Pacific Cup 2024

[Manu Vatuvei]

Change the criteria, so you have to have a bonafide connection to NSW if you are going to play for NZ/Samoa/Tonga

I might be missing your point here, but I don’t think there’s an issue with Origin eligibility? The criteria for Origin is quite strict, that’s not a problem. The problem is that playing Origin locks players in to ‘anyone but NZ’ internationally.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Fair enough - but then I take it you also believe that the Tongan and Samoan players are equally disrespecting their national sides by playing Origin, and that Tongan and Samoan supporters should be telling half their sides to piss off?

I'm all for loyalty but when everyone else is benefitting from their disloyalty, I start to wonder what the point is.

Players should be required to choose their national team before making their first-grade debut.

I'm not interested in the various reasons behind why players choose one country over another. What matters to me are those who show a clear commitment, like Kieran Foran and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, both unwavering in their loyalty to the Kiwis.

Stain of Origin often distracts players due to the money and prestige attached to it, pulling them away from their national teams.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Ponga has decided he doesn’t want to play for Australia this year. Wants to win a premiership with Newcastle lol

 

[Gordie]

Ponga has decided he doesn’t want to play for Australia this year. Wants to win a premiership with Newcastle lol

He hasn’t even played 1 single international yet and he’s 26!!

 

[Beavers Headgear]

NRL looking at suspending Ponga from the start of next season

 

[Izz]

NRL looking at suspending Ponga from the start of next season

Lol. Seems like a dumb step to take, for mine

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Lol. Seems like a dumb step to take, for mine

Apparently when players sign their contracts, they are obligated to be available for selection for their country, you can request dispensation, but he didn’t follow that path so has effectively broken some terms of his deal

 

[Izz]

Apparently when players sign their contracts, they are obligated to be available for selection for their country, you can request dispensation, but he didn’t follow that path so has effectively broken some terms of his deal

Yeah, I read that, so perhaps the NRL has no choice but to pursue it. Still, with how injury-prone Ponga's been, I can definitely see his side, wanting to do everything he can to actually get a full season in

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

NRL looking at suspending Ponga from the start of next season

Karma for taking SJ's Dally M lol on a more serious note, I feel like Ponga's decision not to represent Australia seems uncertain and a bit lacking in heart. You can get injured in training or playing any time, so I don’t really buy his reasoning for opting out of playing.

Would he do the same with Queensland? Played for the junior kiwis, played for Queensland in state of origin and played for the Maori All-Stars. Doesn't want to play for Australia and at one stage wanted to play for the All Blacks smh.

 

[Gordie]

Karma for taking SJ's Dally M lol on a more serious note, I feel like Ponga's decision not to represent Australia seems uncertain and a bit lacking in heart. You can get injured in training or playing any time, so I don’t really buy his reasoning for opting out of playing.

Would he do the same with Queensland? Played for the junior kiwis, played for Queensland in state of origin and played for the Maori All-Stars. Doesn't want to play for Australia and at one stage wanted to play for the All Blacks smh.

I’m sure ponga made himself unavailable for selection during the junior kangaroos v kiwis clashes so not to be involved in a tug of war between both countries.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

I’m sure ponga made himself unavailable for selection during the junior kangaroos v kiwis clashes so not to be involved in a tug of war between both countries.

Would be awesome if the criteria of representing your country was based on what international team you played for as a junior.

 

[Gordie]

Would be awesome if the criteria of representing your country was based on what international team you played for as a junior.

I don’t even think he(ponga) was thinking that far ahead and just didn’t want to be involved in a tug of war between the junior kangaroos and kiwis selection.

Personally I’m not too bothered about players switching countries from junior selection to senior selection with Benji Marshall being a case in point.

 

[Matua]

I wonder if Ponga would be sitting it out if he could play for NZ?

 

[Gordie]

I wonder if Ponga would be sitting it out if he could play for NZ?

Good question but he chose queensland so we'll never know.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

 

[Gordie]

No Nanai.

hopefully he’s picked Samoa?

 

[Blair]

I wonder if Ponga would be sitting it out if he could play for NZ?

I don't think we want Ponga to play for NZ anyway when he's never lived there, do we?

I know he has Māori heritage but, you know, I'd rather a guy who has taken all the hard knocks growing up in NZ get the spot.

 

[Gordie]

I don't think we want Ponga to play for NZ anyway when he's never lived there, do we?

I know he has Māori heritage but, you know, I'd rather a guy who has taken all the hard knocks growing up in NZ get the spot.

He lived in Palmerston north for 5 years.

 

[Matua]

I don't think we want Ponga to play for NZ anyway when he's never lived there, do we?

I know he has Māori heritage but, you know, I'd rather a guy who has taken all the hard knocks growing up in NZ get the spot.

Wouldn't that selectorial policy rule out a bunch of our players?

 

[Beavers Headgear]

No Nanai.

hopefully he’s picked Samoa?

He has been ordinary this year, he got hooked last week early in the 2nd half