<spam alert>

Because they don't ignore their heritage? Because they were eligible to play at international level for another nation? If this is the problem, aim your questions at the rule makers, not the players who simply take the opportunities put in front of them.

Regarding Greenshields, firstly, I can barely even remember any exception to his representation. My guess it was probably in retaliation to all the whinging aimed at NRL players representing different nations. Secondly, it's baffling how so often 1 or 2 outspoken Australians will loudly and repetitvely display their opinions, and that is then somehow generalised as representative of all Australians, most of whom don't care so don't say anything.

Good on anyone who plays Test football, go for your life.

You're looking a pretty big idiot here.
Such a response is simply because you're so emphatically wrong there is nowhere else to turn, even the nazi line has passed you

So you think it should be allowed to represent more than one nation, like a transfer? Personally I could represent Wales or England, but once I had represented one, that would be my nation. The amount of credibility sports lose through eligibilty is unreal, Athletics, both codes of Rugby and Cricket suffer. At least in Football once you have represented a country, that's it, no changing.

And I don't mind people qualifying through residency or grandparentage at all, it's just once you have chosen that road, stick with it. Don't become Austraian/NZ/English because now you're wanted by them, when you wern't before.

I'd prefer to allow one change, then that's it. It's a bit more realistic in regards to where international league is at competitively.

Do you not think that the smaller nations will never even give the big three a game if a player like Hayne plays for Fiji, improves due to playing the larger nations and then once he's improved and more experienced, changes nationality to a larger nation?

A bunch of mostly NRL players making up most of those nations, who get spanked, aren't going to conjure money for their domestic leagues from the ground up. It's much more complicated than that and I don't have the answer either.

Right now, i'm most inclined to believe the best thing for the game is for the cream of the crop to look unbelievable. That's what creates new fans and inspires current fans. It's better than a blunted talent peak, where it's perhaps more competitive, but more a case of everyone just being average. Spectacle is the biggest strength for audience sports.

Players like Hayne would no doubt have chosen Australia if he was told he could never change. Just like Marshall would never be a Kangaroo despite being eligible.

you should learn all of the facts before commenting, because you clearly have no idea about the history of all 3 players. civo moved to australia when he was 3 months old, he grew up here and is proud to represent his country. who are you to tell him he is not as australian as the other players? this doesnt mean he isnt also proud of his fijian heritage, heard of dual nationality? he made a decision to play for australia and he has stuck with that decision, unlike our friends fui fui moi moi and taniela tuaki who change countries every year.

[urlhttp://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/vidot-sidelined-in-a-cultural-void/story-e6frepbf-1225939368124[/url


not that i agree with that article at all, but just in case you were doubting petero's australianess.

tuquri moved to australia when he was a toddler. he opted for fiji in the 2000 world cup when he was cut from the australian train on squad and was given assurances by the arl that if he helped fiji out it wouldnt affect his future origin and kangaroo chances which is of course a ridiculous way to run international sport. are you telling him that he also isnt an australian?

hayne played for australia in 07 but was cut from the world cup squad in 08. he was then invited to play for fiji in the world cup due to his dad (who he does not have a great relationship with) being born in fiji. as soon as the world cup was over he was allowed to switch back to australia. the whole episode makes a mockery out of our sport, he should never have been allowed to play for fiji!

yes, we need to put systems in place which make it more attractive for players to play for their countries of heritage (as long as they commit to this country and not play for them if they miss out on their first choice), but at the end of the day if they are australian they have every right to play for their state and country. where you are born does not solely define your nationality.

Ramble, ramble, union, union, droll, droll, union, union, ramble, ramble...

Thanks again. Stopped reading at "Twickenham" when I realised it was your usual post just regurgitated. For about the thousandth time.

Go SBW, Ashton, Hape etc.

All struggling...

Your own mantra is that Union is a terrible game, so why wouldn't a league convert do well?

You continue to be shown up on here as nothing but a poor impersonation of a wind-up-merchant....you add nothing to debate. You started this thread expecting to get a nibble...you got one, but, instead of reasoned debate, you resort to name calling.
Sooner the mods figure out that you bring nothing to the boards and send you back to where you came from the better.

I repeat.....International RL is a shambles and needs to be sorted out from top to bottom. Whilst there are potentially 10 soccer teams that can win the FIFA World Cup & 6 teams the RUWC there are only 2 teams currently capable of contesting for the title of best international League team.......and the players from both those teams (bar 1) all play in the Australian Domestic League.
International RL needs to run more comps such as the recent European one on a yearly basis....same for the pacific islands. Only through regular games for emerging nations can the game hope to ever become a true International Sport. I would even bin PNG from the 4 nations.....go back to tri-nations and let the rest play catch up.

I would also sort out, once and for all, the ridiculous country swapping that goes on...Whatever your first passport says on the cover....that's who you play for!

GF why bother?
Just dont bite.
He got banned on the old user name, Gijou or something (it was a while ago) iirc, so if he carries on getting shown up and resorting to name calling it wont be long before hes back off again.

He writes differently to Gijou.......are you sure?

I could be wrong but i'd hedge 50 quid on it

But he writes me such nice little notes

hahahahaha ask tb, im sure he'd confirm/deny

We'd have gotten more in Eden Park.

even if it WAS raining

derp alert

I see this thread I started is filling up with all the usual suspects...

lol

Regrettable to see the steady improvement in international rugby league causing people distress...very negative lives they must lead. Real glass half empty types.

Have a smile

thats me for ya

Hardly.....I get paid actually MORE if it grows.........just being realistic.
I repeat, International RL is a shambles.....look at the games being played at the moment betwen USA, Canada and Jamaica.......the RLIF has nothing to do with them and the European Fed is helping them out........no structure, the ARL too busy looking after their own interests......the whole international game needs to be restructured......and control taken away from the ARL...........until then, it wil stagnate and simply try things that will work in Australia with no care or concept for the global picture.

When you leave primary school, then High School, then get a job, you will understand what "realistic" means.....until then, you will continue to attempt the impossible.........convince people you know what you are talking about when in fact you only know what you've been told

derpy derp derp derpity derp

and you told Dully messenger you'd swallow....another lie

derpity derp derp

Lucky you are close to the mods.