Still no word on who Hayne will turn out for. I am guessing Uate will be in Australias squad. Petro is def turning out for Fiji. www.foxsports.com.au/league/jarr ... 6694457439

Still no word on who Hayne will turn out for. I am guessing Uate will be in Australias squad. Petro is def turning out for Fiji. www.foxsports.com.au/league/jarr ... 6694457439

The Tonga and Samoa teams that played in teh pacific test in April
Ma’a Tonga:

1 Glen Fisi'ahi - New Zealand Warriors
2 Michael Oldfield - Sydney Roosters
3 Mahe Fonua - Melbourne Storm
4 Siuatonga Likiliki - Newcastle Knights
5 Etu Uaisele - Wyong Roos
6 Samsoni Langi - Sydney Roosters
7 Daniel Foster - Penrith Panthers
8 Brent Kite - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
9 Pat Politini - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
10 Sam Moa - Sydney Roosters
11 Sika Manu - Penrith Panthers
12 Jason Taumalolo - North Queensland Cowboys
13 Anthony Tupou - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

INTERCHANGE
14 Nafe Seluini - Sydney Roosters
15 Fuifui Moimoi - Parramatta Eels
16 Richie Fa’aoso - Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
17 Benny Murdoch-Masila - Wests Tigers
18 David Hala - Brisbane Broncos
19 Silivia Havili - New Zealand Warriors
20 Sydney Havea - Hakame Broncos
21 Atelea Vea - St. George Illawarra Dragons

Toa Samoa:

1 Matthew Wright - Cronulla Sharks
2 Kalifa Faifai Loa - NQ Cowboys
3 Antonio Winterstein - NQ Cowboys
4 Junior Sa'u - Melbourne Storm
5 Daniel Vidot - St George Illawarra
6 Carlos Tuimavave - NZ Warriors
7 Ben Roberts - Parramatta Eels
8 Jeff Lima - South Sydney Rabbitohs
9 Masada Iosefa - West Tigers
10 Roy Asotasi - South Sydney Rabbitohs
11 Eddy Pettybourne - West Tigers
12 Sam Tagataese - Cronulla Sharks
13 Lama Tasi - Sydney Roosters

INTERCHANGE
14 Leeson Ah Mau - St George Illawarra
15 Martin Taupau - Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
16 Mark Taufua - Cronulla Sharks
17 Alex Elisala - NQ Cowboys
18 Tanielu Pasene - Rugby League Samoa
19 Leia Saofaiga - Rugby League Samoa

You are wrong.

Matty Russell was born in Scotland, as was James McManus.

You do know there are rules on eligibility don't you? The rule isn't if you've been to the country or not.

It's not that uncommon for people from places like the north of England, which is very, very close to Scotland, to have parent or Grandparent from there, the same goes for Australia with the amout of people moving to the country within the last two generations.

But that doesn't fit your argument, which JB is owning you in by the way.

Quote ="JB Down Under"Still no word on who Hayne will turn out for. I am guessing Uate will be in Australias squad. Petro is def turning out for Fiji. www.foxsports.com.au/league/jarr ... 6694457439'" Hayne will be in the Kangaroo squad as he can play anywhere from Stand off to Fullback, he is consistently one of NSW best players. I doubt Uate will make the cut, he has not done enough for NSW never mind the Test squad.

Quote ="JB Down Under"Still no word on who Hayne will turn out for. I am guessing Uate will be in Australias squad. Petro is def turning out for Fiji. www.foxsports.com.au/league/jarr ... 6694457439'" Hayne will be in the Kangaroo squad as he can play anywhere from Stand off to Fullback, he is consistently one of NSW best players. I doubt Uate will make the cut, he has not done enough for NSW never mind the Test squad.

But do you understand how this merrygo round of players for the lower level countries every World Cup can hinder genuine player development in those countries?

That is the point he is making

He's made lots of different points, but saying none of the Scotland squad are born in Scotland is wrong.

And yes, I do understand the point.

How did you get off my ignore list by the way?

I don't remember doing that!

So you are ok for short term gratification to damage long term development?

Seriously, you have an ignore list?

Not really a list.

List implies plurality.

It depends on which outweighs the other. Personally I have zero problem with using the same eligibility criteria as every other sport, even if it means that the entry requirements that some disagree with are activated more often simply because RL is still an underdeveloped sport.

Structurally, there's nothing wrong with the rules that isn't wrong with other sports, and they cope just fine. That we have more heritage players is much more the product of the conservatism of the sport as a whole than failing to expose amateurs from developing nations. So from a long term point of view, I see nothing wrong there.

What is wrong is that there's only an incentive to trigger it every 4 years, and in the meantime neglect the good that a strong top level can have for junior's aspirations.

Mod badge, you have to read everything

Seriously? You don't think some kid in Fiji is more likely to take up playing the game due to getting excited watching Hayne et al make Fiji a competitive side in the World Cup as opposed to not seeing a Fiji amateur team made up of locals playing in some b grade comp that isn't shown on TV?

Reality is these countries are not going to have FT prof RL comps for decades, the hope is to see more kids take up the game, better development for those kids, get more of them playing in SL and NRL and have competitive international RL. Anything else is simply wishful thinking.

So some kid in Milan is going to watch Italy playing in the WC and see star man Craig Gower and think 'wow we really have similar backgrounds if he can do it I can'

Or he might just enjoy what he sees and decide he fancies having a go. How many kids across the world do you seriously think will be questioning player heritage whilst watching a game of sport??

What on earth does someone's background have to do with someone wanting to play a sport or not

The guy has already been made to look stupid multiple times on this thread, you'd think he would stop posting.

Why because I dare to state an opinion that's not the same as yours ???

Get out more mate, then you won't have to spend half your life defending a joke comp.

So these Australian ' Italians, Scots and Lebanese ' are going to return to living in their ' Homelands ' and help set up teams/clubs and coach the future generations ?

No, because your opinions are complete nonsense and you can't back them up when questioned. Anyway, I'm not the one repeatedly posting on a thread about something I'm not interested in.
Lebanon has a thriving domestic scene that started on the back of their involvement in the 2000 World Cup.

So which Lebanese aussies have emigrated to Lebanon?

I don't know, who cares? What difference does that make to anything?

I don't think you realise how well known the Fijian NRL stars are in Fiji itself... Guys like Hayne, Uate, Koroibete, Tuqiri, etc are famous.

A lot of Fijians follow NSW in Origin simply because of the Fijian connection. Same way many used to follow Queensland because of Petero.

Having these guys playing for the Bati would be a great thing. Italy is a different kettle of fish obviously but a winning team is going to attract more of a following from new/neutral fans than a team that loses every game.

Probably not (though there are examples of players going to countries and setting up or helping out) and nor do they need to. That is the job of the RL body in that country with the support of the RLIF. The idea is the body sets up the comps and opportunities and the stars inspire kids to play by performing on the biggest stage and being shown on TV that country.

I took up American football because I got hooked watching the game on ch4. It didn't matter to me non of the NFL players were English.

The model you and cas are advocating would see Italy fielding an amateur team in a international comp that receives no coverage, how is that going to inspire some kid in Milan to pick up a steeden?

Which they probably don't realize already happens on a yearly basis.