Australia won't win 2022 WC

[Bobby DIGital]

On the players. Hard to say what they would choose Ponga is Australian Born.
Paulo and Papalli have been in Australia most of their lives.

so nothing to say they would choose NZ if given the option especially with all their schooling in Australia.

Papalii a Kiwi, and here's the evidence

This is the document which proves Josh Papalii's long-term ambition to play for New Zealand.

amp.smh.com.au

 

[Perth Red]

How many can you change who you represent though?

That is what has created this issue

They'll catch up with RL eventually! Fifa and Union have both recently moved to accepting global population movement and changed rules to allow for switching of nations, all be it limited.

I guess when you have so few countries playing professional rugby league you have to be more flexible if you want international competition beyond five nations.

 

[Perth Red]

Because only in RL would fans whinge that Australian born and raised players. Are playing in a state game and possibly for their country of birth. That is madness.

what? No ones whinging about Australian born players choosing to play origin and play for Australia lol. The issue is a rule that clearly is in place to weaken NZ for no good reason, and that limits choices players have. Its a dumb rule, as is the notion of tiering nations. If they are eligible for origin under its rules great. If they are eligible for NZ or England under RLIF rules, great. The two are not determinant on each other! Of course every cloud and all that, the rule does mean more good players nominate for the PI nations and stops NZ dominating international RL lol.

How many of this years 40 or so Origin players COULD be eligible for NZ if they so chose and the stupid rule wasnt in place?

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Photoshop

A couple more photoshop jobs for ya:

 

[Iamback]

Papalii a Kiwi, and here's the evidence

This is the document which proves Josh Papalii's long-term ambition to play for New Zealand.

amp.smh.com.au

Where have they said Origin is why they changed to Australia though?

 

[Perth Red]

Where have they said Origin is why they changed to Australia though?

Where have they said it isnt the reason they have chosen origin over NZ?
If I knew I could earn $90k more and get my salary worth upped by playing origin I think Id be tempted!

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Where have they said Origin is why they changed to Australia though?

It's a known fact that Meninga nagged Papalii to switch from NZ to Qld/Aus.

 

[Iamback]

It's a known fact that Meninga nagged Papalii to switch from NZ to Qld/Aus.

And Ponga?

Born in Australia

Played Aussie Rules, RU and RL for QLD.

Was chased by those sports too. What is to say he wants to play for NZ over Australia?

As for Papalii

Papalii picks Maroons over Kiwis

Canberra NRL forward Josh Papalii has rejected New Zealand by pledging his representative rugby league allegiance to Queensland and Australia.

web.archive.org

In 2009, Papalii represented Queensland under 18s and also played for the Queensland schoolboys.

"Family is very important for me and my family has helped me over the past few days to make the decision to make myself available for Australia and Queensland," Papalii said in a statement.

"I've lived most of my life in Queensland and played all of my junior football in Australia and if I ever get the chance to play for the Maroons or Kangaroos I would be very proud.

"I played for the Junior Kiwis last year and feel very humbled to have the chance to play for them, but in the end I knew in my heart that I want to play for where I grew up and have had so many wonderful memories."

He said his heart was with Australia.

 

[Perth Red]

And Ponga?

Born in Australia

Played Aussie Rules, RU and RL for QLD.

Was chased by those sports too. What is to say he wants to play for NZ over Australia?

As for Papalii

Papalii picks Maroons over Kiwis

Canberra NRL forward Josh Papalii has rejected New Zealand by pledging his representative rugby league allegiance to Queensland and Australia.

web.archive.org

In 2009, Papalii represented Queensland under 18s and also played for the Queensland schoolboys.

"Family is very important for me and my family has helped me over the past few days to make the decision to make myself available for Australia and Queensland," Papalii said in a statement.

"I've lived most of my life in Queensland and played all of my junior football in Australia and if I ever get the chance to play for the Maroons or Kangaroos I would be very proud.

"I played for the Junior Kiwis last year and feel very humbled to have the chance to play for them, but in the end I knew in my heart that I want to play for where I grew up and have had so many wonderful memories."

