Dear Australian selectors, this letter was going to have a very striking, cool introduction: “for the sake of rugby league, lie to us”.
The gist of what I was going to say, which I touched on in this column a few weeks back, was about one S Radradra.
No doubt you have been advised by the NRL to forget your own personal opinions on which country Mr Radradra should represent. You have been told to consider him Australian.
It has been explained to you that Semi cannot play for Fiji until after the 2017 World Cup, regardless of that being the country you think he should represent because he is only in Australia as a professional footballer.
You have been told to consider him on form – and he is probably the best winger in the competition. He is close to selection.
You may or many not appreciate the fact there are only 32 full-time professional rugby league clubs in the entire world and 30 are in Australia and England. That means if Australia and England pick players on residency, they can pick anyone and the rest of the world gets leftovers. We’ll not get a fourth competitive nation in our lifetimes.
If you disqualify Semi from selection based purely on his ethnicity, when he qualifies under the residency rule, you could leave yourself and the NRL open to legal action.
What I was going to ask you to do in this letter, gentlemen, was to do just that but don’t tell us. Don’t even discuss it with each other. Just don’t pick him, for the sake of rugby league.
Be fearful of the negative legacy you will leave the game if you do select him.
In 1995, Australian selectors were ordered by a court to consider Super League aligned players for the World Cup. So they did – and found that Allan Langer, Laurie Daley, Steve Walters and Bradley Clyde weren’t up to it!
You can do that.
But then I began to think about the position I took on Ben Barba at Canterbury and on South Sydney players being locked up in Arizona.
I recalled how I argued in favour of an objective truth, and that it’s our job to tell you what happened and the public’s decision whether it cares.
One year I’m saying I have no faith in rugby league to be transparent and truthful anymore, and hang up at least one of my boots, and the next I’m asking rugby league selectors to lie to me because it suits my own little hobby horse.
That just won’t do.
So I am addressing this specific piece of advice to one selector, the big one. Big Mal. Here’s what Mal Meninga should say when he is asked if Semi Radradra, left out of the Anzac Test, was considered.
“No he wasn’t. The Australian team management has made a decision that for the time being, we will not be utilising the residency rule because of the damage doing so would cause to the international game.
“We believe that by picking Semi – and this is nothing personal against him – we would be encouraging all NRL players to desert their country of origin as soon as they thought they could make our team and that would do irreparable damage to many other countries.
“It is not that we don’t recognise immigrants to this country as Australian. It’s that we want to encourage our fellow rugby league playing nations by giving them access to the best possible talent pool.
“We understand our position is open to being challenged in jurisdictions outside of sport. If we are ordered by law to consider Semi, we will do so and if necessary change the team.
“We hope Semi understands this is an important decision for our entire sport and not a slight on him.”
Remember, in 1995 the best players in the world were “considered”. So make Semi take the NRL to court, having told the world that Australia DOES care about the international game.
Radradra has tried to back Australia into a corner. He has thrown at least six Fiji Test jumpers in the figurative garbage bin and dared Mal Meninga not to pick him.
He’ll have a few days to get an injunction.
So if he gets one in the week leading up to Anzac Test, you selectors are free to wash your hands of the whole thing having made a statement and stood up for what you believe. If some kid gets kicked out of the team on a court order, it’s not your fault.
Or, like you did in 1995, you can take the court order on board and leave him out anyway.
The power of Will
Roar Pro
Epiquin, you are basically a modern day jesus!! You are so good, you are the best person on the Earth!
Graham
Guest
Yes, because it's NSW vs Quennsland! It's really simple actually.
The power of Will
Roar Pro
Hello Epiquin, Epiquin commented on my articles several times, I agree that constructive critcism/general debate is perfectly acceptable. It is why I write, however Epiquin took it further than that and was very persistent at attacking me. I cannot accept personal attacks from randoms over the internet, let alone some bloke with too much time on his hands attacking me. I hope that Epiquin will follow my advice and take up rugby league and union, they are great sports and he will not have too much time on his hands. I'm also flattered that Epiquin had the time to write out a sort of mini essay, this is why Epiquin is such a great contributor to the community.
