Here’s how a proper world federation reacts when a club coach stops an athlete competing in sanctioned international competition.
Firstly, it asks the national federation concerned to explain the situation. Then, if there is no satisfactory response, it orders the national federation to suspend the athlete from domestic competition for the same term as the event in which he has been prevented competing.
If the domestic federation refuses to comply, the player is essentially unregistered. If an unregistered athlete competes at any level, his home federation is liable to sanctions.
The country could be suspended from the next international meet.
Wayne Bennett, the coach of England, has assumed control over the make up of Samoa’s national team by saying he won’t let Anthony Milford play against Tonga next week.
He will, however let Joe Ofahengaue play for Tonga in the same game.
It is a black-and-white contravention of the rules of international sport. Back in the eighties, it didn’t matter if it was Cronulla or the Sorensen brothers themselves who didn’t want them to play for New Zealand, if they didn’t they couldn’t play for the Sharks.
Whether it’s Milford who doesn’t want to play for Samoa and Bennett is protecting him, the result should be the same – a mandatory one-match stand-down from club football.
If Australia refuse to stand Milford down for one club game they should probably be threatened with expulsion from the Four Nations.
But the RLIF doesn’t run the Four Nations. It’s run by the RFL, whose CEO employed Bennett as coach. And the RFL can’t afford Australia not to turn up.
The RLIF only runs the World Cup, which next year is in Australia. It’s being run with the help of the NRL. The RLIF’s secretary works out of the same office as the federation it should be sanctioning.
Milford plays for Brisbane, which is in Queensland – the state that tried to claim he was ineligible for Samoa for the first part of the week even though this was patently untrue.
And the Pacific Tests themselves run by the NRL, not the RLIF. Super League games are on the same weekend and that competition’s players won’t be involved.
Everyone of any influence in rugby league has conflicting interests. Rugby league can’t afford independence.
In short, the stand-downs won’t happen because the RLIF is not a proper International Federation. It’s toothless.
Rugby league is actually run by a handful of coaches in Australia.
Rugby league is currently seeking IOC and SportAccord recognition. Conflicts of interests and insufficient oversight and transparency are just the things that stop you getting that recognition.
We may well point out that Wayne Bennett’s claims of loving international rugby league can be summarily dismissed forever.
But there’s a deeper truth in all this, the selection of Semi Radradra by Australia included.
It proves, than in any real sense, international rugby league does not exist.
It’s a mirage. A bunch of All Star teams assembled by the very, very limited goodwill of NRL club that together raise a pittance every four years to hand to a few hardy outposts.
Rugby league is not recognised as a sport by most national governments and has so far failed to gain recognition by the IOC or Sport Accord.
Their reluctance to do so is wholly supported by this week’s events.
One would hope this sort of thing would not happen in poker and arm wrestling, the other two pursuits seeking SportAccord recognition.
They hopefully don’t have one Federation that is an enormously rich bully with absolutely no interest in the future propagation of their sport.
So, being totally honest, they probably should join the global family of real sports. And thanks to decisions like those made by Australian selectors and Wayne Bennett, we probably shouldn’t because we’re just not grown up enough yet.
And we must accept we may never be
Chris Wright
Guest
End of that argument right there! Isn't it funny how Queenslanders used to build themselves up on being the little helpless brother taking on the behemoths from down south. Right now the big overlords are the Bronco's with the Sydney teams battling to stay in touch. The roles have been reversed.
jay hova
Roar Rookie
Not saying its right just saying thats how it is for a lot of islanders who grow up here and NZ too. They hold their culture above their nationality you can see it in their traditional polynesian tattoos they all wear and you will see it if you watch the Samoa vs Tonga game this weekend.
nerval
Guest
PNG have beaten GB in a Test match, not England. Your point about the decline of international football is irrelevant. Scotland and Ireland in 111 years of rugby union Tests haven't had a chance to decline v NZ - they're still waiting to get off the mark! France's rugby league Test record v GB/England, NZ and Australia is far superior to both Ireland and Scotland in union. As for Origin being Best v Best - please read hutch's post above.
