QRL Major Competitions Manager Dave Maiden has confirmed Easts Tigers will be unable to select three players from NRL affiliate Melbourne Storm for Sunday's Intrust Super Cup grand final.
Christian Welch, Cheyse Blair and Brandon Smith are the three Storm players concerned.
However, Samoan international Sam Kasiano will still be permitted to play if not selected for the Storm versus the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL finals.
Maiden said confirmation of Welch, Blair and Smith's ineligibility came upon review of a seldom-enacted facet of the competition rules.
"Where a player has not played at least eight Intrust Super Cup games during the regular season, they must have played at least one finals match prior to the grand final to qualify," said Maiden.
Welch, an Easts junior and 18th man for the Queensland Maroons this year, played just one game for Easts this year, while Smith played four games for the Tigers and Blair played six games.
None of the trio have featured for the Tigers in this year's finals series prior to the grand final.
Conversely, Kasiano played just one regular season match for Easts but has been deemed eligible because he played a part in winning semi-finals against Northern Pride and Burleigh.
This rule was explained in more detail by Maiden last Sunday.
Other players to appear for the Melbourne Storm this year and eligible for the Tigers in the grand final are Scott Drinkwater, Brodie Croft and Patrick Kaufusi.
Redcliffe is able to pick Kotoni Staggs, Tom Opacic and Jake Turpin, all of who have played for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL this year.
Sunday's grand final will be telecast live on Channel 9 at 3pm for Queensland viewers and live streamed for outside regions on QRL.com.au and the Intrust Super Cup Facebook page.
The Hastings Deering Colts Under 20s (1pm) and NRL Schoolboys Cup Under 12s (11.45am) live streamed prior on QRL.com.au and the QRL Facebook page.
