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In RU it's 3 years stand down. Everyone thinks that rule is good but the big teams could use that to there advantage for example Pita Gus in RU, got picked up by the all blacks, they played him for one half and then dropped him straight after that and never picked again. Fiji missed out on a good player for the world cup. No matter what way you look at changing it, the big tier 1 teams will always have the upper hand.
The current rules now bought out the best of Tonga and Samoa. If they didn't change the rules we'll be talking about how much of a joke international rugby league is because no one gets close to beating the kangaroos. You really want to go back to the days when the Kiwis would beat the kangaroos once in a blue moon and that's it for the rest of the year?
They also need to give the international game time to grow. If Samoa and Tonga ends up putting out there strongest squad ever, the 3 game series between the 2 nations will be the biggest series in the international stage. Give it a few years for the game to grow and then change the rules don't change it now when it's just starting to take off
They won't but they'll be even weaker if they do change the rules
What's stopping the Mal picking island heritage players early so they won't turn out for the island nation? If you change the rules after this season most of those heritage players won't return to the island nations. You can't expect every heritage players to be committed like Bizza and Critta. Kangaroos can drop any player they want and it won't dent there dominance. Kangaroos have the funds and facilities to look after there players, the tier two nations don't. Payne Haas coming out and saying he wants to represent Samoa in the future is getting Mal worried lol
In this example he's a guy who wanted to play for the ABs but couldn't because he played a few minutes for Fiji. Even with the new laws in rugby he wouldn't be able to do that as you can only go down (from the tier 1 teams to the Pacific Teams).
Using that same example what if Latrell and Turbo came back fit next year. Staggs and Hammer will be sitting at home with no chance of getting back on the international stage for the rest of their career unless injuries brings them back on or hoping another up and coming star doesn't overtake them. The kangaroos can afford to lose star players because of there depth, they are the only nation in the world to have the luxury.
Turbo and Latrell replacing those two will definitely strengthen Australia and they'll also sit out the next world cup. But if turbo gets injured again the next year and Staggs or Hammer comes in to replace him for that one game maybe . That means they’ll restart the 3 years stand down all over again. Like I said Australia ain't gonna get hurt at all one bit
Cant do it in a calender year
I agree, surprised no one gets the logic
Generally yes. Fact is RL isnt globally big enough for any other system and to have competitive international tests. Personally I take competitive tests over some hand wringing from a few fans. The current rules work fine.
But only within their heritage & residency countries
