Konrad Hurrell

[Bluebags1908]

The 3 year residency rule should be scrapped. It only really advantages Australia, New Zealand, England, and to a lesser extent France who all have fully professional teams. This way Hurrell would be ineligible to play for New Zealand and will have no choice but to play for Tomga.

 

[Ernest the Sheep]

an interesting article which might help to explain why someone born or raised in Aus could decide to play for another country

http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-an...victim-of-microaggression-20120315-1v68k.html

you can well imagine a player of PI heritage being told by some redneck ocker that rather than represent Aus he should instead play for his "own people" (for the good of the international game of course!)

 

[Bronco Rob]

The 3 year residency rule should be scrapped. It only really advantages Australia, New Zealand, England, and to a lesser extent France who all have fully professional teams. This way Hurrell would be ineligible to play for New Zealand and will have no choice but to play for Tomga.

Like I mentioned earlier the RLIF need to bring in strict eligibility criteria and what they need to do is scrap that ridiculous residency rule. It should be based on citizenship not just residency. I can cop that a player truely wants to be a citizen of that particular country where residency is just a fair dinkum crock especially given players can be on 4 or 5 year deals and have no intention of remaining a resident after that period.

 

[Bronco Rob]

an interesting article which might help to explain why someone born or raised in Aus could decide to play for another country

http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-an...victim-of-microaggression-20120315-1v68k.html

you can well imagine a player of PI heritage being told by some redneck ocker that rather than represent Aus he should instead play for his "own people" (for the good of the international game of course!)

Not sure what your reading on this thread Ernest but we are not talking about players who have been born or raised here, they are quite entitled to play for whom they choose, it's the fly-ins most of us are uncomfortable with.

 

[joshreading]

This is exactly why a Pacific Side is needed ASAP with the guarantee from NZ and Australia to play atleast 3 games per year for 3 years to get the ball rolling. If a player like Konrad knew that he would get atleast 3 games per year at the top flight of international competition he could then also align himself with Tonga. (and it would be a requirement to align with a island nation).

NZ can play atleast one game during the Origin period and we have a feat of Island Rugby League. Big//Brutal PLUS Islander flair. I for one would tune in with more interest than the average Friday night football and I am sure given enough 'names' commit so too would fans across the country and pacific

 

[hutch]

Spot on joshreading. How is it fair that Australia get to play their own representative series mid season, which disrupts the nrl and disadvantages a number of clubs but no other countries can have their own rep schedule? The nrl should break every year for a mid season rep break. They can get all the European soccer leagues for international weekends, we can't even pause one comp for the greater good of the sport.

Even this year, we have a weekend free of nrl for the Anzac test, why can't the pacific countries play test matches as well?

 

[joshreading]

Think, if there was a three week break (and Origin does not have to move to the weekends. It just needs to be scheduled well.)

First Week - We could have the Island Nations play during the first week of the Origin series - Tonga V Fiji, Samoa V PNG (or Cooks) New Zealand could play its Origin game (Auckland V South of Bombays or something).

Second Week NZ plays Pacific (in NZ)

Third Week NZ could play Pacific again (in Australia) Imagine a 'festival of Pacific RL in Sydney's west!!! centred around Parra.

 

[hutch]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10820466

<H1 id=commentHeadline class="left restrictHeading">Set of Six: Hurrell's Kiwis intentions mocks NZRL's eligibility stance

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By Justis Kamu

2:12 PM Wednesday Jul 18, 2012

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Konrad Hurrell was born in Nukualofa, Tonga and came to New Zealand at the age of 17 on a rugby scholarship. Photo / Getty Images



Justis Kamu looks at the standout issues in the NRL from the past week.
1. If Hurrell is a Kiwi, fair dinkum Tamou's an Aussie
Tonga Rugby League (TRL) should be feeling aggrieved with NRL rising star Konileti Hurrell this week stating his desire to represent New Zealand and not his beloved homeland of Tonga in the international game.
With the 2013 Rugby League World Cup held in England and Wales, Hurrell's attacking prowess and his time in an NRL setup would be hugely beneficial to the Tongan national side 'Mate Ma'a Tonga'.
If the emerging nations of Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa are to be competitive and not just make up the numbers in next year's tournament, they should have access to the best players available to them particularly a player of Hurrell's background.
Famously known as Konrad he was born in Nukualofa, Tonga and came to New Zealand at the age of 17 on a rugby scholarship.
Well versed in his mother tongue 'Koni' spoke little English on his arrival to New Zealand shores in 2009.


