm trying to take it beyond merely commenting on what happens in matches and appealing only to those who don't have pay TV. We're starting each afternoon with a news roundup and comment on what's going on in the game, Tweeting team changes and embedding a lot of audio, video, Tweets and Instagrams. I'd like to get it to the point where you NEED to see it even if you are AT the game. Additionally, with one eye on the football I am also live Tweeting the media conferences as they happen - and writing news stories right into the blog from what the coaches say.