I think it was longer than that.

He grew up in Australia though and played all his junior rugby there as did Civoniceva and Mason who are the only other 2 who I can think of that were born outside of Australia who have played for the Kangaroos recently.

I think HF's point is that the players you mention were born or brought up in Australia although their heritage is clearly overseas. Similar to Harrsion Hansen from Wigan his family are from the South Sea Islands but he was born and brought up in Lancashire (his dad played for Widnes iirc) therefore had his rugby league eductaion in the British system.

Didn't Moi Moi go to court to try to play for another country . The Eligibility rule is a joke.

Well done to Manu, fully deserved hope he makes the team

Both of them are born and raised in Australia though so its Fiji and Tonga who are taking players from Australia not the other way around.

Pretty sure before the WC Hayne hadn't even been to Fiji.

But they've played for other countries. The rules are very clear and Australia use them to their best advantage. We should do the same until the rule changes.

That's correct.

I agree we should take advantage of the rules but I am not in favour of overseas players pulling on the England shirt personally.

The World Cup is the main reason players jump between countries because of the sheer lack of number to fill all the nations with quality players.

Fringe England players would rather use this rule to get and Irish or Scottish jersey for example then miss out on a rare World Cup appearance.

End of the day it is down to the RL to make the rules stricter if they so want to.

Its the other countries who are selecting Australians not the other way around though.

If the rules changed to you have to play where you were born the Australian side would be exactly the same except for Civoniceva who would be playing for Fiji. If this rule came into force the international game would be dead as PNG, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji would be full of amateurs.

Perhaps the current side, but there have been others in the past. The point is, if a player is eligible and they think he's the best option, they'll pick him - regardless of anything else.

rules are there for a reason like em or not !!

Exactly, they dont care about the nationality of a player, they will pick anyone if it improves them as a team.

There's a mention of bjb so can we presume tansey won't be there?

How do you know that they are not? that is to say, where can I see the full train-on squad?

Manu

- if he was a bit younger and bigger, I could see it. Still, good luck to him in an England RL shirt, if it happens. Got no problem with playing the rules as they stand - we're not good enough to further disadvantage ourselves.

The rules are ridiculous, but we should play them to our advantage, I agree.

Having said that I'd expect some of the "Ellis, Burgess, Westwood, Harrison, Tomkins" lot to be selected before Willie. Not Langley though. Oh no.

I also think that I'd prefer Willie to have a decent rest in the off season.

Right or wrong its within the rules. Whatever we think of them we should congratulate Willie on this recognition of a great season.

Totally agree well done Manu

well done to tom briscoe and espcially kirk yeamen aswell who are also in the squad, surley tickle and houghton woundt of been far away

Disagree, I don't think they would pick anybody who hadn't come through the Australian junior system.

How long till Ellis and Burgess get an aussie call up?????

Absolute pi$$ take. If there is no pride in playing for the country your from whats the point in bothering with internationals?

It makes it all meaningless.

It's like england cricket, how can anyone take pride in anything they achieve when there best players are south african

Has the full squad been released yet ?

Well I think they would, so we'll have to disagree! It's not just Aussie RL - there are loads of sports/countries at it these days. I haven't checked the NZ squad, but I'd imagine they have a fair few South Sea Islanders in there (or have had in the past). Like I said, it's within the rules. Everyone is playing to the same rules, so until those rules change I don't see a problem with playing Manu.

Indeed i would find it very difficult to get behind the national side when they contain foreigners. I've nothing against Willie who is a smashing bloke, but he isn't English and should therefore not play for England. Besides has he not already represented Tonga??

Also it would have been interesting to read the comments on here had it been Clint Newton that had been picked

That would never happen. He's crap.

Spot on