Samoa vs Tonga, confirmed.

[deal.with.it]

Ben Roberts is playing for Tonga

 

[Springs]

The sport has grown in spite of the rules, not because of them. Jeff Lima playing for Samoa is probably not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but if 15 Jeff Lima (ex kiwis) switch just before the World Cup because they aren't good enough for nz anymore, we have problems. This happened in the last rlwc and our weak rules allow it to happen again. Not allowing switching may seem too strong handed at the current time, but it is the best way to grow national squads and their player pool, and also encourage nations to actively develop players. It will only work with a much stronger schedule for nations such as tonga and Samoa and will involve some short term pain, but if we started 10 years ago we would be beginning to see the rewards at this World Cup. Instead, these "nations" are still looking for the quick fix and players such as fui fui are still making a mockery of our sport.

Samoa and Tonga will never develop players that will be competitive in a world cup. Any players that any island nation produces will be picked up by the NRL. And after three years in Australia they will have the same eligibility choices the players have now. The switching isn't what's not encouraging nations to develop players. The residency and heritage rules are. Tonga and Samoa are always going to have a ton of heritage players to call on. Sure they might choose Australia but so might products of their own system, like Uate did. At the moment not allowing switching won't do anything but weaken the smaller nations while strengthening the bigger nations.

Moi Moi has every right to represent Tonga. These nations only use as many switching players as Australia and New Zealand do.

 

[hutch]

Samoa and Tonga will never develop players that will be competitive in a world cup. Any players that any island nation produces will be picked up by the NRL. And after three years in Australia they will have the same eligibility choices the players have now. The switching isn't what's not encouraging nations to develop players. The residency and heritage rules are. Tonga and Samoa are always going to have a ton of heritage players to call on. Sure they might choose Australia but so might products of their own system, like Uate did. At the moment not allowing switching won't do anything but weaken the smaller nations while strengthening the bigger nations.

Moi Moi has every right to represent Tonga. These nations only use as many switching players as Australia and New Zealand do.

Uate never played rugby league in Fiji, he took it up when he moved to Australia. In saying that, he shouldn't be allowed to play for nsw or Australia as he was a current Fijian test player. He shouldn't have been allowed to switch at all!

And it is great if the nrl started to pick up players developed in tonga and Samoa. It hasn't happened yet, and I have no doubt if it did happen these players would stay loyal to THEIR country. Add these players to heritage players who are actually committed to this nation and you get a genuine pool of players available to play test match rugby league for tonga/Samoa and can't switch.

As for moi moi, that is now tonga in 2006, nz in 2007, an attempt to switch back to tonga for the 2008 wc that was knocked back, nz again in 2009 and now back to tonga. He should not have the right to do that at all and our rules are weak for letting him do it.

And what makes you think they can't produce international standard players with the right amount of development. Png are by far the best pacific nation and they have always relied on domestic products. Fiji did well in the last World Cup with a heap of domestically produced players, many who they sent to Australia to further their development. Tonga and Samoa waited for nz and aus to name their squads and then picked up the scraps and it showed in their performances. Hopefully they learnt a few things, I think they may have!

 

[Bombay Devils RLFC]

Uate never played rugby league in Fiji, he took it up when he moved to Australia. In saying that, he shouldn't be allowed to play for nsw or Australia as he was a current Fijian test player. He shouldn't have been allowed to switch at all!

And it is great if the nrl started to pick up players developed in tonga and Samoa. It hasn't happened yet, and I have no doubt if it did happen these players would stay loyal to THEIR country. Add these players to heritage players who are actually committed to this nation and you get a genuine pool of players available to play test match rugby league for tonga/Samoa and can't switch.

As for moi moi, that is now tonga in 2006, nz in 2007, an attempt to switch back to tonga for the 2008 wc that was knocked back, nz again in 2009 and now back to tonga. He should not have the right to do that at all and our rules are weak for letting him do it.

And what makes you think they can't produce international standard players with the right amount of development. Png are by far the best pacific nation and they have always relied on domestic products. Fiji did well in the last World Cup with a heap of domestically produced players, many who they sent to Australia to further their development. Tonga and Samoa waited for nz and aus to name their squads and then picked up the scraps and it showed in their performances. Hopefully they learnt a few things, I think they may have!

This is tough one especially for these nations that are dominated by RU as their main sport.

My view is that whatever sport these countries played the players are not going to develop in a domestic league as they would in a larger international one.

