James Tamou should be playing for New Zealand in the test match this Friday. However, he should be playing for the Blues as well.
The declarations for different countries in league has long been a farce. The current eligibility rules have resulted in Australia dominating the international league scene, and will continue to do so.
This is because the rules allow for a situation where players are choosing state over nation.
I watched the interview on Fox Sports News where Tamou declared through his Kiwi accent that he wanted to play for Australia, as he started his serious football career over here.
His view of the world was clearly through blue-coloured glasses, not through green-and-gold coloured specs.
The idea that a player should be forced to choose between playing for the country of his heritage, or the state he moved to and grew up in should not exist. Players should be allowed to do both.
My proposal to fix this is simple. Country of birth is strictly your country of eligibility. A player’s state allegiance as a junior footballer should strictly be his state of origin, with international football not related in this decision.
In practice, this is how it would play out in relation to Tamou.
Tamou was born in New Zealand and lived there until he was thirteen. He then moved to Australia where he played junior football for Paddo Tigers.
His New Zealand heritage would not be discarded, and he would not be allowed to play for Australia. However, he would still be eligible for New South Wales in State of Origin, due to where he played his junior football.
This system has many positives in the long term.
State of Origin, which is viewed as the pinnacle of rugby league for its toughness, skill, and speed, gains more key players to increase the quality of the game. Benji Marshall played junior football on the Gold Coast making him eligible for Origin selection. No one can deny that his skills would expand the game’s ability to be a showcase event.
International league would be the big winner of the eligibility rule change. Imagine world cups where players aren’t switching to the dominant league nations, but where they play for their country of heritage.
Australia, New Zealand and England wouldn’t be the only teams with the strong calibre of players necessary to win. The island teams, where so many league players originate, would become dominate forces within the game, allowing international league to become a spectacle rather than a laughing stock of fifty point victories.
On Friday, we will see James Tamou, having arrived home and scanned his New Zealand passport to get through customs, run onto the field to play against his fellow countrymen. He will not be doing this because he is playing in the jersey he covets, rather doing so merely as a means of reaching that sky blue jersey.
In order to strengthen both Origin and international league, let’s take the need for individual decisions away and make it clear cut.
The Barry
Roar Guru
If Hoffman has duel eligibility and chooses to play for NZ so be it. However he shouldn't now be able to switch. Once Tamou was selected for the NZ train on squad last year, he is a kiwi and cannot switch. Origin is available for players available to play for Australia. While it's not ideal I think that the Tier 1 nations will likely have first dibs on players and Tier 2 nations get those who qualify but are unselected by Tie 1 nations. That has worked in the past with guys like Mateo and Hayne not being picked for the Australian team but proudly representing Tonga and Fiji. Rather than looking at it as getting the 'scraps', I think it's better that they have the second pick of players with dual eligibility rather than no pick at all.
Lippy
Guest
Tamou has stated publicly he is a proud Kiwi and Maori at that. His decision to play for Australia was purely financial nothing more. He does not class himself as Australian which is why him wearing the Green and Gold is a joke.
Rob C
Guest
My view on Tamou though is that he moved to Aus to further his career as has been well publicised. His junior footy was in NZ. He is a Kiwi and should not be allowed to play Origin. Test footy is a different hurdle and I think he would need to become a permanent resident to become an aussie. I can guarantee this though, there is no way Tamou would even put on a green jersey if origin was taken off the table for him. He is a mercenary and all guys like him do is cheapen our representative jumper. That is why i was against your proposal and thought what I said might be a more palatable alternative. i.e. where you are first registered for footy determines where your eligibility lies for origin. See your point though, but I don't think it is clear cut enough though. Basing it on where you are first registered takes away any ambiguity.
anopinion
Guest
Put all players on a machine that records emotions (heart rates, sweat, volume of cheer, throwing of cans at tv). Make that person watch an Origin match and a Test, the Emotionator will decide where your heart lies. I use one to decide on girlfriends.
anopinion
Guest
What? Not Tamou's fault? When Tamou looks in the mirror does he see an Aussie or a Kiwi? Only he knows that and he has made his decision. The current system may not be perfect but it is better than any other. This system allows grown men to decide who they have allegiance to. Some will make a decision based on factors other than identity, yes, but how many is that? Tamou, Inglis, Polla-Mounter. If you apply the where were you born rule, it would be a shambles.