He said his heart was with Australia.

Which is all totally irrelevant to if the rule should exist or not! Players should have the right to choose. At the moment they dont and Origin is a big coercion to choose it over NZ.

By the way he's hardly likely to come out and say "as much as I value my Kiwi heritage I'd rather take the money and play Origin." is he?

Ponga was born in WA. Its disgraceful he's not turning out for WA in the state championships lol

 

[Perth Red]

Ponga is the poster child for the eclectic nature of RL players lol

Born in WA
Played 5 years Jnrs in NZ 8-15
Played 5 years Jnrs in Qlnd 13-18
Represented NZ Maori
Represented Australian schoolboys
Represented Queensland

Eligible for Australia and NZ. Is only allowed to choose Australia.

 

[Matua]

Because only in RL would fans whinge that Australian born and raised players. Are playing in a state game and possibly for their country of birth. That is madness.

You were the one to say Origin is holding back NZ. Not me yet when asked for who being held back from representing them you had nothing as usual

This is disingenuous and you know it. The issue is that some players can play in the state game and "their" country of birth and others can't.

And as per usual you're undervaluing the heritage of NZers in comparison to PIs for no good reason.

Well, if nothing else your trolling has kept this thread ticking over.

 

[Matua]

Ponga is the poster child for the eclectic nature of RL players lol

Born in WA
Played 5 years Jnrs in NZ 8-15
Played 5 years Jnrs in Qlnd 13-18
Represented NZ Maori
Represented Australian schoolboys
Represented Queensland

Eligible for Australia and NZ. Is only allowed to choose Australia.

I watched Ponga play golf and rugby (union) in Palmy when he lived there. I think he'd definitely have chosen NZ over Oz if he could have done so and played Origin as well.

Sadly Origin is the pinnacle of league and dual qualified players are always going to want to play it and with how little the league community values internationals it's to be expected it will get favoured over a national team.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

And Ponga?

Born in Australia

Played Aussie Rules, RU and RL for QLD.

Was chased by those sports too. What is to say he wants to play for NZ over Australia?

As for Papalii

Papalii picks Maroons over Kiwis

Canberra NRL forward Josh Papalii has rejected New Zealand by pledging his representative rugby league allegiance to Queensland and Australia.

web.archive.org

In 2009, Papalii represented Queensland under 18s and also played for the Queensland schoolboys.

"Family is very important for me and my family has helped me over the past few days to make the decision to make myself available for Australia and Queensland," Papalii said in a statement.

"I've lived most of my life in Queensland and played all of my junior football in Australia and if I ever get the chance to play for the Maroons or Kangaroos I would be very proud.

"I played for the Junior Kiwis last year and feel very humbled to have the chance to play for them, but in the end I knew in my heart that I want to play for where I grew up and have had so many wonderful memories."

He said his heart was with Australia.

Don't be naive. What else could he possibly say?

As for Ponga, he's stated that he wanted to play for the All Blacks. Why would he want to play for one country in one code, and a different country in another? Origin.

 

[Iamback]

This is disingenuous and you know it. The issue is that some players can play in the state game and "their" country of birth and others can't.

And as per usual you're undervaluing the heritage of NZers in comparison to PIs for no good reason.

Well, if nothing else your trolling has kept this thread ticking over.

I am all for getting conversation going. Nothing more or less

Now to your post.

Gerard Beale Springs to mind as an Australian born player. Who likely would of been atleast in SOO conversation but chose to play for NZ. There are a few others in that boat

Manu represented Australia in 9's in the 2014 Commonwealth games. Yet is ineligible for Origin I can't think of anyone in the NZ squad who could play Origin if they wanted

In the Origin squad you have only Paulo and Papalii who were born in NZ. Papalii explained why he chose QLD. So it isn't like NZ born players are changing in droves

I think Tonga should be tier 1 by now. When that happens and the rule that you can't play for a tier 1 country is taken out. How many people realistically would choose Qld and NZ?

If someone is here before 13 being the elite athletes most are they would of represented in junior sport likely at a State level, They would of watched all sports. Like the Papalli quote I posted. Some will be more into representing one or the other.

