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

[deluded pom?]

If we're being realistic Samoa and Tonga will always rely on heritage players and be vulnerable to this. The small population meaning at best they could hope for a small handful of born and bred Islanders in the NRL.

So the game is holding itself up to ridicule for the sake of two nations who will produce a negligible number of players and because they have the most Australia/New Zealand born heritage players? Brilliant. What is the incentive for Samoa or Tonga to produce their own players when Australia and New Zealand already do it for them?

Perhaps it's wishful thinking, but I see no reason why in 10-20 years with the right systems/clubs in place France & PNG couldn't have 30-40+ players at NRL/SL clubs with Fiji and Wales not too far behind.

Once again, these French and PNG players could be put in a position where they become eligible for England or Australia (on residency grounds) even though they may already have been capped by their respective countries?

 

[deluded pom?]

I support Samoa and trust me I would pick a team of stars that has Samoa heritage over a team full of Samoa locals... Because they compete with the best! QUOTE]

You obviously have no pride in Samoa then

 

[deal.with.it]

If they would scrap the grandparent rule, i would be happy with this new criteria for the next 15-20 years. Then we should have enough french, canadian, usa, serbian, welsh etc talent to be able to have more tier 1 nations.

Then we can move to a 2 year stand down period.

 

[adamkungl]

It's all about making the game seem bigger and more competitive than it actually is come the WC. These ten Aussies may help Serbia to the WC but all that is happening is they will walk over teams that don't have the advantage of heritage players in the same numbers. The WC needs to be renamed the Heritage World Cup.

What's more likely to improve Rugby League in Serbia, having a team compete in the world cup or having a team get flogged in the qualifiers?

We all want to see what developing nations are capable of but the numbers just aren't there yet. We can't have a profitable, interesting world cup AND teams showing up made entirely of sub-park footballers. This is what we've got now - hopefully it's better than 8 years ago, and hopefully it's better again in 8 years from now.

Each nation will make their own decisions regarding heritage players and domestic players and what they turn up to the Cup with. Support the ones that play the way you believe in.

 

[deluded pom?]

What's more likely to improve Rugby League in Serbia, having a team compete in the world cup or having a team get flogged in the qualifiers?

We all want to see what developing nations are capable of but the numbers just aren't there yet. We can't have a profitable, interesting world cup AND teams showing up made entirely of sub-park footballers. This is what we've got now - hopefully it's better than 8 years ago, and hopefully it's better again in 8 years from now.

Each nation will make their own decisions regarding heritage players and domestic players and what they turn up to the Cup with. Support the ones that play the way you believe in.

It's not the fact that Serbia can use ten Australians it's that they will lose these players if they become good enough for Australia. How soul destroying would it be to see your nation's best playing for another country? Some of you don't actually understand the concept of international sport. It's about one nation's best against another nation's best not one nation's best against their own second best. International football isn't a quick fix where loading teams full of Aussies will create a system overnight.

 

[supaman]

You obviously have no pride in Samoa then

I have pride in whoever wears the Samoan Jersey as long as they have Samoan blood in them... Just because they weren't born and bred in their homeland doesn't make them less Samoan

 

[jim_57]

Once again, these French and PNG players could be put in a position where they become eligible for England or Australia (on residency grounds) even though they may already have been capped by their respective countries?

This seems a bit nitpicky to me. All a matter of what ifs. I'd suggest if/when PNG and France have that number of professional players they will be able to compete with the big 3 and be a chance at big tournaments which should see them in a position to pay players. So then what is the appeal for players to switch?

That in a nutshell should be the aim for all "tier 2" teams, in the meantime use the rules they have been given to do everything possible to reach that goal.

 

[adamkungl]

Quick fix implies that this is the end goal and nothing more will be done. It's more like an interim patch.

 

[myrrh ken]

I have pride in whoever wears the Samoan Jersey as long as they have Samoan blood in them... Just because they weren't born and bred in their homeland doesn't make them less Samoan

Well said. No shame in wanting a competitive team and what right has anyone to question your pride? I think Samoa's best chance of toppling any tier 1 country would be England - who I think are the weakest of the tier 1 teams.

I was going to agree with deal.with.it in scrapping the grandparent rule. At first I thought the connection to country would be too remote. However, on second thought, I think someone could be 100% living and breathing their community's way of life and culture just in a different country.

 

[deluded pom?]

If Bennett picks a team full of English heritage Aussies and they win the four nations believe me I won't be proud.

 

[myrrh ken]

Good point, but I think there is a fair difference in circumstances.

 

[siv]

If Bennett picks a team full of English heritage Aussies and they win the four nations believe me I won't be proud.

May have more to say about the ESL than the English team

 

[siv]

The more I thought about this rule the better it will be for RL while we look to build a international TV audience

I continue to go back to Milford - better that he plays for Australia or Samoa than not at all

It won't change a PNG or France teams quality much

But it elevates Fiji Samoa Tonga Cooks to be better than they are now and challenging the big 3

Which will be good for the game

Only gripe I have is that Semi cant play for a Aussie state team under SOO rules and as such shouldn't be allowed to play for Australia. But thats a ARLC issue

Canada is making strong inroads

But we need to find ways to get French and USA leagues to a ESL exposure and standard. And a lesser extent PNG and NZ

 

[undertaker]

And RL fans wonder why the media doesn't take international RL seriously...

Absolute, utter joke that the RLIF have backflipped and reverted back to the farcical situation it maintained (re: international eligibility) for many years. Wish they had a more iron-clad/strict rule that FIFA has.

 

[undertaker]

We could see a player play several games for a tier two nation, help them qualify for a WC and then end up playing against them in the tournament proper. You can bet your bottom dollar that certain coaches will try to prevent their player(s) from playing for tier two nations whilst keeping quiet when the same player(s) is chosen for Australia.

This. Well said.

 

[undertaker]

I'll do the four nations (only because I'm already committed) and the WC next year then that's it for me with international football.

For me, it'll be the same. Beyond next year's WC, it will be very hard to get interested or excited over international RL whilst this farcical situation ensues.

 

[deluded pom?]

May have more to say about the ESL than the English team

Wow! I never expected a reply like that. Chasing Radradra says a lot about the NRL and Australia too.

 

[Evil Homer]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...igibility-rules-could-end-world-cup-drubbings

WTF is Baitieri talking about? There were virtually no blowout scores in the last WC, it was one of the most competitive international sporting contests I've seen. I swear people like him do more harm than good sometimes.

 

[Burns]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...igibility-rules-could-end-world-cup-drubbings

WTF is Baitieri talking about? There were virtually no blowout scores in the last WC, it was one of the most competitive international sporting contests I've seen. I swear people like him do more harm than good sometimes.

That was an odd article. 2013 was competitive, just see all of Scotland's pool games. Samoa gave NZ an almighty scare, and Fiji led over England at half-time. Sure, the games between the big 3 and smaller nations did blow out. But that ignores how close some of the pool games were.

 

[jim_57]

That was an odd article. 2013 was competitive, just see all of Scotland's pool games. Samoa gave NZ an almighty scare, and Fiji led over England at half-time. Sure, the games between the big 3 and smaller nations did blow out. But that ignores how close some of the pool games were.

Nobody bats an eyelid if Argentina beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 in the FIFA WC, nor if the All Blacks beat Namibia 10,000 - 3 in the Union WC. Why are we so concerned about a few blowouts amongst a genuinely competitive tournament?