Pangai Junior chooses Tonga

[hutch]

TBF, what is wrong with that? Lets say a player knows he's about two years away from making the Kiwis or the Roos and he can have two years with his heritage team. Worst scenario the team gets two years of a player probably at a higher level than what they can field, and best scenario, while he's in camp he gets convinced to stay.

Well said. We need to move beyond caring if a player reps two nations in his career. Rugby league gives young islander players the opportunity to rep both their heritage and their birth nation. Not many other sports can provide this.

 

[Perth Red]

Nobody said they aren’t also Aussie or kiwi, it’s up to them. They may feel closer to one country over another or they may consider them self both.

Or they must just be more likely to get picked by one country over another!

Well done to him for putting heritage over cash, nice to see in this day and age. This is a golden era for Tongan RL, they need to milk if for all its worth!

 

[Perth Red]

Well said. We need to move beyond caring if a player reps two nations in his career. Rugby league gives young islander players the opportunity to rep both their heritage and their birth nation. Not many other sports can provide this.

Don't most sports have this same opportunity? Seen plenty of other sports people over the years flit between nations.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Don't most sports have this same opportunity? Seen plenty of other sports people over the years flit between nations.

Like who??

I can only think of Declan Rice?

 

[Walter sobchak]

TBF, what is wrong with that? Lets say a player knows he's about two years away from making the Kiwis or the Roos and he can have two years with his heritage team. Worst scenario the team gets two years of a player probably at a higher level than what they can field, and best scenario, while he's in camp he gets convinced to stay.

I don’t have any problems with heritage players playing for Tonga. I just want them to stick with them instead of splitting when they hit the big time!!!

Makes international RL look Mickey Mouse and will forever keep Tonga or other pacific island teams for that matter 2nd tier.

 

[Perth Red]

Like who??

I can only think of Declan Rice?

Union
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_players_who_have_represented_more_than_one_nation

Soccer
https://www.foxsports.ph/football/9...llers-who-have-played-for-two-national-teams/

Cricket
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cricketers_who_have_played_for_two_international_teams

Olympics allows you to compete for more than one country as long as you are a citizen of the country your representing.

Its not uncommon to represent more than one in country.

 

[Perth Red]

I don’t have any problems with heritage players playing for Tonga. I just want them to stick with them instead of splitting when they hit the big time!!!

Makes international RL look Mickey Mouse and will forever keep Tonga or other pacific island teams for that matter 2nd tier.

Kind of agree but its a hard one given the lack of meaningful internationals for the smaller nations and the big pay disparity between nations.

Id like to see a clause that you have to be available for selection for that country in qualifying rounds to represent at a RLWC.

 

[Springs09]

I don’t have any problems with heritage players playing for Tonga. I just want them to stick with them instead of splitting when they hit the big time!!!

Makes international RL look Mickey Mouse and will forever keep Tonga or other pacific island teams for that matter 2nd tier.

Only in your eyes. I don't have a problem with it. Players have more than one nationality.

I don't know where this perception came from. I suppose cause soccer has one rule everyone needs to be like them or its 'mickey mouse'.

Tonga will always be 2nd tier. The tiers are based on ability to produce players. They will always rely on heritage players and players brought up in the NRL system.

 

[Matua]

I don’t have any problems with heritage players playing for Tonga. I just want them to stick with them instead of splitting when they hit the big time!!!

Makes international RL look Mickey Mouse and will forever keep Tonga or other pacific island teams for that matter 2nd tier.

Or alternatively they'll always be 2nd tier because in the future PI players wont turn out for Tonga in their early years. Lets take Taumalolo for example, early on when Queensland wanted him he committed to NZ and was playing Junior Kiwis before playing for Tonga. It's highly unlikely he would have ever turned out for Tonga if he wasn't able to play for the Kiwis.(It's also highly unlikely he would have defected to Tonga on the eve of the WC if the Kiwis didn't have an idiot as a coach).

 

[hutch]

Tonga will always be 2nd tier. The tiers are based on ability to produce players. They will always rely on heritage players and players brought up in the NRL system.

Exactly. Tonga still haven’t had a rugby league junior progress to the nrl. They are tier 2 based on player pool, resources, finances, domestic strength. Not because of their national teams ability.

 

[hutch]

Don't most sports have this same opportunity? Seen plenty of other sports people over the years flit between nations.

There is usually a strict process to go through in sports that allow you to switch and some sports such as soccer and union don’t allow it.
Rugby league has the same qualification rules as most sports and stricter than others, we just allow our players to switch their allegiance.

 

[ram raid]

How good is it. Most of the NRL talent is Polynesian, Maui, Torres Straight, Koori. I'd be stoked if nine had to find a another tit to suck on besides SOO. And if it came about because of a player revolt that would make it even more special.

 

[Pommy]

How good is it. Most of the NRL talent is Polynesian, Maui, Torres Straight, Koori. I'd be stoked if nine had to find a another tit to suck on besides SOO. And if it came about because of a player revolt that would make it even more special.

If you’re going to make a claim like that you have to include Anglo-Saxon and Celtic in there as well. There’s plenty of players who look like one of those races you’ve listed but could actually represent a home nation as well. Issac Luke tried to get a run out for Ireland, Frizzel did play for Wales and I’m sure England would have a lot eligible for us as well.
The world is continually becoming a smaller and smaller place.

 

[ram raid]

If you’re going to make a claim like that you have to include Anglo-Saxon and Celtic in there as well. There’s plenty of players who look like one of those races you’ve listed but could actually represent a home nation as well. Issac Luke tried to get a run out for Ireland, Frizzel did play for Wales and I’m sure England would have a lot eligible for us as well.
The world is continually becoming a smaller and smaller place.

Anglo Saxons don't count . Maybe if they are British they get a half pass.

 

[bull rider]

Sydney... That's in Tonga

 

[Perth Red]

There is usually a strict process to go through in sports that allow you to switch and some sports such as soccer and union don’t allow it.
.

Except they do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_players_who_have_represented_more_than_one_nation

 

[Panther_Daz]

I assume the QLD team announcement means D.Fifita and Ofahenguae have chosen to play Origin on rep weekend.

They are both likely to be picked for Tonga at the end of the season though.

 

[Perth Red]

I assume the QLD team announcement means D.Fifita and Ofahenguae have chosen to play Origin on rep weekend.

They are both likely to be picked for Tonga at the end of the season though.

If they have wont that exclude them as part of the origin agreement is that they are available for Australia that year?

 

[Panther_Daz]

If they have wont that exclude them as part of the origin agreement is that they are available for Australia that year?

I can't see them making the Australian squad this year unless they have a big impact in this Origin series.

If they aren't picked for Australia they are able to play for Tonga.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

If they have wont that exclude them as part of the origin agreement is that they are available for Australia that year?

Technically if they haven't played for the Kangaroos, they could probably ''commit'' to Australia to get the Origin jersey and flip at the end of the season to Tonga.