Semi Radradra wants to play for Australia

[hutch]

Not many better than him on current form, so hard to justify it if he's declared for Australia.

On form he is the best winger in the world, every team would be lucky to have him. For the good of the sport, Australia should leave him to play for Fiji. The NRL should pay him to be an ambassador for Fiji.

 

[TITAN MAN]

How about we just don't pick him. Crisis averted! Let's do the right thing for once!

He won't get picked no way anyhow, the kangaroos*and meninga in particular always , always stick solid, boyd guaranteed and morris guaranteed no two ways about it.

 

[TITAN MAN]

How about we just don't pick him. Crisis averted! Let's do the right thing for once!

He won't get picked no way anyhow, the kangaroos*and meninga in particular always , always stick solid, boyd guaranteed and morris guaranteed no two ways about it.

 

[Parra Pride]

On form he is the best winger in the world, every team would be lucky to have him. For the good of the sport, Australia should leave him to play for Fiji. The NRL should pay him to be an ambassador for Fiji.

I agree he should be playing for Fiji. However he has declared for Australia, and simply saying "he should play for Fiji" isn't enough to justify leaving him out.

 

[moffla]

Change the eligibility restrictions. It's ridiculous that someone can play for two countries IMO

 

[Springs]

This is the worst one so far. A country's best player by far and he switches to the World Champions for what? He might be able to play Four Nations this year but other than that Fiji are playing just as many games in the next two years as Australia is. Unless he has an explosive urge to play Four Nations it's only about the $$.

I'm happy for players to play for their country of birth and heritage. But Radradra is in no way Australian. If he wants to apply for citizenship then that's fair enough. But this residency rule crap should be cut. We try and grow the game and see players born and raised in the island countries come over and play for Australia or NZ after three years. Lam, Kaufusi, Moi Moi, Uate, Hurrell, Segeyaro and now Radradra.

It's most annoying when someone like Segeyaro switches when there's still several players in front of him, like Australia only got him to switch so PNG couldn't have their best player.

 

[latingringo101]

It should be 5 years instead of 3.

But with the current rules in place we'll still see players like Radradra swapping until the RLIF steps in and makes sure its harder for players to swap at the drop of a hat

 

[yakstorm]

Honestly there just needs to be an 'Big 3 Clause' that prevents Australia, New Zealand and England picking players based upon residency if they move to one of those countries after the age of 13.

The only exception is if the player comes from a country that does not have a domestic Rugby League competition or national team.

The residency rule is designed to help weaker nations get stronger, not help the strong get even stronger.

 

[expansionist]

I still think this thread has the wrong title..

IMHO he doesnt WANT to play for Australia - he WANTS to play SOO for whatever reason (testing yourself, $$$ etc)

This will keep happening

 

[flamin]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...i/news-story/d0016821203cde597b7e72db7e2484a3

Provided Australia win both tournaments, and they will be favourites, Radradra could be paid $160,000 — big money on top of his lucrative Eels deal.

There is a catch though. Should Radradra be overlooked for Australia, he could not then walk back and represent Fiji. If snubbed by the Roos, Radradra’s rep career would be completely stalled.

Fijian players get paid a pittance compared to the rock-stars Aussies. Radradra would still though, under international rugby league rules, be ineligible to represent Laurie Daley’s NSW side.

Radradra’s application to be a Kangaroo is now expected to be rubber-stamped by officials in coming days.

Are rugby league journos too lazy to do a Google search or just dumb? Origin eligibility has nothing to do with international rugby league rules! It's the ARLC's laws.

 

[adamkungl]

Honestly there just needs to be an 'Big 3 Clause' that prevents Australia, New Zealand and England picking players based upon residency if they move to one of those countries after the age of 13.

The only exception is if the player comes from a country that does not have a domestic Rugby League competition or national team.

The residency rule is designed to help weaker nations get stronger, not help the strong get even stronger.

These 3 countries should on principle, agree to never use the residency rule. It's embarrassing.

But the fact remains, if Fiji a) had games and b) were paid a reasonable amount for them by the extremely cash flush ARLC this wouldnt be an issue.

 

[Scubby]

I presume Uate will now be Fijian again in the Pacific Test now that his Origin and Australia chances are long gone?

It is rotten to the core. Australia, England and NZ should never take players on residency. They have all done it at different points and it is just wrong. They should make a stand!

 

[expansionist]

Look at Anthony Milford.... did a whole world cup for Samoa, speaks Samoan as a first language, has a Samoan passport, but cant play for Samoa as he wants to play for Queensland. Our eligibility rules suck

Sorry slightly off topic but just reminded of it after watching the game tonight!

