Sam Kasiano?

[hutch]

There's just simply no way that Kasiano or Tamou should be playing State of Origin.

If a player moves to a country to play for a club in that country, because that's where the club is based, they should not be entitled to play for that country on account of that move. No Kasiano. No Tamou. No Webb. No Fien.

Tamou emigrated to Australia with his family when he was 13, he wasn't signed to move over here.

 

[hutch]

There is nothing wrong with our eligibility requirements for international rugby league. It is the same as pretty much all major international sports. We just need to enforce that you cannot switch countries once you have represented a country, and introduce a fairer, busier schedule for all playing nations and build on that growth.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Bullsh*t

As I've said before, my eligibility to go in the ladies' shower-room at the pools is not based on my decision as to which shower-room I connect with better.

lol Yes because nationality is exactly the same as gender

 

[Aragorn]

"what if when you were 10 and your family moves to Aus for a better life and you end up playing for an aussie club, that trained you, nurtured you etc? should be entitled to play for NZ on the account of the move?"

yes. And, in those circumstances, you should also be entitled to play for Australia too. I am happy to concede that.

Isnt that the Tamou story?

 

[Aragorn]

"what if when you were 10 and your family moves to Aus for a better life and you end up playing for an aussie club, that trained you, nurtured you etc? should be entitled to play for NZ on the account of the move?"

yes. And, in those circumstances, you should also be entitled to play for Australia too. I am happy to concede that.

"what if you were born in NZ but at the age 6 months, moved to Aus? what then?....."

Same as above, really.

sorry I left out the months bit - if your only association with NZ was that you were born here but grew up most if not all your life in Aus, does that entitle you to play for NZ?.. thats what I meant...

 

[Meth]

Tamou emigrated to Australia with his family when he was 13, he wasn't signed to move over here.

Fair enough. I guess what needs to be done, ideally, is that the RLIF determines what age is formative. I would suggest it's around 12 or 13. E.G- If you are a Kiwi, and your parents are Kiwi, and you move over to Australia at an age younger than 13 (or whatever age is stipulated), you play for NZ. And vice versa, for what its worth.

 

[Meth]

sorry I left out the months bit - if your only association with NZ was that you were born here but grew up most if not all your life in Aus, does that entitle you to play for NZ?.. thats what I meant...

yes. Or Australia, if you wish.

 

[Meth]

lol Yes because nationality is exactly the same as gender

I hate to have to explain this to you, but I wasn't directly equating nationality and gender. I was more saying that a player's eligibility shouldn't be determined by anything so fickle and subjective as their 'decision as to which they connect better with'.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I hate to have to explain this to you, but I wasn't directly equating nationality and gender. I was more saying that a player's eligibility shouldn't be determined by anything so fickle and subjective as their 'decision as to which they connect better with'.

Sorry mate, totally disgaree with this. Players should be allowed to choose their alliegiance and not have it forced upon them in an unnecessarily arbitrary manner where there is the potential for multi alliegiance. If Benji can be schooled in Aus and call himself a Kiwi, great. If Kasiano can leave to Aus after school and call himself an Aussie, dubious but Ok. But if he is only doing so for origin dosh, that is sad. It harms the international game and sheds doubt on the origin series itself as a mercenry contest. Possible players strike do nothing to allieviate this.

The Tamou, and perhaps Teo(?) thing is more frustrating when they participated in Kiwi train on squads then switch for Origin dollars. Should the Kiwis just pick 4 young kids to PLAY each year for the test team to ensure future depth? Problematic.

It is a difficult one. Who are we to judge where someone's heart is? I believe in freedom of choice - but I think Aus administrators have to take a long hard look at themselves before wrecking the international games between Aus and NZ by deliberately targetting up and comming Kiwi stars as they did with Tamou AFTER he had pledged for NZ.

It should be one of the highlights of the season and a spectacle. A genunine contest should be wished. Not a team of origin players playing a team of not enough talent to ever be in line for origin + Warrior players which it could become.

Thorn, Hunt, Teo, Carrol, Mason - I wish them the best in their endeavours, but I do think poaching after pledging alliegiance like Tamou is not in the best interests of the game.

