I will not be silent about this

[miguel de cervantes]

If this is the low point that league in the USA must go through that provides a catalyst for reunification and a rebuild then so be it.

The adverse reaction on the ground to governence issues and revolution combined with media/money interest as a result from USA participation in the WC may just be what is needed whereas one without the other may have led to a bad result.

 

[Evil Homer]

So looking at the squad there are 11 who were in the squad for the qualifiers (back in 2011): Cantoni, Garvey, Howard, Howard, Marando, McGoldrick, Offerdahl, Paulo, Paulo and Peterson.

Of the remaining 14 players it appears that there are 7 who are from American domestic competitions (Durutalo, Farley, Freed, Hume, Priestly, Soloaia, Tagaloa), and 6 who have NRL/NSW Cup or Qld Cup experience (Newton, Luani, Hifo, Lavulo, Faraimo, Samoa). The one remaining player is Matt Shipway from the Newcastle comp. It would be interesting to know a little bit more about how he qualifies.

To me this seams a reasonably spread of local and heritage players, including a number of the heritage players who have represented the USA previously.

This would mean that at as a maximum there are 8 players from American domestic competitions (Offerdahl plus the 7 listed above), plus another in Garvey who came from the domestic comp and is now playing in Australia.

It has been mentioned in the thread that some of the 'domestic' players are from union. It would be disappointing if they have been selected without playing league.

Most of the 'domestic' players you've listed are either Australians who qualify on residency or RU players with little to no RL experience. I believe the only legit American RL player in the squad is Garvey and the only players with no links to Australia are the RU players, although I might be wrong on that.

Either way, the blokes you've named that played in the WCQs don't get a free pass. If heritage players were going to be brought in then the previous heritage players should have been the ones to lose their places, not the American players. The whole thing is just a sad mess.

 

[bender]

Most of the 'domestic' players you've listed are either Australians who qualify on residency or RU players with little to no RL experience. I believe the only legit American RL player in the squad is Garvey and the only players with no links to Australia are the RU players, although I might be wrong on that.

Either way, the blokes you've named that played in the WCQs don't get a free pass. If heritage players were going to be brought in then the previous heritage players should have been the ones to lose their places, not the American players. The whole thing is just a sad mess.

Surely the problem here (if what the previous poster had said is true) is not whether enough local players were picked, but instead whether or not the local players picked are in fact better than the players actually picked (or at least a good portion of them). From the outside looking in, it really does seem as if they are not.

Surely if these domestic players that are picked were better than the unpicked domestic players, wouldnt the AMNRL would have picked them to play for the USA in their last game. The Tomahawks surely couldnt have been that bad last time they played that every single one of their players was deemed not good enough. (or have i go that wrong).

I understand bringing in the NRL players, I even think (contrary to many) that Matt Peterson was actually an inspired selection that could have added plenty to the world cup, unlike most people i could have lived with a gamble being taken on a union player (if he was top class and even a grid iron player) but I dont understand why the domestic players chosen seem to have no form on the board and are all debutants (again unless i have misread most of this post).

More than anything the USA could really do with a possible v probables trial game. Obviously it is a little too late to organise now though.

 

[deal.with.it]

The problem/question is:
Do the selections represent the domestic development of RL in the USA?!
If yes, then carry on.
If no, then select some players that represent this development. The same development that saw them eligible as a nation to attempt WC qualification

 

[Rhode Island Rebellion]

The problem/question is:
Do the selections represent the domestic development of RL in the USA?!
If yes, then carry on.
If no, then select some players that represent this development. The same development that saw them eligible as a nation to attempt WC qualification

Its hard to do that when you have the selectors of the USA Team about the furthest away from the USA that you could be, ESPECIALLY because the advice of those who are actually in the USA making it possible for this thread even to exist are not consulted.

 

[Rhode Island Rebellion]

To the answer the question how did 'we not see this coming 'Well I knew it was coming to an extent, but I didn't believe it was going to be as bad as it currently is. Furthermore, what better time is there to shed light on the current disaster that is Senior/Men's Rugby League in the USA.

