Webkes comments

[imported_Roopy4246]

I read a comment in the paper yesterday by Shane Webke in which he said that Australia shouldn't be complacent because the other countries in League are catching up. He said that we should be striving to improve so we can stay ahead.

These comments didn't sit very well with me. I've been cheering for both GB and NZ ever since the World Cup. I think international League will be dead and buried very shortly if Australia just keeps winning for ever.

Personally, I'd like to see every player with the slightest claim to be anything but Australian playing for that country. I think Tahu shouldbe aKiwi. I think Utai, Hopate and Mason should all be Tongans. Cievonacieva and Tuquiri should play for Fiji. El Masri should play for Lebanon.

I hope that Webke doesn't get to see his dream come true. In fact, what sort of name is Webke? - looks bloody Polish or something to me.

 

[ozbash]

i agree roopy, should be the country of birth only. in our case, if someone plays for the maori,s (clinton toopi), he wouldnt/shouldnt be eligible for the kiwis.i also think that if you have been out of the country for 2 years or longer,you should stand down (rob paul).
we would still have a heap of polynesian players because the majority of the younger ones are born here.

btw, isnt roopy a unit of indian currency ???

 

[bender]

Roopy,
I also agree. I believe that a if a World Cup was set up with players who are eligible for more than one side to go to the lowest ranked country, it would be an enormous event, would make plenty of money and would help league grow internationally. Imagine an Australia vs Wales game where the Welsh side was spearheaded by the Johns Brothers and Mark Hughes. It could be enormous. Plus, the Australian team would not be as invincible as they are which could only make all Australian games that much more exciting. Tonga and Western Samoa would be every bit as strong as the kiwis, Brits and Aussies. Countries like Italy, West Indies and maybe even Croatia or Greece could all field decent or half decent sides. It would give the international game the boost it needs.

If the rule were continued in force with the addition that once a person plays for a country they cant change allegiance,we would have the ability to have plenty of great internationals. Then, likewith the Lebanon,you could slowly build up the game at grass roots level in these countries, using the money raised from internationals.

 

[imported_Broncaz]

Dzien dobry(hello)Roopy,

What do you mean, bloody Polish? Nothing wrong with being a Polska
Nah, don't worry, I'm not offended, only pulling your leg. I also agree that you should play for the country you were born in. Wouldn't it be so much more exciting and so good for the game??

Do zobaczenia(see you)
broncaz

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I don't think country of birth is the way to go, its a bit unfair on players who were born in one country but emigrated at a young age. I think a player should have to have been born in OR played a minimum of two years of footy in a country to be elegible, and they cannot have represented another country in the previous two years (effectively a two year stand down if you want to change sides). Maybe with the sand-down rule a parentage qualification would be ok too.

 

[madas]

I read a comment in the paper yesterday by Shane Webke in which he said that Australia shouldn't be complacent because the other countries in League are catching up. He said that we should be striving to improve so we can stay ahead.

These comments didn't sit very well with me. I've been cheering for both GB and NZ ever since the World Cup. I think international League will be dead and buried very shortly if Australia just keeps winning for ever.

Man United have been winning for ever but it hasnt hurt soccer. the All Blacks long winning streak didnt harm the yawnion code or the Bombers down in Melb only inspired the other rules teams to better things. countries like England and NZ should be learning from the Aussies and they have up to a point NZ are only a nats whisker from knocking oz off but they have to take the next step, what that is I dont know but when oz go to NZ and England they still fill the grounds, fans go there to see there teams beat the Aussies and filling stadiums doesn`t look like the game is dying to me
cheers

 

[El Duque]

Spacey, Cayless would never play for NZ if that was the criteria.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Thats fine by me El, I can handle the prospect of losing guys like Swain or Cayless who were developed in Australia. However I think some of the Islanders who moved to NZ at a young age and developed as footballers in NZ have a legitimate claim to represent NZ, that was the gist of my post.

 

[MistyBee9-11]

Sounds like you are all getting close to my provincial world cup idea. I'd throw in an Aboriginal team as well.

Webcke would have to be German.

 

[imported_Noodles]

Roopy

Fair enough with your comments regarding getting good players to play for other countries, but I don't see why you should be worried by Webke's comments.

It would be great if other countries were competitive, but they need to do this by getting better, not by hoping the Aussies won't care about playing in the games.

I do tend to quietly hope the other countries beat the Aussies too, for the sake of the international game, but I hope they beat them through good football, not because the Aussies played crap.

 

[st ted]

You blokes have got this all wrong.
Webke was only using international footy as an excuse to talk to himself.
What he really means is that he has to lift his game himself.He is having shit bashed out of him and this is his subconcious murmerings about retirement.
This probably means that Bennett has said to him that he might only have one season left in him so Webke is trying to urge himself on.
Fairly typical Bronco tactic, make the rest of the league world think that you care about the game,but in reality they are only looking after themselves.
I reckon that 2003 will be Webkes last year.
Laugh if you will, but remember the interpretation.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

After the going over he got in the test match from Seu Seu and Rauhihi who can blame him? Shane would've been a sore lad this week.