MASCORD: A weak Australia makes for a stronger Four Nations

really, you honestly can't see evidence of bullying? Well I certainly do.

In regards to the cultural argument James Tamou's mother called her son "a proud Maori and said he would always regard himself a New Zealander." That doesnt sound like a person of "Maori heritage who have proudly represented Oz" http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6769649/James-Tamous-decision-just-a-financial-one I just read both of your articles & dont see any evidence of Tony Kemp being a "bully". I do see you trying to manipulate the facts to prove your point though.

everything I write is based on fact: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/6995454/Warriors-Konrad-Hurrell-commits-to-NZ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/why-cowboys-young-gun-jason-taumalolo-chose-kiwis-over-maroons/story-e6frfgdf-1226322326733 Kemp is a bully, I think it is pretty clear what I'm getting at here, by pointing out a pattern of behaviour. There have been plenty of people of Maori heritage who have proudly represented Oz, I really cannot accept your cultural argument.

Tony Kemp resigned due to pending sexual harrassment charges so Im unsure what you are referring to here? As for Kemp "bullying" Tamou this is what he actually said - "James is unfortunately a confused young man. I've seen other Kiwi kids face the haka and then they realise it doesn't feel right. I really believe James will regret not playing for New Zealand because he's a proud Maori, like I am, and I know what representing his country would mean to him." I think this statement isnt necessarily that far off when you consider how strong the connection between the haka & Maori culture is. Also this is what Tamou said in November 2011 about ultimately playing for the Kiwis - "It's definitely a goal for me. Last season was exciting just getting a foot in the door with the train-on squad. "Now I want to actually put that jersey on." He also signed a letter of intent to play for the Kiwis & had financial bonus clauses in his Cowboys contract if he gained Kiws selection. For him to then do a complete backflip so quickly & turnout for Australia sounds like a "confused young man" to me? As for Kemp signing Hurrell for the Kiwis, he hasnt been involved with NZRL since April 2013. Hurrell turned out for Tonga in the WC in October 2013? Nice rant but it would be good if it was based on facts.

Steve, as you seem to be so convinced by your own illogical and flawed reasoning, we might just have to agree to disagree. You obviously will not be dissuaded by common sense. I recall the answer given by Kiwi born Manly star, Aaron Cannings, when approached about possibly playing for the Kiwis. He turned them down, saying they should be looking for real NZers to play for the Kiwis. Such selflessness and humility is a rare commodity these days.

You do know why Kemp got the boot? He is a bully. You might recall that he told Tamou he'd regret his decision to ditch the Kiwis. Kemp's basic tactic of persuasion was to tell any NZ-eligible player who might be considering Origin, that they would never be a 'true' Qlder (say), and that they would be 'stealing' a jersey from a true Qlder. I suspect you might agree with such tactics, Steve? I don't. Anyway, after telling them this, Kemp then signed up Konrad Hurrell for the Kiwis.

Who are these players who are in it only for the money, would you care to name a few? And even if that were the case, it doesn't justify these backward and discriminatory rules.

My final word on this is firstly the Mascord model would turn the international game into a joke, it would end up with all the credibility of a WWF title bout, But there rare more serious implications.It is already obvious that when any player of Polynesian heritage chooses to play for Australia his character is questioned." He just wants to play origin he is just worried about money" The idea that he may actually have some loyalty to the country in which he grew up is completely dismissed..."no he is just a cynical money grubber" Has anyone considered just how hurtful this may be to these young men, we can't read their minds and maybe some are motivated by pure self interest. but also maybe some do feel a genuine affection to the country in which they grew up. There is an even more sinister theme lurking here, the idea that Polynesians are a primitive people incapable of moving beyond a tribal ethnic based view of the world, and attaching themselves to the concept of a Nation State based around something other than race or ethnicity is beyond them.

Renegade - Love your blatant snobbery, the Telegraph easily outsells the Herald, but you are obviously so much brighter than those poor plebs who read The Telegraph. Maybe you should follow Rugby Union...you are obviously far too clever to follow the sport of choice of the great unwashed who read The Telegraph

This is getting more loony by the minute, the State of Origin analogy was bad enough (under Origin eligibility rules how many of the KIWI squad could play for New Zealand?) But Steve takes the next step,international sport on Trotskyite principles of absolute internationalism (surely an oxymoron)."Who cares where the players were born and raised, we just spread them around" Maybe we should introduce a draft?"Ireland, you are the worst team in the world so you get first pick", Jonathan Thurston now plays for Ireland.Italy you are next cab off the rank, Greg Inglis, very astute choice... and so on. Indeed it has just occurred to me that Soccer has a problem, most of their World Cups have been one by Germany.Brazil.Argentina or Italy.This meritocracy simply can't be allowed to continue, these Nations need to spread their players around, after all are they not just citizens of the world?What right do they have to play for the nations they were born in?