dase248
Roar Rookie
Slight edit, he played his first senior football for Roosters, but same point.
dase248
Roar Rookie
Very much agree with the last statement. Which is interesting because you have stated that is against the premise of my argument. State of Origin must be based on Junior leagues, but junior leagues only. Not nationality. My article is based around Origin being played based on junior league. If a player played junior league elsewhere he would NOT be eligible to play for NSW or Queensland. Tamou as the example again, he would be eligible to play due to playing junior football in NSW...if he had played his junior football in New Zealand and come across to play for the cowboys only, he would not be eligble. Interesting points throughout. I still feel the rules need to be tighter in qualifications in order to let the smaller nations grow in rugby league stature. Too many players will be able to chose Australia over, say, Tonga, due to size hence not improving the international game.
dase248
Roar Rookie
I don't mean to sound like I am blaming Tamou. I agree, the system is what needs changing as it is the system that is creating the problem!
dase248
Roar Rookie
Firstly, Karmichael is highly unlikely to come back. And secondly, He should have been playing for New Zealand to begin with. Once again I think it was the influence of the chance to play Origin that lured him away from New Zealand. If eligibility for State/International football is separate the problem is less apparent.
Johnno
Guest
The best way to fix it all up is make test match payments the same as state of origin match fees.
dase248
Roar Rookie
Omar is an interesting case. Having fled from Afghanistan with his family it makes things a bit different. He didn't leave his home country by choice. I think exceptions should be available for this scenario..have to think about that. In Tamou's case, I don't think he would have changed if not for Origin football. Make that a separate concern, allowing him to play both, and I think that problem goes away.
sheek
Guest
The real problem is that rugby league lacks international "bite". Solution. Increase state-of-origin from 2 to 4 provinces, thus: New South Wales - Queensland - New Zealand - Pacific Islands. That then leaves just two international tier 1 nations, thus: Australasia or Oceania - Great Britain or Europe. Now, if I can just get my tongue out of my cheek.....
dase248
Roar Rookie
That still wont fix the overall issue of people switching to play for Australia or New Zealand. I feel without a firm system in place the island nations will continue to flounder and our game won't go anywhere. The problem with tier 2 is any big tournaments, like a world cup, the big names will play for tier 1 sides.. What is your opinion on origin eligibility? Seperate to International?
dase248
Roar Rookie
Isn't this what is already happening though on the international level? You are talking representative football on a state level. But at the moment we have kiwis playing as kangaroos...just so they can play origin. I would say that is a farce.
Gurudoright
Guest
I can't understand why they don't make it where you played the majority of your junior footy until you play your first senior game. For example, if you were born in NSW and started playing footy and registered at 7 years of age in NSW but moved to Qld at age 13, you are eligable for NSW as you have play 6 years in NSW and 3 in Qld. By having a system like that the choice is taken out of players hands and then there is no debate. Same for international eligabilty
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
1) 1st election country of birth,then stick to it. or 2) 2nd election where you played your junior rugby league up to the age of 15,then stick to it. The first election then gives the minnow countries some decent access to players. If for example you were born in South Africa and started playing rugby league after the age of 15,you have one choice the former. Probably too simple,but better than the mish mash currently in operation.
mike from tari
Guest
I'm suprised they picked him, I dont rate him at all, the way its going it will be Islanders V Islanders.
LT80
Roar Pro
No I don't like the idea that you can pick and choose your eligibility for different levels of rep footy. NSW and Queensland are parts of Australia so if you represent them you must be declaring your allegiance to represent Australia. If we allow players to play for Queensland or New South Wales, and then turn around and represent another country, it will make a farce of representative football.
Rugbug
Guest
Not so easy at all James Tamou has played his representitive league for the Junior Kiwis, NZ Maori and was part of the Kiwis 2011 squad EASY HE IS A KIWI playing in the Green and Gold simply for cash It is dispicable that the eligibility rules are so lax. He simply put should not be eligible for Origin or the Kangaroos after already playing at high levels for NZ
JVGO
Guest
Exactly. Many many Maoris are born in Australia these days.