If Kassiano thinks he's an Aussie now, good on him. But if he cheers for the ABs against the Wallabies then I have my doubts.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I have nothing against people moving to another country and identifying with their national identity. People like Kassioano can move to Australia and become fully fledged Australians in my view. Anyone who knows union will know that Willie O had no choice but did so successfully.

There is a well known joke that highlights this:

Amir and Amal hop of the plane from Lebanon to Sydney determined to become Australian citizens. They make a bet as to who can become most Australian in a year.
In a years time Amir heads to Amal's house who greets him with

"Gidday mate, just throwing some shrimp on the barbie, take off your thongs and grab a cold one out of the eski"

Amir responds with

"why don't you f*** off home you w*g"

 

[Meth]

Sorry mate, totally disgaree with this. Players should be allowed to choose their alliegiance and not have it forced upon them in an unnecessarily arbitrary manner where there is the potential for multi alliegiance.

All things being equal, and ideal, I'd agree. But, as you mentioned, when Origin is the pinnacle and the cash cow of the game, the Aussies ought to be putting their fences up high...instead they're employing illegal immigrants (so to speak)

 

[Fire]

To find out where his heart truly lies, someone should go to a BBQ with Kasiano one day. See if he calls the storage container with ice he puts his beer in an "esky" or a "chilly bin". Then report back to this forum and let us all know.

 

[betcats]

...

 

[ANTiLAG]

All things being equal, and ideal, I'd agree. But, as you mentioned, when Origin is the pinnacle and the cash cow of the game, the Aussies ought to be putting their fences up high...instead they're employing illegal immigrants (so to speak)

I never said Origin is the pinnacle. For mine, the pinnacle is the World Cup, especially from the semi's onwards.

 

[MSIH]

The pinnacle's the NRL Grand Final. Everything else is just good old entertainment which I forget about 2 days after completion.

 

[Doga]

The pinnacle's the NRL Grand Final. Everything else is just good old entertainment which I forget about 2 days after completion.

x2

Club >>> whatever

 

[Meth]

I never said Origin is the pinnacle. For mine, the pinnacle is the World Cup, especially from the semi's onwards.

I'm pretty sure Origin is considered the pinnacle of representative football, whether you and I or anyone likes it, or not.

 

[ANTiLAG]

I'm pretty sure Origin is considered the pinnacle of representative football, whether you and I or anyone likes it, or not.

It is considered that way by Aussie media.

World Cup for mine.

 

[Meth]

Oh sure, I'd love for International football to be the pinnacle. I support the Kiwis much more passionately than I support Origin. However, I think overall interest points to Origin being the pinnacle, not just in the media, but also with the general Australian league population. I would propose that the general Aussie follows their state side much more keenly than their national side.

 

[ANTiLAG]

Oh sure, I'd love for International football to be the pinnacle. I support the Kiwis much more passionately than I support Origin. However, I think overall interest points to Origin being the pinnacle, not just in the media, but also with the general Australian league population. I would propose that the general Aussie follows their state side much more keenly than their national side.

Queenslanders and possibly Novacastrians (could be wrong on that) are good at comming out to Aus tests. Sydney has a bad rep. I was watching game 1 1991 NZ - Aus the other night - looked sold out to me for Melbourne, smaller ground admittedly.

Anyway,

NZ had the World Cup in '88 - and back in the 80's Aussies followed the selection of the Roos very carefully to make sure there were not too many maroons or blues selected, and followed their performances with a critical eye. Very political Roo selection in those days. In the 80's, tests would sometimes be played during the Origin series itself. Give yourself an uppercut if you think they weren't followed by Aussies.

The 1992 World Cup final broke TV rating audiences in Aus for the time rating better than the Union Cup they won the year before played before 76,000 at Wembley. What a game for the era!

2008 Aussies were obviously interested in the game - just look at Ricky's tantrum! Didn't the final sell out? 50K at suncorp.

A major issue is with the scheduling of international games at the end of the season instead of mid-season. Aussies love league, but cricket is their national game, and come November, they're interested in wickets.

EDIT: 2008 Final sold out months in advance.