The Kangaroos’ selection of Semi Radradra for the upcoming Test match against New Zealand has opened a can of worms regarding the selection and eligibility criteria for playing for Australia.
Sure, Radradra is the best winger in the NRL at present, and he’ll more than likely do Australia proud, but he should be representing Fiji – not only to strengthen the Fijian team, but also the international game of rugby league.
If what has been reported is true (Semi says it isn’t) then the major motivation for playing for Australia is to financially assist family in Fiji.
Radradra stills holds a Fijian passport, isn’t an Australian citizen or eligible to play for NSW, yet he can be selected to play for Australia, how does that make sense?
For the betterment of international rugby league, the NRL should have stepped in years ago and made it black and white regarding the eligibility criteria for players who weren’t born in Australia. Because they never have, there are still loopholes being exploited.
Why doesn’t the NRL make marquee players like Radradra ambassadors of their country and compensate them to play for their county of birth?
How are Pacific Nations such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga ever going to compete on a level playing field if their top players continue to pledge their allegiance for Australia or New Zealand?
It has been reported that there is a huge disparity between what players are paid to play for Australia and Fiji, so it’s only natural that a high-profile player would choose to play for the nation that pays better.
Why doesn’t the Rugby League International Federation step in and ensure that players are financially rewarded equally across the board, regardless of which country they represent?
Then, and only then, will the international game of rugby league grow stronger and be more competitive – and shouldn’t that be the main priority?
Mangrove Jack
Guest
The PNG Kumuls guys get paid well enough to keep their players and also ensure National Pride prevails above all else.
tui Lua Manu
Guest
They still Samoan regardless of where they were born but Semi not even an Australian he is able to represent Australia because he lives here more than 3 years Big difference their Mike!
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
"How are Pacific Nations such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga ever going to compete on a level playing field if their top players continue to pledge their allegiance for Australia or New Zealand?" Aside from Radradra they aren't pledging their alliance to Australia or New Zealand. This weekend Samoa and Tonga will play each other in a Test. 32 of the 34 players on the field will have been born in Australia or New Zealand. They have heritage that allows them to represent the nation their parents or grandparents come from. They have as much right as everyone else to choose to play for Australia or New Zealand and it should not be considered stealing their talent. In the other game of the 13 NRL players representing Fiji (they have a squad of 20) only two of them were born in Fiji. PNG is the exception to the rule with only 3 of their players born outside of PNG. However none of the PNG players are anywhere near representing Australia as only 4 of the squad have played NRL. People keep beating this up like it's a huge issue that's going to destroy international rugby league. It hasn't and it won't.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That has been pretty much my view of things too. As long as the Big Three are firing, international rugby league will survive, no problems. Of course, that doesn't mean league should neglect other nations. Not at all. But a competitive and evenly matched Big Three sets the platform, I think, and England need to step up and win regularly against Australia, for that to happen.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
I hate to say it, but the real problem with international Rugby League isn't the economic realities dictating PI guys who've spent a few years in Aus or NZ wanting to play for those countries (which happens plenty in Union too), but the weak profile and performances of England. To have a relevant international scene you only really need a couple of big rivals, and whilst the Kiwis have done their bit for a few years now, England just look like they're always falling further and further behind. If England got its act together and managed to achieve a sustainable level of growth in the Super League that went beyond their narrow M62 Corridor and into major markets like London, then they'd have a more representative and stronger team that we'd be less likely to consistently beat and therefore be more interested in watching play.
Danger Mouse
Guest
there are 10 new Zealand born players representing Samoa this weekend and no Samoan born player representing New Zealand.
Baracuda
Guest
"it’s only natural that a high-profile player would choose to play for the nation that pays better" We are certainly going down the wrong track if that is a defining factor, where has national pride gone. On the other hand the RLIF needs to grow some balls and govern the game like a proper international federation, it's not the NRL's job to sought out eligibility or fund players playing for other nations.
Steve
Guest
You can't step in and tell people where to play. Should the NRL step in and say to all the Australians in the Tonga/Samoa test they shouldn't play.