 

[JaxAxeSupporter]

The problem/question is:
Do the selections represent the domestic development of RL in the USA?!
If yes, then carry on.
If no, then select some players that represent this development. The same development that saw them eligible as a nation to attempt WC qualification

I was just about to answer that point.. We qualified using many of the domestic players. It makes no sense to have a selector on the other side of the world make these choices and it is devastating to all the hard work we have done here to boost the game.

 

[marv]

To be honest i dont really know the game your talking about, however i will say this

It was before the WC repecharge. This was the side.

USA: Petersen, Tulio, Coppedge, Kelly, Dortone, McGoldrick, Myles, Lanfranchi, Marando, Woodbridge, Cunz, Cantoni, De Bartolo.

Replacements: Vassilakopoulos, Stelutti, Isbrandtsen, Confer, Brazier, Mulligan, Arundel, Tasker-Howard, Massey, Conway.

1) The standard a few years back compared to today in my opinion has completely changed for the better, so much so that you would not believe that your in the same country.

As i said on the last post If the colonial cup V Canada was a barometer of the improvement then theres a very long way to go. The speed of the PTB and structure of the game was not even to the standard of my local league IMO.

2) This may shock you, but sometimes USA Selections were based on who could afford to pay there own way to travel to the game. (I know as a rule of thumb young guys who are up incoming and train 24/7 generally dont have the ability to fund their own travel. Older guys generally past their prime have money).

Does not surprise me one bit, I have obviously heard this story in the RL press and heard it first hand from players who play for the Home nations in the UK

Therefore im going to guess that it was not a true sample of the best talent, rather it was a sample of the talent that could afford to play. Futhermore if it was in Fall or Spring you would have had players pass up the game because it was during Union season and the union game counted in standings and the exhibition match was just that against a county side from Cumbria.

Looks like you guessed wrong

I would put money on it that you wouldn't route the USA Team if you had a proper sampling of a true USA team.

Mate, thats ridiculous in the last 4 games Cumbria have played we have beat Tonga, Ireland USA and drew with England!!

I'd happily take your cash though as Cumbria's front line team would run with about 10 Superleague players

Your Counterpoint to this will be regarding the Routing the New England Immortals took in 2012 from the Royal Marines.
- 2 Points
1) It was the first Rugby League Game for 65% of the team
2) 80% of the team was under 22
3) It was the first Time the boys stepped on the pitch for the season and the team maybe trained for 2 weeks (4 sessions) prior to the match.
- The game and the team was used by the NH Warriors, Boston 13s and RIR as a tool to recruit new players to the game as opposed to actually being a legitimate select side.

No, not really. a side containing the royal marines would be some of the fittest players your guys will ever take the field against im sure but since most of them would probably be RU players it tells me nothing, well done on having 80% under 22, gotta be good for the future of your club

Regardless, its the American's game to loose or win or be embarrassed by. Hell the USA Rugby Union Team gets routed by 70 points to Australia in the World Cup. Its the name of the Game its the way these things work. Its nothing to be embarrassed by. Disappointed sure, embarrassed no. Its like England getting destroyed in Basketball by the Dream Team. Its expected and its just where the sport is. But at least the English Players got to play for their country and stand on the same court as MJ. That is how you build a future to the sport, by returning players with great experiences back to their country to spread their love of the game. Not by shipping in people who may be a little bit better so they can loose by 40 points instead of 60.

I don't disagree with you as such here, it would be good experience for any RL player to play in a world cup, although you dont need me to tell you the obvious safety issues brought about from amateurs taking the field against full time pro's in a collision sport like RL, something that isn't an issue in basketball.

A better analogy would be American Football, pitting the British team against the best the NFL had to offer would be pretty hard sell IMO.

My point is that here in the UK we need to try and sell some tickets for these games and I for one wouldn't want to see any team routed in any game of RL.