The issue is then how do they make sure that the players who come from these or any other nations play for them in the future without jumping ship to NZ or even Australia.

For me the NRL should be encouraging development and recruitment in these areas by giving salary cap exemptions for players from developing countries on the priviso they stick with those countries. If not the clubs lose the salary cap exemptions which we all know can be tight for clubs.

Secondly one of the other issues is that the players state that these smaller countries can not afford to pay them. I know you should never put playing for your country ahead of money but if again the NRL can assist in this regard then it makes it a little easier to make sure players do not switch as much.

In the end RL needs the publicity of closer games because lets face it we will be ridiculed even more by the press and other sports if the contest become so one sided.

Regards''

 

[byrner]

Ben Roberts is playing for Tonga

He is samoan

 

[deal.with.it]

Should have had a question mark lol
Was a reference to the above post, asking if Tonga had a better option than Roberts.
Roberts of course played in the 08 world cup.

 

[Bronco Rob]

This is tough one especially for these nations that are dominated by RU as their main sport.

My view is that whatever sport these countries played the players are not going to develop in a domestic league as they would in a larger international one.

The issue is then how do they make sure that the players who come from these or any other nations play for them in the future without jumping ship to NZ or even Australia.

For me the NRL should be encouraging development and recruitment in these areas by giving salary cap exemptions for players from developing countries on the priviso they stick with those countries. If not the clubs lose the salary cap exemptions which we all know can be tight for clubs.

Secondly one of the other issues is that the players state that these smaller countries can not afford to pay them. I know you should never put playing for your country ahead of money but if again the NRL can assist in this regard then it makes it a little easier to make sure players do not switch as much.

In the end RL needs the publicity of closer games because lets face it we will be ridiculed even more by the press and other sports if the contest become so one sided.

Regards''

1. Now that the ARLC have made the Origin eligibility black and white by only allowing anyone here before the age of 13 to be eligible will no doubt hinder a lot of these players to cross to the Kangaroos as we know the majority are doing it to play Origin footy.

2. I have been banging on about this for years in relation to the salary cap exemptions for players from developing nations, it would be a huge incentive for clubs to put money into developing these nations thus making their International sides stronger and not relying on heritage players.

 

[Springs]

Uate never played rugby league in Fiji, he took it up when he moved to Australia. In saying that, he shouldn't be allowed to play for nsw or Australia as he was a current Fijian test player. He shouldn't have been allowed to switch at all!

And it is great if the nrl started to pick up players developed in tonga and Samoa. It hasn't happened yet, and I have no doubt if it did happen these players would stay loyal to THEIR country. Add these players to heritage players who are actually committed to this nation and you get a genuine pool of players available to play test match rugby league for tonga/Samoa and can't switch.

As for moi moi, that is now tonga in 2006, nz in 2007, an attempt to switch back to tonga for the 2008 wc that was knocked back, nz again in 2009 and now back to tonga. He should not have the right to do that at all and our rules are weak for letting him do it.

And what makes you think they can't produce international standard players with the right amount of development. Png are by far the best pacific nation and they have always relied on domestic products. Fiji did well in the last World Cup with a heap of domestically produced players, many who they sent to Australia to further their development. Tonga and Samoa waited for nz and aus to name their squads and then picked up the scraps and it showed in their performances. Hopefully they learnt a few things, I think they may have!

Yeah what I meant was they could still move at 15 and start playing for Australia. They could move at any time and start playing for Australia, regardless of whether or not they played football in the pacific islands.

You can't have 'no doubt' that they would stay loyal. Some New Zealanders haven't even stayed loyal. If they grow up aspiring to be NRL players then they will have the same choice as everyone else, play in the most prestigious rugby league games on earth and get a huge paycheck by choosing Origin, or play a couple of games every few years by choosing their true country. Or you know, they could choose both easily enough since Origin is just a state rep side and has no bearing on international football.

PNG have been playing football for sixty years. They still can't get within 40 of Australia.
My point was if you want the sport to be competitive again and not just 'the big 3', domestic competition development will only get you so far. There is no way that any other nation bar perhaps France or PNG will get anywhere near the big teams with just domestic players within the next 50 years. And they don't need to. It's perfectly fine for heritage players to represent their country. I think a 2 year stand down period is reasonable but one country for life is harsh on those that identify with more than one nationality. Feleti Mateo for instance is not allowed to represent Tonga now because he played for City last year. City! Who gives a f**k? He didn't even play for NSW or Australia and still isn't allowed to play for Tonga. I don't see how letting Mateo play for Tonga in the World Cup will do any harm to the game at all.

