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About a decade ago in 2004, a Pacific Islands rugby union team competed internationally. It is time for rugby league version. They could become the West Indies of international football.
The Pacific Islands football team failed to win against Australia and New Zealand.
However, if my memory serves me right, they were not beaten by better players but by more professional management.
At a time when such a high percentage of NRL players have Pacific Island heritage, it is almost incredulous that they do not really have the opportunity to represent their home nations. They want to play Origin, and let’s face it, Tonga, Samoa or Fiji are not really strong enough of their own accord to compete against anything other than NRL teams. But combined, they could be a sleeping giant.
How they would be integrated into the representative structure is a matter of conjecture.
Could they form a united team with New Zealand, and have an Origin like series between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands?
Could they form a combined team with Papua New Guinea and compete in the Four Nations tournament?
Either way, in a sport that Australia has ruthlessly dominated for almost half a century, it is nothing short of a waste for them to be playing for Australia when they identify so strongly with their Pacific Island heritage.
Possible Pacific Islands Football Team (forgive me please if I have heritage wrong)
1. Jarryd Hayne
2. Marika Koriobete
3. Michael Jennings
4. Israel Folau (when he eventually comes back from union)
5. Akuila Uate
6. Feleti Meteo
7. Benji Marshall (same as Folau)
8. Brent Kite
9. ?
10. Roy Asotasi
11. T Rex
12. Tariq Sims
13. Sauaso Sue
This is a side with a lot of speed and flair, and would give any team a run for their money.
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