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A countless number of suggestions have been thrown around by a number of media personalities about the best way to improve rugby league’s standing on the international scene.
Yet not one person has identified the true elephant in the room.
There are only three truly competitive teams, Australia, New Zealand and England.
The four nations concept is a noble one, but it’s also pretty stupid. Even with a broad contingent of NRL players Papua New Guinea, for example, still trots out a side that would struggle to beat most club sides in Super League.
So I offer to you a glaringly obvious and extremely simple solution. Introducing the United Islands Barbarians.
The time is ripe to create this combined international outfit. Papua New Guinea have fielded a side in the Queensland Cup for two seasons, and as of 2015 Fiji will field a team in the New South Wales Cup. These are positive initiative by the rugby league power brokers but they need to be improved on.
The Barbarians would consist of players from Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands (all automatic 2013 World Cup selections) and could also include Solomon Islands and the Philippines (Kevin Gordon and Matt Srama).
A team of such a high calibre would command the respect of potential candidates that could see them opt to play for an international side representing their country of birth or heritage instead of adopted nations such as Australia and New Zealand.
I have assembled a squad I believe would be capable of becoming a major force in international rugby league, and with the potential to easily surpass New Zealand as Australia’s major competition.
Those with asterisks are current representative players who could have represented this side instead – those in brackets are their ready-made replacement for argument’s sake of altered eligibility.
Fullback: Alex Johnston
Wing: Semi Radradra
Centre: Tim Simona
Centre: Konrad Hurrell
Wing: Daniel Tupou* (Jorge Tafau or Akuila Uate)
Five-eighth: Anthony Milford
Halfback: Isaac John* (Ray Thompson – however Shaun Johnson would be the true incumbent)
Prop: Sam Moa* (Brent Kite)
Hooker: James Segeyaro
Prop: Sam Kasiano* (Mose Masoe)
Second Row: Alex Glenn* (Jason Taumalolo)
Second Row: Ben Te’o* (Sika Manu)
Lock: Sauso Sue
Bench: Fui Fui Moi Moi (prop), Jason Taumalolo (second row/lock), Brad Taikarangi (utility), Sika Manu (prop/second row/lock)
18th man: Ray Thompson
19th man: Feleti Mateo
An extended squad would include Kite, Masoe, Pauli Pauli, Manu Mau’u, Kirisome Avau’a, Kane Evans, Dylan Napa, Tariq Sims, Tafua, Joey Leilua and Uate.
Notable Omissions
Leeson Ah Mau, Matt Srama, Sisa Waqa, David Mead, Mahe Fonua, Ben Roberts, Lote Tuquiri, Jeff Lima, Kevin Gordon, Justin O’ Neil, Tatau Moga, Fa’amanu Brown, Paul Aiton, Marika Koroibete, Sam Mataora, Tepai Moeroa, Glen Fisiiahi, Ashton Sims, Korbin Sims, Antonio Winterstein, Matthew Wright, Nene Macdonald, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Jordan Ropana, Dunamis Lui, Kevin and Wes Naiqama.
There are a total of 57 high quality players readily available, with countless others not being considered. There is depth in all positions with the only area leaving a little to be desired in the halves. However, both Thompson and Roberts have shown lately that they are both capable and becoming increasingly consistent.
Introducing a side such as this would encourage more players to ignore the heeding calls of primarily the New Zealand national team, and instead play for a side that truly represents their heritage. The best part about this side is that it is a smattering of largely young and rapidly improving players.
Standard exhibition matches between nations such as Samoa and Papua New Guinea during the regular season could instead be better used to develop talent within the country itself. Players in the lower grades of the NRL such as Charlie Wabo or Pat Politoni – talented hookers in their own rights – would also benefit.
At World Cup time the individual nations could again revert to their own structures, but considering this is an event that only occurs every four years adequate time for planning and squad selection would be well accommodated.
What do you think Roarers, is this a good solution to fielding another side to create a legitimate end-of-season four nations competition? How would this team fair against the international heavy weights?
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