 

[Scubby]

Look at Anthony Milford.... did a whole world cup for Samoa, speaks Samoan as a first language, has a Samoan passport, but cant play for Samoa as he wants to play for Queensland. Our eligibility rules suck

Sorry slightly off topic but just reminded of it after watching the game tonight!

Yep, if ever a guy typified the fact that families with a deep Polynesian heritage migrate to Australia for a better life it is Milford. He and Joey Leluai are perfect examples of a changing world where you can feel part of a RL state but love your heritage.

Joey, stuck to his guns and refused City-Country, shadow squads to play for Samoa. No doubt he has lost 1000s of $$$ because of that as you have to declare for Australia. Milford has probably dreamt of pulling on a Maroon jersey since he was a primary school kid yet he jumped at the chance to play for Samoa. Origin has done this with the beast it has created.

 

[mikail-eagle]

http://allaboutnrl.com/2016/03/31/shaun-kenny-dowall-opposes-semi-radradra-playing-for-kangaroos/


SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL OPPOSES SEMI RADRADRA PLAYING FOR KANGAROOS

Shaun Kenny-Dowall has called for Rugby League officials to block Semi Radradra from playing for the Australian Kangaroos. He believes Australia shouldn’t be allowed to pick up the best players from smaller countries to enhance their side.

Do you agree with Kenny-Dowall

“The game has to establish some boundaries and set rules on eligibility for Origin and Australia and New Zealand” he said.

“Just throwing people from all over the place together, just to get the best team on the field isn’t right.

“If they want to develop the game and bring up these second-tier countries, then they need to have their best players on the field and not in the Australian and New Zealand sides.

“I definitely think they need to have a look at the rules around this.”

 

[BuffaloRules]

SKD doesn't seem to realise that there are rules now for Origin eligibility.

Isn't that what is getting Semi cheesed off?

 

[Burns]

So, why doesn't the Fiji Rugby League say something? Or the other Pacific nations? It all seems a bit quiet. Threaten to boycott the Pacific Cup?

 

[siv]

Asid-Pacific RL Federation should be representing the interests of AP players at Test level

But they dont seem to exist

 

[LeagueXIII]

So, why doesn't the Fiji Rugby League say something? Or the other Pacific nations? It all seems a bit quiet. Threaten to boycott the Pacific Cup?

What is said by the Fijian RL doesn't necessarily get reported in Australian newspapers:

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=348004

Radradra signs with Australian Kangaroos

Pravin Narain
Saturday, April 02, 2016


WINGER Semi Radradra's decision to change his team from Fiji Bati to Australian Kangaroo has caused a lot of concern for the Fiji National Rugby League ahead of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

It is believed Radradra could be earning $A160,000 ($F250,000) for playing for Australia for two and half years.

However, Fiji National Rugby League chief executive officer Timoci Naleba said they wanted to match the offer and secure Radradra's services for Fiji.
"I have been told from a reliable source in Australia that Radradra has signed a deal with the Australian Kangaroos. It is going to be a huge loss for Fiji if we do not do anything."

"It does not mean that it is the end of the road after he signed a contract but still we can talk to him.

"I think we should not lose out easily and we should go out to see if we have any avenues to make sure he comes and play for Fiji Bati.

"At the same time we should congratulate him for defeating all odds and becoming Australia's best."

According to The Daily Telegraph website Radradra would receive $20,000 if he plays in the May Test and a further $20,000 for the Test against New Zealand in October.

If Australia wins the Four Nations tournament in England then he would be given $50,000 while another $20,000 is on offer provided he gets selected into the squad for the mid-season Test before the Rugby League World Cup. Then another $50,000 awaits him if Australia manages to win RLWC.

The Parramatta Eels player has made four appearances for Fiji in the past.
He would not be able to play in the State of Origin but because of his residency he is eligible to make his debut for Australia.

Naleba said Australia should consider its decision.
"I am sure Australia and the NRL and those making the decision would consider the impact of the decision they are making in terms of the development in the Pacific Islands.

"Fiji would love to have Semi play for Fiji Bati," he added.

"Though Australia have big money, it does not mean that they make decision that would not be good for the development of rugby league in Fiji. We can equal the offer though we won't be able to give more but we can talk to our sponsor to consider having funds for Semi (Radradra)."

Meanwhile, Fiji will play Papua New Guinea in the May Test in Australia.

 

[deluded pom?]

Whilst I agree with SKD it's a bit hypocritical coming from a Kiwi.