And Tonga and Samoa actually named train on squads at the same time as Australia and New Zealand. It was up to the players who were selected in multiple squads to choose which country they wanted to play for after that. And to be fair Ireland had the same selection policy as Tonga and Samoa with heritage players being the norm and they performed quite well in my opinion. Tonga and Samoa didn't even do that bad. Both won 2 games and lost one.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Yeah what I meant was they could still move at 15 and start playing for Australia. They could move at any time and start playing for Australia, regardless of whether or not they played football in the pacific islands.

You can't have 'no doubt' that they would stay loyal. Some New Zealanders haven't even stayed loyal. If they grow up aspiring to be NRL players then they will have the same choice as everyone else, play in the most prestigious rugby league games on earth and get a huge paycheck by choosing Origin, or play a couple of games every few years by choosing their true country. Or you know, they could choose both easily enough since Origin is just a state rep side and has no bearing on international football.

But mate the chances of them choosing Australia if they come here after they reach 13 is a lot slimmer because thet aren't eligible for Origin which you are banging on about as being the big lure. But more Internationals need to be played for the 2nd tier nations and equivalent or comparable money needs to be paid in order for them to want to choose their nation of heritage.

 

[Springs]

But mate the chances of them choosing Australia if they come here after they reach 13 is a lot slimmer because thet aren't eligible for Origin which you are banging on about as being the big lure. But more Internationals need to be played for the 2nd tier nations and equivalent or comparable money needs to be paid in order for them to want to choose their nation of heritage.

Not really. Lots of players have moved to New Zealand around that age and chose New Zealand. Origin is the biggest lure but the next one is playing in the big international tournaments and actually having a chance at winning. In the last few years New Zealand has played in 3 4 Nations tournaments, winning one and also winning a World Cup while Tonga has played in a Pacific Cup and a couple of one off tests v Samoa. Plus I would say players who choose Australia or New Zealand would get paid a lot more.

Your second point is right. More fixtures are the key.

 

[PaulyTom]

Fiji , Samoa and Tonga are slowly developing very good squads that could potentially beat an England team touring Australia. Or maybe even beat an NZ team on a off day.

 

[RedVee]

But mate the chances of them choosing Australia if they come here after they reach 13 is a lot slimmer because thet aren't eligible for Origin which you are banging on about as being the big lure. But more Internationals need to be played for the 2nd tier nations and equivalent or comparable money needs to be paid in order for them to want to choose their nation of heritage.

I agree.

Fiji , Samoa and Tonga are slowly developing very good squads that could potentially beat an England team touring Australia. Or maybe even beat an NZ team on a off day.

Developing? Assembling I think is closer.

 

[Springbokfly]

samoan team...taken from twitter
Samoa: Taupau, Winterstein, Fai Fai Loa, Vidot, Ah Mau, Roberts, Fa'alogo, Godinet, Tuimavave, Tasi, Tagataese, Taufua, Asotasi , Lima, Sa'u, Pettybourne, Iosefa, Pasene & Saofaiga

Where's Maitua and Matai??

 

[franklin2323]

The fact that this game is locked in for the same weekend for 5 years. Live coverage Aus, NZ & the pacific is a good start. It will help get sponsors and will help show that the islands do exist outside of WC. Though should be a double header with Fiji, PNG or Cook Islands playing in the other. We get more games more chance players wont switch

 

[blukablu]

The fact that this game is locked in for the same weekend for 5 years. Live coverage Aus, NZ & the pacific is a good start. It will help get sponsors and will help show that the islands do exist outside of WC. Though should be a double header with Fiji, PNG or Cook Islands playing in the other. We get more games more chance players wont switch

Has that been confirmed anywhere?

 

[Brutus]

Well done Paul Vautin for putting shit on the Tonga v Samoa match - and international rugby league in general - during his sports show on 2UE and 4BC this afternoon.

Vautin is a disgrace.

 

[hutch]

What did the moron say?

 

[PaulyTom]

Tonga 10-0 .

Great crowd in for one of the wettest days that Sydney has seen for some time. If the weather had been good I think it would have been a sell out.

 

[PaulyTom]

10-4 to Tonga. Good try by Vidot. Excellent cut out ball

 

[Springs]

The people who say most of the players only play for these teams because they missed out on Australia and new Zealand should look at their faces during the anthems and war dance. This means a lot to them and saying they can't play because they represented another country in the past is idiotic

And what did fatty say?