For such a long time, you would be able to read an NRL teamsheet without spotting an unusually longer name. In this day and age, you will never be able to see a team list without three or more Polynesian names listed.
The Polynesian race has been giving the NRL, for such a long time, great players who provide great moments for the game. For instance,
the Sonny Bill Williams shoulder charge on Joel Clinton in ’04 – who can forget the spray from that hit!
Or what about Jarryd Hayne’s try against the Dragons in ’09 where he stepped through half a dozen players and almost bowled over the ref!
Countless memories, from wonderful players, have been made in the NRL over time. On Saturday just past, we saw another great attribute of Pacific rugby league. Two nations, head to head, with no regard of human life, but with all the respect in the world for each other.
NRL Round 10:
» NRL Thursday Night Forecast: Dragons vs Raiders
» Round preview Part 1
» Round preview Part 2
» Nathan Peats the sacrificial Eel as points matter to Parra
Tonga and Samoa played their hearts out and provided the best match of the week, far surpassing their dominant rivals of Australia and New Zealand.
All this being said, the Pacific nations still do not receive the respect and treatment that they deserve.
A large talking point of the week was the inclusion of Fijian representative Semi Radradra in the Australia line-up. Last year, Radradra playing for Fiji in the inaugural Tests against Papua New Guinea. The inclusion of Radradra sparked a debate about the higher nations poaching the best that the Pacific nations had to offer.
New Zealand are notorious for fielding Samoan and Tongan players (there are also those who choose to play for Samoa, even if New Zealand is their birth country).
You do not have most of these teams in full strength without the talent of a Polynesian-based player.
After all is said and done, players will always be attracted to the money and the higher chance of winning, than playing for the smaller Pacific nations.
However, the games on Saturday showed the NRL that there are still a huge range of players willing to play for pride, heart and family honour, rather than money.
With this being said, the spectacle of two Pacific Tests a year, between the four countries, is an outstanding idea. However, the Tests are not frequent enough. The Tests in May are something to look forward to – but we cannot just wait for once a year. The NRL need to adjust this, as it draws massive crowds and is a great hype.
The absolute treasure the Pacific nations can take from the weekend past is that they have shown the top-tier nations the pride of playing for your country. They absolutely embarrassed the Friday night game of Australia and New Zealand, and did it emphatically.
Why aren’t the NRL endorsing Pacific rugby league more and allowing the game to grow in their respective countries? What more do these nations have to do to prove to the NRL that these games deserve to be played more frequently, even as a possible Test series?
The festivities of Saturday have proved that the quality of rugby league played by these nations is far more impressive than the higher ranked nations.
If the smaller nations continue to get so little endorsement and game time, the nations’ football desire and competitiveness will slowly decrease. The NRL and IRL need to allow the Pacific nations to grow, and fix the eligibility rules to find equality, so that the game of rugby league is more competitive.
Having only three strong nations makes for a boring international stage, and sets up for an even more boring World Cup in 2016.
The game needs to grow – and it must first grow in the Pacific nations.
The talent is there. The players are there. The pride is definitely there. For the sake of the game, please do something to help these nations reach their full potential – and let’s see a more competitive international stage.
theHunter
Guest
The money is a lure...it is an incentive that Fiji cannot contend with. You don't need mind reading abilities to figure that out. Why I want the eligibility rule scrapped or atleast put on hold for now is because the NRL is in Australia and NZ. England has their Super League. Rugby Union has major competitions almost everywhere thus may benefit other Nations as well. This rule benefits this 3 Nations only. How does it benefit the other Nations especially the PI's? It only disadvantages them so greatly because they can lose their most influential players to this superpowers. Semi exercised his rights but it wouldn't have beem a crime if he wasn't allowed in the first place. PIs are passionate about their culture, money is good but if they have no choice they still play with heart. Scrap the eligibility rule for now, let the game grow and let players only represent one Nation to help the international game become more competitive.
Basil
Guest
Maybe the money is a lure, who can say in this case? Certainly not you, unless you have special mind reading abilities. In the end Semi is perfectly entitled to be considered for selection, according to the int league eligibility rules. The notion he should be denied his rights, for the so called greater good of the game, is just silly thinking. League is hardly unique in this respect. For example PI union players in NZ are no doubt much encouraged to make themselves available for the ABs. I'm not sure what you think the NRL has to do with it. These are the int rules for the sport, no different to many other sporting codes around the world. The only reason the PI int teams are as strong as they are is because of the ability of players to switch allegiance, so I'm not sure why you want that particular rule changed?
