Taumalolo Chooses NZ

[Joker's Wild]

It's okay, NSW still have Victoria and WA to choose from.

Dont forget Fiji Pete

 

[Big Pete]

Fiji is fair game IMO.

Some very passionate Qlders and NSWmen from all over Fiji.

 

[Grapple]

i think foran may have lived longer in aus than NZ

I think you're probably right. Good enough! Sign him up Ricky!

 

[GAZF]

they really should take the word ORIGIN out, its becoming a farce

State of Choice?

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Taupau

?

Is he eligible for QLD? Mal will be on the blower in a flash.

 

[Joker's Wild]

State of Choice?

State of whover picks you 1st and gives you the most cccccccccccaaaasssh

 

[hitman82]

State of Ch-Ching

 

[Grapple]

Is he eligible for QLD? Mal will be on the blower in a flash.

If he leaves the Dogs to join a QLD based club, I think that's the way it goes.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

If he leaves the Dogs to join a QLD based club, I think that's the way it goes.

Sam Rapira lived with Jacob Lillyman in Ponsoby for a while. I think that makes him eligible.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

Imagine the Queensland backlash if this was the other way around.

It is the other way around. Where's the backlash? You don't see any whinging over Uate, McManus, Mason, El Masri, Nagas and so on and so forth.

Just more moaning from down south.

 

[Frank_Grimes]

To add to the above, and as has been mentioned - Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale and Nathan Fien.

All QLD born and bred juniors now playing or having played for NZ.

 

[hutch]

And this is where the problem lies and has been heading to over the last few years. There is no problem with kids born elsewhere (including NZ) who emigrate to Australia at a young age and move through the grades onto origin and Australia like hunt did. There are massive problems with the system when players who are signed by clubs to move to Australia and are then groomed for origin and Australia. There are also massive issues with poaching players who have already represented another country as uate has done!

We are the most selfish sport on earth, nobody looks at the bigger picture or at the good of the sport as a whole. It's all about the quick fix and making yourself look good!

 

[Grapple]

Sam Rapira lived with Jacob Lillyman in Ponsoby for a while. I think that makes him eligible.

Michael Luck has been out to Piha a couple of times and loves it. I'd say that also makes him eligible.

 

[hutch]

You technically can, it's just that the ARL bribed players by threatening them with exclusion from future Origin selection if they played for any other nation. They also make the same threat to players who aren't even close to Origin at the moment, such as Daniel Vidot and Josh McGuire who were stopped from playing for Samoa last year.

Vidot and McGuire were told last year that playing for Samoa would ruin their chances of representing qld and Australia in the future, and rightly so. Players need to make a choice, they cannot have it both ways. McGuire at the time said he would play for Samoa because he is still a few years away from Australia. This is the problem, he knows he can swap whenever he wants and it is holding the sport back. Players need to commit to playing for a country, not play for them until they are good enough for their first choice!

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

To add to the above, and as has been mentioned - Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale and Nathan Fien.

All QLD born and bred juniors now playing or having played for NZ.

Very few kiwis wanted Fien in the team and we thought it was a joke as much as anyone.

Hoffman's father is a born and bred Kiwi, Beale is related to Zinzan Brooke (former All Black) so although you make a point about those two being born and bred Queenslanders, compared to Taumalolo who has nothing but Meninga in his ear it's a comparison that doesn't quite match up.

 

[Doga]

The guy has been in Aus since 13. That sounds fair game enough for me in terms of eligibility.

I think they should structure the questions differently.

It shouldn't be NSW or QLD approaching them. It should be Australia, or NZ or ENG or Samoa, Tonga, Fiji etc.

If they happen to say I am Australian, then take it from there. Look at their eligibility.

Having NSW or QLD determine national eligibility is pretty pathetic and I am willing to bet that you wont see anything like that in any sport anywhere.

 

[Evil Homer]

The guy has been in Aus since 13. That sounds fair game enough for me in terms of eligibility.

I think they should structure the questions differently.

It shouldn't be NSW or QLD approaching them. It should be Australia, or NZ or ENG or Samoa, Tonga, Fiji etc.

If they happen to say I am Australian, then take it from there. Look at their eligibility.

Having NSW or QLD determine national eligibility is pretty pathetic and I am willing to be you wont see anything like that in any sport anywhere.

Yeah exactly, but unfortunately you have idiots like Meninga in power who are willing to sacrifice international sport for the sake of their silly little provincial comp. FWIW nobody should 'approach' anyone, players should be free to declare who they want to play for without being coerced.

 

[Big Pete]

Brent Webb.

 

[doogiehowser_md]

RIP International Rugby League. And they wonder why League players dont make as much money as Rugby Union players....

 

[Hutty1986]

It is the other way around. Where's the backlash? You don't see any whinging over Uate, McManus, Mason, El Masri, Nagas and so on and so forth.

Just more moaning from down south.

:lol: Just like your precious qlders having a go at NSW for chopping and changing losing sides-you can say what you want because you haven't faced the problem for such a long time. I know in your fantasy world it's the NSW fans "always whinging" but reality is quite different