Wallabies, Cricket spring to mind as sports that have players born overseas in the national team. Without the Origin carrot so I don't see there will be much change when it happens.

 

[Matua]

Yet there are islanders ( Who in RL could play for either ) in the Wallabies team. When All Blacks is the more prestige side.

This is an odd direction to take - how many of those Wallabies of PI descent are actually eligible for NZ (not to mention whether they would be good enough to crack the ABs) based on birth? Lets see:

Alaatoa - not eligible.
Fainga'a - not eligible.
Paisami - not eligible.
Fa'amasuli - not eligible.
Sio - not eligible.
Talakai - not eligible.
Tupou - even he's not eligible.
Samu - not eligible.
Leota - not eligible.
Valentini - not eligible.
Lolesio - eligible (moved to Oz as a baby).
Petaia - not eligible.
Fijians - all not eligible.

Incidentally Quade Cooper and James O'Connor were both eligible.

 

[Iamback]

Don't be naive. What else could he possibly say?

As for Ponga, he's stated that he wanted to play for the All Blacks. Why would he want to play for one country in one code, and a different country in another? Origin.

This is where I tap out. player says his reason to change and someone behind a keyboard still won't believe it. No point

As for point 2.

Off the top of my head

Craig Gower Australia in RL. Italy in RU
Vunivalu - Fiji in RL. Australia in RU
Lesley Vainikolo NZ in RL. England in RU
Henry Paul NZ in RL. England in RU
Shotayne Hape NZ in RL. England in RU

Why not ask all those guys why they played for different sports for different countries? The answer wouldn't be Origin

 

[Matua]

Off the top of my head

Craig Gower Australia in RL. Italy in RU
Vunivalu - Fiji in RL. Australia in RU
Lesley Vainikolo NZ in RL. England in RU
Henry Paul NZ in RL. England in RU
Shotayne Hape NZ in RL. England in RU

Why not ask all those guys why they played for different sports for different countries? The answer wouldn't be Origin

WTF has the answer not being Origin got to do with who someone plays for in RU? They're two different sports and there is no Origin in RU where the pinnacle is test matches. So obviously Origin wouldn't enter into it.

Those 3 NZers all switched to rugby in the UK, they weren't eligible for NZ at the time as they didn't have NZ contracts - and none of them would have made it.

Incidentally Vunivalu wanted to play league for NZ but his living in NZ as a teenager didn't count.

 

[Iamback]

This is an odd direction to take - how many of those Wallabies of PI descent are actually eligible for NZ (not to mention whether they would be good enough to crack the ABs) based on birth? Lets see:

Alaatoa - not eligible.
Fainga'a - not eligible.
Paisami - not eligible.
Fa'amasuli - not eligible.
Sio - not eligible.
Talakai - not eligible.
Tupou - even he's not eligible.
Samu - not eligible.
Leota - not eligible.
Valentini - not eligible.
Lolesio - eligible (moved to Oz as a baby).
Petaia - not eligible.
Fijians - all not eligible.

Incidentally Quade Cooper and James O'Connor were both eligible.

How many of them have NZ parents though? The example that was used earlier was Luai who qualifies for NZ via parent. some of those guys would be similar

 

[Iamback]

WTF has the answer not being Origin got to do with who someone plays for in RU? They're two different sports and there is no Origin in RU where the pinnacle is test matches. So obviously Origin wouldn't enter into it.

Those 3 NZers all switched to rugby in the UK, they weren't eligible for NZ at the time as they didn't have NZ contracts - and none of them would have made it.

Incidentally Vunivalu wanted to play league for NZ but his living in NZ as a teenager didn't count.

Reply to apparently Ponga wanting to play for the All blacks but Origin ruining that. Seems it is a common thing guys to play 2 sports for different countries

 

[Matua]

Reply to apparently Ponga wanting to play for the All blacks but Origin ruining that. Seems it is a common thing guys to play 2 sports for different countries

Origin doesn't rule out him playing for the All Blacks, it rules out him playing for the Kiwis though.