Andrew Fifita snubs Kangaroos for to play for Tonga in World Cup

[Pommy]

Yes

Fifita was overlooked for the australia team for the Tasman test which free'd him up to be selected for tonga for the pacific test,Australia then had a injury and fifita was snatched out the Tongan team..

What's funny is the people on here that was fine with Australia taking him out the Tongan squad are the same ones whinging now Tonga have had him out of the Australia squad lol

It’s hardly the same situation though. Fifita could have told Mal months, weeks, days before the squad was announced.
He was offered a place in the kangaroos squad at late notice because of reasons outside anyones control, he didn’t have a gun held to his head making him leave the Tongan camp. He left of his own free will Australia didn’t snatch anyone.

 

[Desert Qlder]

One thing is for sure, the Tonga coaches will be hoping Fifita puts in better performances than what he produced in Origin.

Otherwise it is great exposure for the International game.

 

[Disinterested third party]

Add in Tony Smith from the Press in Christchurch and Paul Cully from SMH to this list too.

Yep further gimps.

They will find a reason to slate it because union certainly has nothing going at the club and State level in Australia at present. If rugby league continues to build at international level, union will have another reason to fear it - as their truly diabolical history shows, they have attacked RL relentlessly since it had the temerity to break away in 1895.

 

[Meth]

This f**kwit and Jt should've declared for Tonga prior to this week.

Why though?

Does anybody else make a habit of declaring their various eligibilities weeks out from the World Cup?

 

[roughyedspud]

It’s hardly the same situation though. Fifita could have told Mal months, weeks, days before the squad was announced.
He was offered a place in the kangaroos squad at late notice because of reasons outside anyones control, he didn’t have a gun held to his head making him leave the Tongan camp. He left of his own free will Australia didn’t snatch anyone.

Oh fxxk off lol

back in may Australia didn't select him and,in accordance with the new rules,Tonga did....then,past the last minute,Australia took him back...so yeah if anything is the same its that Australia done the dirty on Tonga last time...this time fifita and Tonga have returned the favour lol good on em'!

We was all worried that the new rules would mean 2nd tier nations would get the dregs of the barrell after thebig 3 picked our squads...not in our wildest dreams did we think one of the best players in the world....and fifita,would reject a big 3 nation to play for a 2ndtier nation...it filled me with enormous pride the other day...its exactly what some of us have lobbied for for the last decade! Remove origin eligibility and give 2nd tier nations big games and watch them flourish!...been saying it for years!

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Fifita could have chosen Tonga in May too. He didn't. You can talk about rules, you can talk about peoples' reactions being inconsistent, but it's some bizarrely fickle shit from the players that's making it all look more of a mess.

 

[Pommy]

Oh fxxk off lol

back in may Australia didn't select him and,in accordance with the new rules,Tonga did....then,past the last minute,Australia took him back...so yeah if anything is the same its that Australia done the dirty on Tonga last time...this time fifita and Tonga have returned the favour lol good on em'!

Charming.

Australia did the dirty? Fifita wasn’t selected, an injury arose and common courtesy was to give the next best choice the option, Fifita took up that option of his own free will.
I think you will find Fifita has done the dirty both times.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

When it happens to the island nations, the country thats benefiting from having that player (e.g. Solomone Kata playing for NZ instead of Tonga) will say to any opposers 'but...but'. When that player decides to play for their ethnic country, those same people moan like teenagers when they have to do chores.

In regards to the late announcement, I understand that but you got to look at the rules here. If he's ALLOWED to do that, then by whom? Don't hate the player, hate the game. They might want to change the rules to lock in those players. Then again you could say 'maybe Fifita didnt know he was going to get selected hence the late announcement'. Had Fifita announced earlier that he was going to play for Tonga, Mal wouldve probably come out saying 'I wasnt going to pick him anyway', Australia has so much depth I dont think they have too much to worry about.

So you see theres so many things to consider here. I dont think its that complex but like all things, it'll have pros and cons.

 

[GongPanther]

Yeah? How are the front row seats?

Front row seats for a circle jerk-off? Bwahahahaaaaahahaha!!

 

[Ned Kelly]

I love the fact that Tonga has a strong team. The world cup has been a farce with every thing weighted in Australia and New Zealand's favor.

I would love it if the smaller nations had first choice of eligible players and could pay the same money as Australia. How good would it be if 5 or 6 teams had a real chance of playing in the final.

I tip my hat to Fifita and Taumalolo

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

League WILL NOT GROW if Australia, New Zealand and England continue to be dominant for the next 20 years or so. The RLWC will be more of the same thing over and over and over again to the point where the rest of the world starts to think 'you know what, stick your game up your ass'. Im not blaming any of those 3 countries for being ranked where they are but if they restrict the growth of the game by crying when Fifita leaves and rejoicing when they sign Radradras, then they are truly ignorant at the slow death of league.

 

[JamesBrandy]

How has nobody brought up the hissy fit that Fifita had last year when he didn't get picked for Australia because he was being a douche?
He threatened to walk out on the game because of it.
He should have a black line through his name for any Australian duties for that alone.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

So what when the kiwis pick island players it's because they're proud to wear the kiwi Jersey but when an island player turns the kiwis down and goes for the smaller nation it's because he hates the coach bloody hypocrites

Jason Taumalolo was born and raised in Auckland....New Zealand.

And yes, it's clearly obvious he has beef with the coach.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

It won't mean anything unless they continue to play for Tonga after the RLWC....hopefully the all commit to Tonga and they play regular tests...but knowing Rugby League, they wont play again for Tonga and Tonga will go back to the one game a year calender