I know people always say we shouldn't be scared of big score lines but at the end of the day i want value for my money, I want tight games, I wanna see the best players available for the comp. save developing players for competitions like the colonial cup or qualifiers.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

As a Canadian I feel that a team full of Americans would better serve rugby league in the US in the long term. I will say this begrudgingly about Americans. Knock them down and they will get up and come at you harder the next time. Because they want to be the best and they will find a way. One only has to look at their ice hockey and soccer teams. It isn't that many years ago that the American ice hockey team was a joke. Now, they are solid medal candidates in any event where the best are playing - the Olympics and the World Juniors to name two. That soccer team of theirs is steadily moving up the ladder as well. Listen, they will not be playing the Aussies or the Brits or the Kiwis this go round anyways. And the teams the do play would probably beat them quite handily. As it stands nobody will care about the Americans World Cup losses this time. But if it were a team of American born and bred players they would welcome the lop-sided losses. Because it will make them better next time. If it were a team of American players this time, those big losses would turn into close contests in 2017. And that is why what is happening now is all wrong.

 

[Evil Homer]

'USA international' admits that he doesn't know the words to the American national anthem: http://m.canberratimes.com.au/rugby...roud-to-represent-america-20131005-2v1du.html

Even I know the words to the anthem FFS.

 

[Son of Minto]

''I know the first line,'' Stephen laughed. ''I'm just going to pull the tough face and maybe squeeze a tear out.''

Ffs

 

[marv]

'USA international' admits that he doesn't know the words to the American national anthem: http://m.canberratimes.com.au/rugby...roud-to-represent-america-20131005-2v1du.html

Even I know the words to the anthem FFS.

tbf homer he does not directly say that himself, the writer implies he doesn't know the words.

 

[Son of Minto]

He blatantly says he only knows the first line

 

[marv]

He blatantly says he only knows the first line

he does there a the bottom, my mistake.

 

[southwalesrabbitoh]

Of course they should pick the strongest possible team, if you don't make it then the coach didn't think you were good enough. You don't play a sport for recognition, you play to maximise your sporting potential, socialising and all that. You shouldn't get picked because you've given a lot of time up etc. You play RL because you believe, as I do, that, with all things considered, it's the best sport on the planet. You should be happy that you can play it at all. Many around the world don't have that opportunity.

Try being born and brought up in Wales, and talking about anthems, many "Welsh" born ppl don't know the words of the Welsh national anthem. Tom Jones being one of them.

I understand American ppl have a different perspective on the world to most Welshies, and they have a different level of natural self-confidence etc. but the fact is, I want to see a US RL team that can keep the score down and show some good skill, I've seen some of the USRL matches and the USA team play, and I was a better player than most of what I've seen. The full-time score is important, and at the end of the day we're all human, we're all the same, and it's up to each individual if they accept an invitation to play for a country or not. I wouldn't play for England though I hold a British passport, though I would play for Australia, and possibly the US for that matter, but NEVER the Poms. They tried to kill off my language and culture ffs. As recently as 1926.

 

[Steve Davy]

I am English, but two generations ago my family were all English. I guess I should not be willing to play for England either.

The issue here is that it seems doubtful that the players they have in are the best. It is just a best guess from a bloke having a go at it in Brisbane.

 

[Final countdown]

Spinner you need to shut you mouth you're making an idiot out of yourself
you can't change what the squad is, you can't change the outcome, you can't change anything
you had your chance years ago when you were the one who broke away from the amnrl if you stayed around then you could've probably had a say in what goes on that is your own fault.
The way I look at it is that Steve Johnson is the one who stepped up to take charge of the Tomahawks because know body else did. If he didn't I'm sure there wouldn't be a Tomahawks team going to the World Cup.
right now you're the one ruining the game in USA because you are causing so much controversy over nothing. These players have a right to play for their country. Yes they come from all over USA, Australia, NZ, Rugby but they all have passports, residency, heritage - whatever the case may be they have all qualified to be a part of this team and they were the ones selected so congratulations to them.
When it comes to the national anthem I am sure all these guys will know the national anthem and sing it with pride and passion when they get the chance. Everyone on that team will do the Rugby League community in USA proud and will do the country of USA proud. Like I said whatever the case may be they all have AMERICAN in them somewhere so I'm sure it means a lot to them the same it means a lot to you.