Understandably playing for the Kiwis will bring him more favourable financial rewards than appearing for the Pacific Island.
Conversely Kiwi James Tamou's defection to Australia and Sam Kasiano's indecisiveness to honour his intention to play for the Kiwis was heavily criticised.
New Zealand's Rugby League community were quick to point out that if players were born in this country, had Maori tattoos and called their mates 'bro' they were Kiwis.
Hurrell's case is no different to Tamou and Kasiano.
It's just that this time it's the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) who will be on the receiving end of the equation.
After this year's eligibility debacle, it will be highly unlikely that Kiwis selectors will let another starlet slip from their grasp.
If the NZRL are to take the high ground on ensuring that Kiwis play for New Zealand and not Australia.
Than TRL should be given the same courtesy - Tongans should play for Tonga not New Zealand.

</H1>

 

[East Coast Tiger]

OMG are you saying that twat from the NZRL is a f**king hypocrite? I simply can't believe it.

 

[hutch]

OMG are you saying that twat from the NZRL is a f**king hypocrite? I simply can't believe it.

Who would of thought!!!

 

[hutch]

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl...league-world-cup/story-fni3gs8l-1226675449746

"I want to go to the World Cup and play, I don't want to go there just to be the 18th man or just be in the squad,'' Hurrell told Fairfax NZ.

"I want to represent my country and the Tongan community in it. After that, if I play hard I will hopefully get a chance to play for the Kiwis.''

More from hurrell. More reason why we need a one nation for life rule! Such a bad attitude towards international sport!

 

[Evil Homer]

One nation for life is a must but, like I said, you can't really blame Hurrell. He wouldn't have any opportunities if he stuck with Tonga because outside of the WC they rarely play any fixtures at all, let alone compete in major tournaments.

 

[Craigo]

No money playing for Tonga outside a WC year, but there is for the Kiwi's...

 

[Aragorn]

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl...league-world-cup/story-fni3gs8l-1226675449746


"I want to go to the World Cup and play, I don't want to go there just to be the 18th man or just be in the squad,'' Hurrell told Fairfax NZ.

"I want to represent my country and the Tongan community in it. After that, if I play hard I will hopefully get a chance to play for the Kiwis.''

lets face it, the kid is only 21, poor background, low income family & probably not on top coin yet @ the warriors. Never been to Europe, or had the opportunity to play rep football....

sensible choice for him as NZ is no sure bet.

maybe a bit silly, but look at the Tongan team, Bret Kite, Moi Moi, Asotasi... all ex-rep players for Australia & NZ.

 

[Glen from the Mount]

He had no chance of being picked for the Kiwis this year, so good on him. There will be plenty of others doing the same.

 

[RedVee]

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl...league-world-cup/story-fni3gs8l-1226675449746




More from hurrell. More reason why we need a one nation for life rule! Such a bad attitude towards international sport!

Another link. one nation for life needs to be pared with more International games otherwise the Hurrells of the game would always choose the 'major' nation. With those changes at least they can make their own choice from a more even position.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8888548/Hurrell-turns-down-Kiwis-in-favour-of-Tonga

 

[deal.with.it]

No problem with him playing for Tonga, but he really didn't need to be quoted saying that he will look to play for NZ next year.
Looks really poor for a sport trying to be seen as global.

 

[byrner]

At least he is honest. What more can we ask?

 

[deal.with.it]

Maybe media management and the promotion of our sport to secure greater gov't funding, sponsorship dollars, participation numbers and a greater perceived world cup?

 

[byrner]

Through people like Konrad comming out and making telling their true intentions, then maybe our governing bodies will realise there is an issue and react to rectify the problem.
We all know they like to be reactive.

And why a greatrr perceived WC? Why not just a greater WC