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Taumalolo Chooses NZ

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,655
Im sure i read yesterday that Mateo is now eligible to play for the Kiwis after living in Auckland for two years....And you kiwi merkins are talking about origin ruining international footy, how many tongans and samoans have you stolen over the years.
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
Mateo is actually commited to playing Origin now and was the current Tongan captain, that backfired on you.
 

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,655
Mateo is actually commited to playing Origin now and was the current Tongan captain, that backfired on you.

The point is you hypocrites are doing the exact same thing as your blowing up at us for. 2 years in Auckland and you are eligible, gtfoh.

And Mateo should be playing origin as he was born in Australia, thats not stealing a tongan player, thats getting an Aussie back.
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
Atually its three years as it is for pretty much any residecncy rule in Internnational sport, and we've picked the well documented Brent Webb and Nathan Fien which Kiwis didn't agree with. Getting an Aussie back? He was the current Tongan captain and he's been taken away to play City/Country effectively. Good for the International game that.
 

doogiehowser_md

Juniors
Messages
570
The point is you hypocrites are doing the exact same thing as your blowing up at us for. 2 years in Auckland and you are eligible, gtfoh.

And Mateo should be playing origin as he was born in Australia, thats not stealing a tongan player, thats getting an Aussie back.

Umm where does it say that anyone from the NZRL pursued or even asked Mateo to play for the Kiwis the way Meninga has Taumalolo and Stuart has Tamou? I can only see quotes from Mateo last year saying "he would consider it...if it came up (playing for Kiwis)"

Getting an Aussie back huh? His mother is English, His dads Tongan, Feleti is the current Tongan captain. Next the Hawaiians will be taking back Nicole Kidman, a true Hawaiian:roll:
 

betcats

Referee
Messages
23,655
So he was born here and lived almost all of his life here yet he is not Australian. He is only the current tongan captain because he couldnt get a run for Australia.

I misread or misunderstood the article, i thought it said you needed only to live in NZ for two years to be eligible, which is even more of a joke then our eligibilty rules but eddie has said it is the same as ours.
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
The redsidency rule isn't an issue because in pretty much every sport its 3 years as it is with League. I would prefer it to be 5 years but it doesn't really matter.
 

hutch

First Grade
Messages
6,810
There is nothing wrong with our eligibility rules, they are standard in pretty much all international sports. It is the fact that you can switch countries that leaves us lagging behind and a long way from fulfilling our potential as a sport!
 

hutch

First Grade
Messages
6,810
Dont blame the merkin to be honest, Origin is much bigger than international league and it looks like the ARL dont really give a flying f**k about international league anyway

This wouldnt happen if it was an All Blacks jersey up for grabs

The Australian union team has more new zealanders than the kangaroos. players who actually grew up playing rugby union in NZ wanting to be all blacks, can't say that about our national rugby league team so your point is not correct.
 

Frank_Grimes

First Grade
Messages
7,016
Unsure about international ratings but Origin 1 last year outdrew the World Cup Final domestically.

WC Final drew something like 1.3 million, Origin 1 drew 2.2 million.

Wiki is reporting an international TV audience of 19.2 million, but that's obviously for the whole event of 18 matches. And there is also no reference for the claim.

Origin drew 6.7 million viewers domestically for 3 matches last year. Expand that out to 18 and the domestic audience could be close to 40 million before even looking at international viewers.
 

Desert Qlder

First Grade
Messages
9,210
Tony Kemp has a cheek.

Why is he not asking himself the question why are young Kiwis wanting to play for a foreign state, and what can he do to change that. He should stop relying on Australian clubs to develop his players and give them an adequate pathway to aspire to.

Playing the blame game is weak on his part.
 

KeepingTheFaith

Referee
Messages
25,235
Tony Kemp has a cheek.

Why is he not asking himself the question why are young Kiwis wanting to play for a foreign state, and what can he do to change that. He should stop relying on Australian clubs to develop his players and give them an adequate pathway to aspire to.

Playing the blame game is weak on his part.

Tongue in cheek or are you really that geniused? The Warriors can't keep every single NZ player and break them into first grade.
 
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