NZ Herald: RLIF approve massive Change to International Eligibility (Tier 1 & 2 Nations, Origin etc)

[Evil Homer]

If pacific heritage players can play origin..why can't european heritage players?

They can, it's not even a rule change. The only thing stopping them is the ARL deliberately holding the sport back by forcing them to commit to Australia even if they have no chance of selection. This means they can't do that anymore as players can now just play for whoever they want and then represent Australia at any time. Probably the only good thing to come out of this.

To be honest though, it's really not a massive change is it? We already have players swapping nations willy-nilly and if any of the big 3 nations want a payer they will inevitably get them. At least it will be legislated for now.

 

[myrrh ken]

I guess these should be considered together with the 5 year residency rule. So it will be open slather for your Milford types but not for your fresh of the boat semi types. They should kick out residency rule to ten years. There should also be a limit on the number of changes. Maybe they thought it was too hard to enforce

 

[supaman]

Don't know why everyone's mad over this player swapping is happening anyways... This new rules just made it easier for the island teams to get there players back and make them stronger... The biggest positive for this is the origin rule change... A lot of players example leilua wanted to play origing and Samoa at the same time but couldn't so he had to choose... This is gonna make international league stronger not weaker... The teams that are gonna be worried the most are kiwis and England... Can't wait for the world cup

 

[supaman]

Samoan team should look stronger now because of this....
1-nofoaluma
2-denny Solomona
3-sione matautia
4-leilua
5-winterstien
6-milford
7-Nu Brown
8-Kasiano
9-leuluai/ kaysa Pritchard
10-Junior Paulo
11-Sauaso Sue
12-Frank Pritchard
13-Iosia Soliola

14-Mose masoe
15-Ben Matulino
16-Leeson Ahmau
17-Pita Godinet

 

[adamkungl]

There is no Origin rule change.
The rule is still that players must be eligible for Aus to play Origin.

Now players can be eligible for Aus and someone else.

 

[adamkungl]

Still no explanation on "RIP european nations" ?

 

[Burns]

Still no explanation on "RIP european nations" ?

May have been a bit over the top sure , but I think there is still some merit to that statement. Whereas the European nations will depend largely on domestic players, the Pacific Nations will be able to draw on players those who have not played for a Pacific Nation in years. My concern is that the likes of Tonga and Samoa will suddenly be full of Aus/NZ rejects and players who for all intent and purpose seek to play for one of them eventually, but turn out instead for the Pacific.

Now, I conceed your point adamkungl before that this practice largely happens already. And it does, no denying that. However, if I were the likes of Wales, Canada, United States etc - who all implement some development of their own domestic players; I would be unhappy. That said of course, there is nothing stopping English players doing likewise (as I just posted in the other thread re: Danny Houghton).

 

[myrrh ken]

I think its because the Pacific teams will undoubtedly get stronger and leave them in their wake.

 

[jim_57]

The teams I guess that lose out are the ones that will drop ranking because they have less available heritage players.. but really under this proposal no team gets weaker, some just get slightly stronger.

Like I said the key is to use this rule to thier best advantage whilst trying to get systems in place to bring through more genuine homegrown professional players and less reliance on heritage players, developing genuine players who can't yo-yo between 2 nations on a whim is the key to eventually becoming "tier 1" nations .Whether all teams do aim for that or just sit on their hands now is another story.

 

[adamkungl]

I'd say Scotland, Ireland, Wales are in very similar positions to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji - hard to see how they wouldn't receive similar benefits from dual heritage English players. France and PNG are unlikely to be advantaged or disadvanatged by this change.

Everyone else has the disadvantage of having no real professional talent except by parent or grandparent rule, and no amount of rule tinkering can magically fix that. Work on pathways to get talented players into stronger competitions until their own can stand up.

 

[jim_57]

I'd say Scotland, Ireland, Wales are in very similar positions to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji - hard to see how they wouldn't receive similar benefits from dual heritage English players. France and PNG are unlikely to be advantaged or disadvanatged by this change.

Everyone else has the disadvantage of having no real professional talent except by parent or grandparent rule, and no amount of rule tinkering can magically fix that. Work on pathways to get talented players into stronger competitions until their own can stand up.

Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy etc would have all missed out on players over the years because of the Origin situation or them opting for England. They can now select these players if they want. PNG too have been without Mead and Segeyaro (amongst otger reasons) because of the lure of Origin, which will no longer happen. Really the only team who won't gain strength player wise is France, which will hopefully force them in to getting their shit together at International level.

 

[adamkungl]

France and PNG could be real dark horses next year. Professionally they've both made some big strides in 4 years, Toulouse and Hunters *should* put them well ahead of other tier 2s. A lot depends on coaching, the potential is there.

 

[myrrh ken]

I'd say Scotland, Ireland, Wales are in very similar positions to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji - hard to see how they wouldn't receive similar benefits from dual heritage English players.

I thought that as well but I can't for the life of me think of any such eligible players representing England.

 

[jim_57]

France and PNG could be real dark horses next year. Professionally they've both made some big strides in 4 years, Toulouse and Hunters *should* put them well ahead of other tier 2s. A lot depends on coaching, the potential is there.

These 2 SHOULD be 4/5 in ranking and occasionally beating the top 3 within the next 5-10 years. But you'll excuse me if I don't hold my breathe!

 

[Evil Homer]

I thought that as well but I can't for the life of me think of any such eligible players representing England.

Plenty, including Man of Steel front-runners Ben Currie, Marc Sneyd and Danny Houghton and the likes of Michael McIlorum and Daryl Clark who are both behind Josh Hodgson and the incumbent Roby for England selection.

 

[jim_57]

Plenty, including Man of Steel front-runners Ben Currie, Marc Sneyd and Danny Houghton and the likes of Michael McIlorum and Daryl Clark who are both behind Josh Hodgson and the incumbent Roby for England selection.

It should also stop situations like James McManus opting out of representing Scotland because it would have jeopardized (in theory but not really) his chance of playing Origin.

 

[adamkungl]

When it comes down to it the RLIF has taken the gamble that with the wider sports-interested population, tighter competition will prove more valuable than perceived credibility. I'd say they are probably right - a big upset would be huge for the World Cup

 

[supaman]

Old origin rule was you have to be committed to Australia to play origin... So a player gets a two year stand down before changing over... Even when you don't get selected for aus origin stops you from representing for example Samoa... New rule is you can play origin and still play for Samoa if that player doesn't make the kangaroo's

 

[Evil Homer]

Old origin rule was you have to be committed to Australia to play origin... So a player gets a two year stand down before changing over... Even when you don't get selected for aus origin stops you from representing for example Samoa... New rule is you can play origin and still play for Samoa if that player doesn't make the kangaroo's

That was never the rule, Origin is nothing to do with international RL, it's an ARL competition. Demanding players stand down from playing international footy was just the ARL being dicks.

 

[jim_57]

A potential can of worms here. What if a tournament like the Pacific or Euro Cup starts a couple weeks earlier than a big 3 tour etc? How would such a situation play out? I could honestly envision a player being pulled out mid tournament to play for the big 3.