Really? Competing in the Olympics is still a huge success.

Funding?

I imagine that GB's athletes, for example, are funded alot better than most others.

As Wellsy said, the honour of competing at the Olympics would be viewed as a success by many. That aside, the same principles apply here as for team sports. You could quite easily argue, for example, that Rangi Chase won't 'be in line for too much success' by switching his allegiance to England. But if he didn't switch, he wouldn't be playing international football.

As populations become more diverse and mobile, concepts of national identity have to become more flexible or die. Either/or for me.
You'll get the odd old fashioned flag waving patriot swimming against the tide, but patriotism will be a quaint but redundant concept in a few generations time, IMO.

Fair point. Although I'd still say that the nationality switching in athletics has no impact on the results or competitiveness of the latter stages, which is probably why people care less.

is he blasting England, or Steve Mac?

I completely understand Chase's reasons for doing so, and accept the point about going to the Olympics. I disagree with both if that's the reason for doing so. Like I just said to Wellsy though, I think it probably generates less criticism because a lot of the time you're not likely to be talking about medal hopefuls in those cases, whereas in RL you're talking about the 3 biggest fish in the pond.

Also, with a team sport, if you're not going to enforce enough eligibility criteria for a national side IMO it becomes a redundant concept, they're just club sides in another guise. You might as well scrap it in it's current form and either play club sides against those from other leagues, or SL v NRL representative sides, or even just leave it all together.

Blasting Steve Mac for not selecting Luke Robinson is the crux of his rant I reckon.

that does appear to be his issue

maybe he can give a lecture on loyalty next?

The whole international selection is too complex.

Get rid of the residency bullsheet and keep it simply to if you're english (austrailian, NZ...) then you can play for them. If you arent, then you cant!



Tbh though, union is worse than league for this.

This is from the guy who has taken the easiest job in super league

If his little rent boy had been picked he wouldn't be mentioning it.

At best he's the 4th best English hooker, behind Roby, Houghton & McIlorum.

Got to say I agree with nathan brown on this one . Henderson , chase and manu should not be able to play for england I.m.o .

But is he better than henderson ?

Why shouldn't someone who was born in England and has an English parent not be allowed to play for England?

How do you define being English? Because apparently Henderson isn't.

Which is exactly where Brown makes himself look like an idiot.

On the limited amount I've seen both this year I would take Henderson.

Henderson was born in England, why can't he play for his country of birth? No different to Jack Reed, or even Gareth Widdop.

Exactly. Brown is being borderline racist with his comment about "He looks Aussie and talks Aussie so I suppose he is an Aussie."

Because Henderson has already represented Scotland. Reed and Widdop haven't represented other nations. That is one reason why I feel he shouldn't be able to play for England, but this is a problem spread across the game. If he hadn't already have represented Scotland then I wouldn't have a problem with Henderson playing for England. Born here, parents from here, and it's not his fault that his parents emigrated when he was young (same for Widdop and Reed). (This is different to what Brown has said in the article but it's my opinion).

I'd rather have Houghton, Burrow or Robinson on the bench than Henderson, tbh.

because he's already played for another country , thats why

Do you think he would have played for one of the minor nations had the rule been "one country only"?

The Aussies and Kiwis use this rule a lot.

Do you also think we should not consider Brough, Bridge or Carvell?

s I

Yes I do but thats just my opinion and if people dissagree then I repect there opinion to
o

Didn't realise Henderson was born in England, has British parents and moved to Oz when he was young. Just like Reed. Fair play really, he's English.