Meninga makes case for Keary to don maroon

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary should be allowed to represent Queensland and called for the NRL to introduce an Origin eligibility appeals process.

The playmaker is being sized up by NSW coach Laurie Daley to make his potential debut for the Blues this year, a move which could leave a sour taste in the mouth for league fans and administrators north of the border.

Despite being born in Ipswich to Queensland parents, the 25-year-old has been told he must represent NSW if he wishes to play Origin.

He moved to Sydney with his parents when he was 10 and ticks NSW on most of the questions on the NRL's Origin eligibility criteria form, making him a Blue despite the fact the former South Sydney premiership winner identifies as a Queenslander and in 2014 wrote to then NRL CEO Dave Smith asking that he be allowed to play for the Maroons.

However his appeal was dismissed and Meninga - who courted Keary during his record-breaking reign as Queensland coach - said it was a situation which needed to be avoided in the future.

He called for more weight to be given to which state the player wishes to represent and that an independent tribunal to hear similar appeals to be instituted.

"I was part of that process where we looked at Luke and Luke wanted to play for Queensland," Meninga told Queenslanders Only on Fox Sports.

"His parents are born in Ipswich, they came south because his dad got a job in Sydney. He idolised Alf (Allan Langer) growing up in Ipswich as well.

"I agree with the criteria, it's got to be black and white. But the problem with this case in particular was there was no appeals process.

"The CEO, who was Dave Smith at the time, said no, we're just going off the criteria. I think there should at least be an independent appeals process if he's born in Queensland, he wants to play for Queensland, his parents want him to play for Queensland."