To be a big name - do you need to be in the Big 3 ???

[The Partisan]

On the back of the representative weekend, I would like to pose this question.

Could a future superstar of the game be considered as such – that is; a superstar - if playing outside the big 3 ?

If a young player in either the NRL or SL pledged themselves to a Pacific, European (e.g. Ireland / Scotland) or even Emerging nation – and developed into a consistent “world class” player - would they be lauded as such – or would not playing for the Big 3 be a perceived ‘deficiency’ in their credentials ? Would a French pledged player who reached the same heights be in the same boat ?

Now, purely for the purposes of an example – If a self-professed ‘Fijian for life’ Marika Koroibete was to improve his game markedly to the point where he was in the same stature as Greg Inglis – would he be held in the same esteem as that superstar? Ditto if a ‘Danny Brough’ like player did likewise for Scotland or Ireland. Or a next ‘Anthony Minichello’ did this for Italy ?

And if this did happen – how could it help the game in the fields of promotion; marketing; expansion etc ?

(Folks, I know the temptation to head down the “Oz;NZ;Eng would somehow steal them” line is tempting to trot out here……….but it would be great if we could address the issue in question !!! )

 

[Ryan Chidgey]

Brough did win man of steel that's pretty big

 

[deluded pom?]

I think the Australians generally still don't take English talent seriously until it's played in the NRL so I doubt they'd take someone from Ireland, France or Wales or wherever cutting it up in the ESL seriously either.

 

[hutch]

Brian carney was the NRL winger of the year when he played for Newcastle. Not enough was made of the fat an Irishmen came out here and played better in his position than anybody else.

 

[franklin2323]

How long do you think this player would be in a minnow for? Pretty much any player from any country can be 'converted'.

 

[DiegoNT]

I think it's a shame australia and new Zealand steal so many islander players
On the matty johns show they said koribeate should be playing for australia.
Andrew voss has suggested a tri series run concurrently with origin consisting of New Zealand, Tonga aand Samoa. Not a bad idea, but then he suggested that at the end of it that the best samoan and tongan player should then be selected in the new Zealand side to face australia. This kind of talk is extremely disrespectful to the smaller nations

 

[franklin2323]

Brough & McIlorum switched to England so all of the big 3 are just as guilty and would take said player

 

[deluded pom?]

Brough & McIlorum switched to England so all of the big 3 are just as guilty and would take said player

I agree about the guilty comment but Brough has never played for England.

 

[franklin2323]

I agree about the guilty comment but Brough has never played for England.

Did he miss Tests for Scotland waiting though? As down here with players waiting for Aust/SOO jerseys. That's just as bad imo

 

[miguel de cervantes]

It's very hard for for an outside of the big three players to be considered a great as they just don't (can't really) play enough games at the highest level.

 

[deluded pom?]

Did he miss Tests for Scotland waiting though? As down here with players waiting for Aust/SOO jerseys. That's just as bad imo

That was Brough's own choice. There were no outside influences making him sit games out.