MAL Meninga says tug of war star Anthony Milford should be allowed to play for Queensland, Australia and his country of heritage Samoa when the games arise.

Meninga said Milford’s decision to choose to play for the Queensland under-20s this weekend rather than for Samoa in a senior international against Fiji at Penrith had nothing to do with him.

A Sydney newspaper reported last week that Milford’s decision to forego a match for Samoa, which he represented in four World Cup games last year, came after Milford had spoken to Meninga.

Meninga said Milford was an “outside’’ chance of selection for Queensland’s Origin team but would definitely be invited to at least one of the camps.

“Don’t blame me for saying to Anthony that I wanted him to play for Queensland,’’ Meninga told The Courier-Mail.

“I think there should be a rethink (about eligibility rules) — when a player from a developing nation isn’t picked for Australia, England or New Zealand, they should be able to play for Samoa or Tonga or whoever when a Test arrives.

media_camera Raiders fullback Anthony Milford runs in for a try.

“People like Akuila Uate or Jarryd Hayne, if they aren’t playing for Australia they should be able to play (for Fiji, their nation of family heritage).’’

Meninga said Milford would be “dynamic’’ off the bench in an Origin despite his youth.

“He’s an outside chance. It remains to be seen what happens with our halves,’’ he said.

“He could play No.14 because he could create a bit of havoc around the rucks when the players get a bit tired. Talking to Ricky (Stuart, Milford’s club coach), he has matured really well and has the communications skills to play at that next level.

“He’s a superstar of the future. He will be in our camps at some stage through the series, whether as 18th man or whatever.’’

Samoan football operations manager Nigel Vagana, the former Cronulla centre, said the non-appearance of Milford and Bronco Josh McGuire in Samoa’s team was a “shame’’.

‘We are trying to grow the game internationally but there are still some areas which are selfish towards the international game,” he said.

“It’s not the issue of the players, it’s more the system.”