theHunter
Guest
Basil, the monetary value for playing for Australia is very much a lure than you think. Fiji had interest and always had interest but why did he chose Australia? Because of what Australia did for him? For God's sake the freaking NRL is in Australia how can that be used as a reason....When league players move to Union, all you guys chat about is he is after the money and NRL should scrap the salary cap even though some of them state that they want to try something different or they love that sport better than league. Stop being ONE EYED! I have nothing against Semi but I do blame NRL, why not scrap that residency rule it is so stupid it only benefits Australia and NZ. It never will ever benefit Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, PNG... And yes, they should represent only one Nation. Frank shouldn't have played for Tonga, I'm against that. Semi shouldn't play for Australia, Hayne, Uate, Jennings should have played for one country that's that. The thing here is once Australia and NZ don't need your service any more than they either go back to the nation they had initially represented or the one they have a slight connection to. And that shouldn't be allowed. You see how funny Rugby League international is....players jumping nations at will because the rules are there and it can be done...Everyone looking for greener pastures and if there is possibility they take it...There is no passion or loyalty anymore because it can't happen if you are jumping nation/teams..... If SOO can stop dual eligibility why can't the same be done on the International Stage?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yes it is.
kevin dustby
Guest
and the over use of the heritage rule is mickey mouse, name me a legitimate sport that does it like rl?
kevin dustby
Guest
huge moves setting up against rugby in 3rd world nations of 100 000 (the size of ballarat)
pat malone
Guest
is it really setting up the code for the future?
pat malone
Guest
no he wasnt, australia has many a good winger they could pick. maybe you should see what he man himself has said. to not pick him would have been unkind
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
For the same reason that a player is a Bulldog or a Raider or an Eel or a Rooster. They are representing those clubs (and at times suburbs) and in an ideal world, perhaps, players would all come from the same area (ie, country) when representing the team. If that is the end goal, that's fine but it behooves us to recognise that there are many ways to that goal. Some of them are more practical than others. If 'artificially' calling someone Samoan or Lebanese or Scottish or whatever helps to set up the future of the code, why not?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
As long as league takes advantage of its opportunities, it will be fine. Rugby League, courtesy of the NRL, is a big player in Australian sport. Promoting the Pacific Cup effectively within Australia is a move I have no problems with. And the follow up staging of Test matches and similar games in the Pacific nations themselves is a natural progression. The benefits of a vibrant international scene are obvious, irrespective of whatever other sports do.
Basil
Guest
what a load of twaddle. Semi was not poached, and he was not approached. So stop making things up! If players could only represent one nation the PI teams would be decimated! Frank the tank the Samoan captain is a joke. He used to play for the kiwis didn't he? But now he is not good enough for Kiwis he switches allegiance. What a joke! And to top it off, he is actually Oz born, so maybe he should be allowed to play origin too, eh?
turbodewd
Guest
Look, call me old fashioned, but if you are born in Aus shouldn't you play for Aus?! This grandfather rule is silly. Milford is born in Australia, for example, he is Aussie. Why do we artificially call him a Samoan for rep purposes?!
pjm
Roar Rookie
To an extent but rugby will always offer more opportunity with the various professional comps around the world.
killaku
Guest
NZ are notorious for picking Islanders?Without NZ you wouldnt be in Aussie.Dont bite the hand that fed you now you are on neutral ground.These players have a choice...Play for your heritage or where you were born..But they choose the money,Loyalty should be directed at the players rather than blaming NZ.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's a good point and I think rugby league has an excellent and realistic chance to tap into that.
theHunter
Guest
If and when they have represented another Nation they should not be allowed to play for another Nation eg. Australia or New Zealand...So what if they are picked on heritage? They shouldn't be even allowed to make a choice to change allegiance after representing another nation. The problem is that the Residency rule is idiotic in Rugby League...it is stupid...NRL is played in Australia so everyone in NRL is freaking eligible. The residency rule should not be used in League as it is not a global sport yet and the rule of representing one country should be enforced since dual eligibility seems to only benefit Aus and/or NZ. As for Semi, he was poached! If Australia had any respect in growing the game internationally they shouldn't have approached him at all and let him be a Fijian for life. Scrap the residency rule and have players represent one nation.
pjm
Roar Rookie
They will play whatever sport gives them a paycheque, they have families to support.
nerval
Guest
The skill levels were not poor at all. Which skills are you talking about? The running, passing, catching, kicking and tackling skills all seemed rather good to me. As for the passion and intensity - both on the pitch and in the stands - that was absolutely thrilling.
Mal
Guest
Very positive post peeeko! Are you now off to shoot Bambi and Boo Santa?? We all know Samoa, Tonga and Fiji are Rugby heartlands. The fact is however there are now many of these islanders living in Sydney , Brisbane and even Melbourne and Perth. Due to the prominence of RL in Aus. their kids and brothers and friends play RL in large numbers. That is what has driven the rise in awareness of RL in these communities and in their island homes, albeit to a lesser extent. The job now is to set up some coaching, developement and competitions in the home islands. I believe this has been happening slowly over the last couple of decades. A test match will be played in Samoa later this year, a Fiji based team with local players is set to play in the NSW cup next year. That is real progress. I believe the future for RL in the islands is looking good. It will never rival RU but that is not the aim. The combination of strong local awareness and competitions alongside the Australian communities is enough to keep them strong.
Danger Mouse
Guest
Not sure why everyone is praising the Tonga vs Samoa game when the skill levels in that game were very poor.