Stop going around talking shit because you probably have no idea what's going on. You should just keep to your USARL or work on getting the 2 competitions back together so the American public can see what a great game this is. If you want a say in what happens with the Tomahawks then you should figure it out before the next world cup or before the next time the Tomahawks step on the field. Stop going around putting you head on youtube and social media and making a disgrace of yourself and the game
Only one guy from both the USARL and AMNRL deserves to be in the team which is apple pope and unfortunately he missed out so what are you going to do.
Your 2 videos said exactly the same thing so you should probably make a 3rd video telling us what else you do for your team and that 6 guys should be added and that you don't like this don't like that. By the way nice picture of Australia on your wall.
the 6 guys you have mentioned previously are no better then the guys picked in the 24 man squad. The Colonial Cup team/squad barely beat Canada so imagine picking these guys to represent our country at the World Cup - you're kidding yourself!

I'm going to be following the Tomahawks progress throughout the World Cup and I wish them the best. I know they will do the USA proud and perform to their best.

 

[Rhode Island Rebellion]

Spinner you need to shut you mouth you're making an idiot out of yourself
you can't change what the squad is, you can't change the outcome, you can't change anything
you had your chance years ago when you were the one who broke away from the amnrl if you stayed around then you could've probably had a say in what goes on that is your own fault.
The way I look at it is that Steve Johnson is the one who stepped up to take charge of the Tomahawks because know body else did. If he didn't I'm sure there wouldn't be a Tomahawks team going to the World Cup.
right now you're the one ruining the game in USA because you are causing so much controversy over nothing. These players have a right to play for their country. Yes they come from all over USA, Australia, NZ, Rugby but they all have passports, residency, heritage - whatever the case may be they have all qualified to be a part of this team and they were the ones selected so congratulations to them.
When it comes to the national anthem I am sure all these guys will know the national anthem and sing it with pride and passion when they get the chance. Everyone on that team will do the Rugby League community in USA proud and will do the country of USA proud. Like I said whatever the case may be they all have AMERICAN in them somewhere so I'm sure it means a lot to them the same it means a lot to you.

Stop going around talking shit because you probably have no idea what's going on. You should just keep to your USARL or work on getting the 2 competitions back together so the American public can see what a great game this is. If you want a say in what happens with the Tomahawks then you should figure it out before the next world cup or before the next time the Tomahawks step on the field. Stop going around putting you head on youtube and social media and making a disgrace of yourself and the game
Only one guy from both the USARL and AMNRL deserves to be in the team which is apple pope and unfortunately he missed out so what are you going to do.
Your 2 videos said exactly the same thing so you should probably make a 3rd video telling us what else you do for your team and that 6 guys should be added and that you don't like this don't like that. By the way nice picture of Australia on your wall.
the 6 guys you have mentioned previously are no better then the guys picked in the 24 man squad. The Colonial Cup team/squad barely beat Canada so imagine picking these guys to represent our country at the World Cup - you're kidding yourself!

I'm going to be following the Tomahawks progress throughout the World Cup and I wish them the best. I know they will do the USA proud and perform to their best.

Mate, If it wasn't for the USARL there would be no RIR and there would be zero youth development besides that in Jacksonville.

Plenty of people in the USARL would have put their hand up to manage the Tomahawks. It probably would have been several people. They would have shared responsibility and decisions. Consulted with foreign and domestic club owners.

If you want USA RL to be pub footy and never go anywhere support this joke of a team. If you want to see the sport blossom here in the USA then dont stand idle.

Spinner is 100% right there are people in both comps and around the world that can see how terrible a blow this is to the game.

You really have no idea what your talking about and should stop posting illogical comments.
(These questions pertain to RL in the USA)
Do you know how to grow the sport of RL?
Have you done anything to grow the sport of RL?
Have you been successful at it?

If you have grown the sport oversea's thats great but this is a whole different ball game.

 

[Western_Eel]

Some people are really stupid clearly a friend, relative or Niu himself

 

[tmfsd]

Hate to echo the point of some, but the USA domestic comp is NOT strong and that is the opinion of an Aussie who played for years in Aus and England and has played in USARL.

However I do feel for the players who busted their arse in qualifiers and colonial cup and were probably led to believe that they would get a fair shot at World Cup. But I had a feeling it would be mostly Aussies or kiwis/islanders with a passport or green card. I do think the players with the best ability should be selected but that doesn't mean players of less ability should be led on