Manxman
Guest
Maybe this whole situation will lead to change. I hope RLIF can make sure all players from all nations receive the same match payments so this situation that Semi is in can never happen again.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
If you have a look at the ARLC annual report I think you'll find that all revenue comes from the NRL product whether that be Broadcast rights, Sponsorships, Gate takings, Merchandise, Digital rights etc. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you don't have involvement with junior rugby league as the fees that junior players pay does not cover the cost of running junior rugby league. Which is why every local junior footy club will run fundraising activities like the raffle tickets I'll be selling this weekend to raise funds for my son's club. The point of what I said is that the revenue that the ARLC has is from the elite NRL product, there is simply no other income associated with Rugby League and the ARLC gives $$$ to development and junior league (they could give more from what I've seen). So they should make sure that money is not an incentive when it comes to NRL players choosing their country of allegiance. They should all be paid the same whether is Aust, NZ, Samoa or PNG.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
rolls eyes
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Thanks Edward. I hope the Canadians do well in England too.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Agree on both points.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
You're too diplomatic and level-headed Will. Though I suspect the Tigers push you to the limits of your patience.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
This is brilliant! Why don't I have any angry stalkers? Very disappointing.
Johnno
Guest
Epiquin agree with your point about some home grown local content, it's good for the game. There was a lot of Discord in the US about the Tommohawks at last world cup didn't have a lot of locals, just US heritage players, when the locals got them to the World cup. So having some locals would be a good move, and have more as they get better(Tier-2's)
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Good post Johnno. I would couple this idea with some sort of rule that states every tier 2 national team should have (for example) at least two players that have come through that country's junior system and/or lived in the country before the age of 12. Obviously using completely made-up numbers, but you get the idea. Over time as these nations get more competitive you can raise that number to 3, 4, 5 etc.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
God I hope not... Internet anonymity for the win!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Considering Queensland have used all kinds of "non-Queenslanders" in their team I think it pretty much evens out. Realistically, as Dean points out below, ACT might have it's own identity, but unless you want to be excluded from state-based League forever, you kind of have to come to the party because you simply don't have the playing stocks to compete. You also don't seem to mind utilising that sweet NSWRL cash for your development.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Agree with everything these guys have said. Origin works because it is genuine. I'm all for making League inclusive, but this whole concept works because it is exclusive. We have Internationals for the other guys to play on the biggest stage.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
Omg, I just read through all of it ha ha. This guy sounds like a Columbine shooter. Does he know where you live Epi?
Simon
Guest
If we do that turbo then SOO begins to lose what made it so great in the first place. People started complaining when Tamou declared himself available for NSW, and rightly so, and as a result the eligibility criteria was tightened. I don't care if the best 10 players in the NRL happened to be from outside of NSW or QLD, that's just bad luck for them. It would cheapen the spectacle if you happened to let the ring-ins play. They have their chance to compete at the highest level in Test matches, leave it at that.
Johnno
Guest
Unlimited flip flopping should be allowed in rugby league, so it stops Australia hoarding talent, and doing what's best for Australia. A weaker Australia is good for rugby league. Example of unlimited flip-flopping. Micheal Jennings should be allowed to play for Tonga in the Pacific Cup if not picked for ANZAC Test, then play in state of origin, then play for Australia in 4-nations titles, or for Tonga at end of year if he misses OZ selection. Only time I disagree with flip-flopping is players flip-flopping within the same tournament. So if at 2017 World cup, Michael Jennings is playing for Tonga and aussies have an injury to a centre, they can't call-up Micheal Jennings as he's in the midlde of the same tournament and playing for Tonga. Australia are making it clear with there policies that they are overwhelmingly only concerned with making australia strong, and don't think it's there problem to grow the game, they say it as the RLIF's problem. And if they-Australia offer out financial incentives, there attitude is we don't force these forigin players or aussies with foreign heritage to accept our terms. It's a very narrow attitude to have. Australia is the premier rugby league nation and they should help the RLIF more and offer more free range policies to help the international game, even if it means a weaker australia, put rugby league first. The RLIF also have talked about loosening eligibility rules to almost unlimited flip-flopping status(being able to go from a major country to a minor country if your eligible). They should do that. Who cares if rugby league becomes to an even higher level, a Heritage-circus, it's still good value. Micheal Jennings can fit into the Tongan team easily, as could Milford with Samoa, or SBW with Samoa if he wanted too.
maximillian
Guest
No way. Part of what makes Origin great is that the rivalry is genuine. Adding 'honorary' players feels contrived & makes it into an all star type game. I think its fine the way it is with NSW & QLD belting each other.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Great post Will and right on point about him earning as much as he can while he is able to do so. As much as he is getting paid from Parra the money earned from playing international will go a long long way back home in Fiji and to setting him and his family up for the future. This is pretty much the same story for Koroibete who is being courted by the ARU and if he does switch to rugby because he'll earn more there playing S18 and possibly the Wallabies then all the best to him. Can't blame a man for doing all he can to secure his and his families future....especially knowing their humble beginnings.