In rugby league, the players in Australia are everyone's talent base, not just Australia's. The New Zealand game has undergone an administrative overhaul overseen by an independent body. Maybe they spent too much money on the World Cup, I don't know. But I repeat - I have no problem with New Zealand identifying players who live in Australia at a young age and encouraging them to represent New Zealand. And I am a lefty by probably most peoples' standards. Whether I am "always putting Australia down" .... keep reading and find out.

I think it is Australia's job to produce players for every rugby league playing country. I really do. This is where the talent is concentrated - train them here and then encourage them to play against Australia for a healthy international game. Yes, I am saying Australia should artificially handicap itself. That's the scenario I am in favour of. And even though I have not mentioned DCE before, I will now - it is disappointing he chose Australia over England and it is unfortunate if Origin played a role in that decision. But I am more concerned about second-tier nations than first-tier.

I don't mind you saying it but nothing you have said dissuades me from my argument and I am open to be dissuaded. Origin was put there because all the players resided in NSW for monetary reasons. The rules were changed because players were coming to Australia for monetary reasons and this was preventing them representing other countries. This change is entirely logical and justifiable in my view.

Tah Dan - Can't quite understand the relevance of Australian TV ratings for Rugby Union.Rugby Union has been a minor sport in Australia ever since the end of world war one, this is about the future of international Rugby League. Trent the real questions Mascord dodges is whether it is healthy for the game in New Zealand in the long term to be so dependent on Australian raised players, where is the incentive for the NZRL to get off their backsides and try and develop their own players and lift the games poor profile as a participant sport in their own backyard? The second question is how credible can an "international " scene be if most of the players are born and raised in the same country.That would be a joke , a farce, you can't pull off a con job like that long term.We need to be encouraging other nations to develop their own players, and by doing so grow the sport at the domestic level in those countries, rather than the loony idea that we should have a model were any Australian player who can't cut origin should then be farmed out to whatever nation they have some distant genealogical link to.That turns the whole thing into joke ,and people are not so stupid that they will not see through a ruse like that.

Actually, I'm fairly sure, back in the good old days (1980s), it was where you first played league, which might not necessarily be a good indicator of your allegiances. I'm finding this notion of having 'originated' from somewhere to be primitive. What about a refugee, who arrives in Oz after the age of 13, has never played the game before? Why is he not allowed to play for his state, be it NSW, or Qld, if he has lived there for several years? I'm finding your argument to be pretty hollow, if you don't mind me saying, Steve.

Neither is it Oz's job to produce players for Lebanon, Italy, or NZ. But in the end, if Farrah wants to play for Lebanon, Cayless for NZ, or Guera for Italy, is is there free choice to do so. But what I won't have is the introduction of sneaky, discriminatory rules, aimed at influencing or manipulating the choices or options for these players. And I couldn't help but notice, in your examples, you do not include one Pacific heritage player. Which is interesting, because it seems that these are the players most targeted by those who claim to be acting for the 'good' of the game. Funny, but I've not heard one complaint about DCE chosing Oz over GB. Not one suggestion that it was the lure of origin that caused DCE to chose Oz, and of how terrible it is. Not one! Or maybe you did Steve, and I missed it? Feel free to point it out to us if this is the case!

Maybe you should have a go at writing something .... let me gues you enjoy reading the daily telegraph?

That's my argument, that's what I believe. 30,000 tickets already sold in Brisbane and I don't think the missing stars will shave many off the gate in Melbourne

See my comment above Australia does. I believe Australia should be producing players for all countries,. not just itself.

I don't think it is Italy's job to produce an Aiden Guera, I don't think it is Lebanon's job to produce a Robbie Farah and I am quite comfortable with Australia producing a Nathan Cayless. The Australian junior system is the best in the world and I have no problem with it spitting out hundreds of Gareth Widdops and Frank Pritchards for other countries. That's what it's there for - not to make Australia more powerful at an international level than it already is.