hutch
Guest
Best of the best? How is a game that doesn't include players such as the burgess 3, James graham, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Jason taumololo, Jesse Bromwich, semi radradra considered the best verses the best. All of these players would walk into origin teams, as would many others. State of origin doesn't include all of the best rugby league players, it's not the pinnacle.
duecer
Guest
Nerval, your point that France last won a test series before England against Australia only illustrates the point I made about how much International RL has declined. I assume this was in the 60's? - a long time ago, but that was a time when each of the top 5 sides could beat each other. Also, PNG have never beaten England, and the victory against NZ was 30 years ago - wasn't exactly a sign that they were becoming more competitive - if anything they've gone backwards since then. Your point that RL should be given time to grow is valid, but I just can't see it happening when SoO is by far the best vs the best.
Josh
Guest
That was exactly what happened. Bennett put his own neck on the line so Milford could be eligible to play for Australia later. Then some call Bennett selfish?????? Yeah.....like no...not really
Josh
Guest
Well not really. In the local paper today it explained what happened. Milford just did not want to play for Samoa. He wants to be eligible to play for Australia. Bennett stuck his own neck out to protect Milford. He did not have to do that but he did. I am sure there are some people who don't want to hear that, but it actually makes sense
Chris
Guest
We already are. Come round whenever.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
You and Poojar should hold hands
Martha
Guest
And how many play or have played league in Tonga or Samoa - probably none...
Ray Okeefe
Guest
Exactly, to the detriment of allowing the smaller countries any chance of remotely gaining a win over their bigger rivals.
Zero Gain
Guest
No wonder Bennet is revered and loved by his players. He will take a bullet for them anytime it is needed.
Zero Gain
Guest
Not many on here are interested in facts like that, it's just a chance to slam Bennett, those facts are nothing more than 'inconvenient truths'. Steve Mascord, 'the saviour of rugby league'. Ha, ha, ahh...
nerval
Guest
France have beaten Australia more recently in a Test series than England/GB have in rugby league. Samoa a couple of years ago went within a whisker of defeating both NZ and England. PNG have Test wins against England and NZ... Why can't international rugby league be given the time and space to develop and see whether one of its own teams might do a Japan and overturn a 128 (that's one hundred and twenty eight) point deficit v NZ and shock the union world by defeating South Africa? Why can't they play games against each other? What harm does it do? If you're not interested, go and watch something else. And the point stands: it is unseemly for an Aussie coach of the England national side unilaterally to declare “Anthony Milford is not playing for Samoa… I don’t care what people think. I’ve made the call and Anthony will not be playing.” It isn't - or at least it shouldn't be - up to him. His international employers, the RFL - among others - should ask him to explain.
hutch
Guest
The cayless brothers have a family history in NZ dating back thousands of years. Their parents, grandparents and extended family are NZ born. They had been to NZ, just born and grew up in Australia but understood their Maori culture. They had every right to play for NZ, stuck with NZ and didn't switch for money.
duecer
Guest
It's an interesting discussion. Yes, the All Blacks are clearly superior, but Scotland and Ireland have often won against the other 2 top RU nations, that's the difference. Of course this huge gap between the 3rd and 4th RL places wasn't always the case - the 4th and 5th places did beat the top 3 placed teams, but the decline in the international game has seen the end of that.
Basil
Guest
sign of the times. it seems these days facts, and getting the facts correct, does not matter so much. Just have a rant and a whinge, then move on. Repeat. etc.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Clipper if you are going to contribute contribute,not the usual code war sniping that you are renowned for.You can't see past your dislike for rugby league,which shows in every(repeat every post).
bear54
Like donating Greg Inglis to Queensland??
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Or conversely Clipper Septa nations for union in their world cup.It's about competing just as it is in the OPs.