What's new
By:
Advanced search…
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Australia won't win 2022 WC

Iamback

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,442
Bobby DIGital said:
www.abc.net.au

Why it's time for Samoa, rugby league's sleeping giant, to awaken from its slumber

It's been a lean few years for Samoa, but the island nation still has the potential to become an international rugby league powerhouse.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

But just imagine, for a moment, what it could be like if Samoa just landed a couple of them. They just need a few, because once they get one then more will follow.



They did land one - Martin Taupau, but none have followed though.

Marty thought he could inspire a Samoan exodus like Taumalolo did for Tonga, but he's just not on that level as a player.

It's common knowledge that Samoa have the most unprofessional administration and coaching staff. Guys like Soliola refused to play for them under the current regime. Nothing has changed.
Click to expand...

That is what I think holds back the game.

When Tonga beat Australia, They were Tongan Invitational because of the same BS
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,865
If the Samoan Australians nominated for them instead of Australia they would be right up there with Tonga. The issue is more to do with the Pi nations being reliant on dual nationality players opting for them. It makes or break the talent pool for them as there is hardly NRL players purely from those nations and not eligible for someone else.

But your right, nothing says rugby league like self interest and political in fighting!
 
T

taste2taste

Juniors
Messages
2,495
Gobsmacked said:
www.foxsports.com.au

‘It’ll get really messy’: NRL great Cam Smith fears Kangaroos-Origin divide amid eligibility debate

‘It’ll get really messy’: NRL great Smith fears Kangaroos-Origin divide amid eligibility debate
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
Click to expand...
Geeez Cam Smith sounds like he's stuck in a time warp
So, you elect to play origin and you must play for Australia? So, as a kangaroos selector how do you know which players will bleed for the jersey and which players would prefer to be playing for another country?
 
T

taste2taste

Juniors
Messages
2,495
Do we know when the Samoan/ Australian players will make a decision ? It would have to be soon ?
If I were a betting man I'd say

Australia
Haas
Tino

Samoa
Luai
Crichton
Suaallii
Paulo
Papalli
 
Last edited:
jim_57

jim_57

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
4,621
taste2taste said:
Do we know when the Samoan/ Australian players will make a decision ?
Click to expand...

taste2taste said:
If I were a betting man I'd say
Click to expand...
taste2taste said:
Australia
Haas
Tino

Samoa
Luai
Crichton
Suaallii
Paulo
Papalli
Click to expand...

I think I remember reading at least 3 weeks before the tournament starts. I’d say the coaches will want a choice well before then.

Nanai, Taulagi, Talakai, Saifiti, Koroisau and probably others to make the call as well.
 
G

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,160
taste2taste said:
Geeez Cam Smith sounds like he's stuck in a time warp
So, you elect to play origin and you must play for Australia? So, as a kangaroos selector how do you know which players will bleed for the jersey and which players would prefer to be playing for another country?
Click to expand...
It's sad to see him speak that way. The world's moving too fast for cam😳
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,865
Id be going all out for Tino and offering him captaincy to play for Samoa, he's exactly the sort of forward you need in tests. Cam is falling behind the times and his notion that in ten years no one in Origin could play for Kangaroos is laughable.
 
Iamback

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,442
taste2taste said:
Do we know when the Samoan/ Australian players will make a decision ? It would have to be soon ?
If I were a betting man I'd say

Australia
Haas
Tino

Samoa
Luai
Crichton
Suaallii
Paulo
Papalli
Click to expand...

Tino and Nanai were wearing the Samoa flag for their lap of honour after Origin.

I'd put them in that boat. Haas was 50/50 last I heard
 
Perth Red

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,865
Iamback said:
Self interest takes over RL soon enough.

When he realises that QLD will lose a few guys as well. His tune will change
Click to expand...
He'd be better towing the line with Fittler and Meninga who have both said the origin rule needs changing to scrap tier 1 eligibility. If the Kangaroo coach is saying that then its time for it to happen! If the Kangaroos cant offer an environment and opportunities that the other nations can then tough on them.
TBH Id rather play for Tonga in front of that crowd in Auckland than Kangaroos in front of a half empty stadium in Canberra once every few years!
 
G

Gobsmacked

Bench
Messages
3,160
At the end of the day this is all going in one direction. Only people who have spent time in either state ( before the age of 13)will be able to represent those state. A lot of those will go on to represent their country of choice .
I actually can't imagine things being in a better position. If the Tongans, Samoan, Papua new Guinea's, NZ, English have just a small representation at origin because of their eligibility that will have people from those nations jumping on board a state as is already happening from my conversations with Tongans ect ( staunch blue or maroon)

This is state of origin going global 😳
A global phenomenon 🙌
The sport is in the midst of a global revolution. Massive international competition and origin maintaining it's vigar on the international stage.
This is Massive.
 
RedVee_8

RedVee_8

Juniors
Messages
1,172
It will swing back in another 50 years or so. When it is their GG Grandparents that migrated here rather than parents or grandparents
 
Clarkent

Clarkent

Juniors
Messages
831
Bobby DIGital said:
www.abc.net.au

Why it's time for Samoa, rugby league's sleeping giant, to awaken from its slumber

It's been a lean few years for Samoa, but the island nation still has the potential to become an international rugby league powerhouse.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au

But just imagine, for a moment, what it could be like if Samoa just landed a couple of them. They just need a few, because once they get one then more will follow.



They did land one - Martin Taupau, but none have followed though.

Marty thought he could inspire a Samoan exodus like Taumalolo did for Tonga, but he's just not on that level as a player.

It's common knowledge that Samoa have the most unprofessional administration and coaching staff. Guys like Soliola refused to play for them under the current regime. Nothing has changed.
Click to expand...
Taupau committed to samoa in 2019 against PNG and Fiji after that Covid happened and there hasn't been any international games since. At the time he was one of the best forwards in the nrl. Did it help? Of course it did. Brian To'o would've walked in to the kangaroos squad easy is committed to samoa and few others might be as well.
 
Clarkent

Clarkent

Juniors
Messages
831
taste2taste said:
Geeez Cam Smith sounds like he's stuck in a time warp
So, you elect to play origin and you must play for Australia? So, as a kangaroos selector how do you know which players will bleed for the jersey and which players would prefer to be playing for another country?
Click to expand...
Cam Smith still stuck in the past era when only 5% of islanders played in the nrl. It's way different now. Almost 50% of pacific heritage islanders play in the nrl now. And of course you'll see a high numbers of those make origin. And it'll keep increasing every year. They need to separate origin from international. Origin is a state comp. It's got nothing to do with international. No one looks at it as a kangaroos selection game it's more a all star game to entertain the fans. It should be open to everyone as long as they stick to current rules, as long as they're eligible to play origin it shouldn't be a problem
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top