A little over a year ago the Rugby League International Federation made the decision to change the player eligibility rules. The new rules allowed players, if not selected for the tier 1 countries of Australia, New Zealand and England, to elect to play for a Tier 2 country where there are family ties back to their grandparents.
While Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo arguably stepped outside these rules, the changes have led to one of the most exciting Rugby League World Cups played. If Tonga’s last-second try had been awarded against England, a Pacific Island nation would have been into the World Cup final for the first time. Put simply, the Tier 2 nations have made this World Cup into the spectacle it has been.
The eligibility rules should be here to stay, but one thing that needs to change is the number of Test matches between Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations. It’s just not enough to send Australia’s best of the rest to play Papua New Guinea once a year or to play each other during a World Cup.
If we’ve learnt one thing during the World Cup, it is that we need to see more of the likes of Tonga, Fiji, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea, where the highlights have come from. This can only strengthen international rugby league in the long run.
Most of the rugby league sporting public would have given Tonga a chance of winning some games at the World Cup after seeing the squad, but few would have predicted a come-from-behind victory against New Zealand and a close loss to England, watched at all times by fanatical Tongan fans. To hear them singing during the games is something that will long be remembered.
(NRL Photos/Shane Wenzlick)
In terms of singing, they were perhaps beaten only by Fiji. The Fiji Bati prematch hymn ‘Noqu Mas’ was a highlight of all their games. Having beaten some low-ranked nations in their pool games, their win over New Zealand in the quarter-finals was one built on resilience. They came up against a very strong Australian team in the semi-finals, but the post-game linking of arms between both teams and the singing of another hymn put Australia’s win into perspective. To the Bati, just being there meant more.
Of all the teams at the World Cup perhaps Lebanon were the biggest surprise. Having Mitchell Moses and Robbie Farah organising their backline helped, but they were very unlucky in their loss against Tonga and their game against England was closer than the scoreline suggested. Their performance also helped Brad Fittler being named the New South Wales State of Origin coach. The Lebanese supporters were also there in force, seemingly outnumbering Kangaroos supporters in their pool game.
Papua New Guinea were no match for England in their quarter-final, but their comfortable wins at home in front of huge crowds suggest that all the Tier 1 nations should play there.
Of course scheduling is the key. However, instead of playing the Four Nations outside of World Cup years, perhaps the various Tier 1 national organisations can look at two or three game tours against a combination of Tier 1 and Tier 2 countries.
We have seen a taste of what international rugby league can be. Now we just need to see more.
Mike
Guest
I think that Tonga should now be re-classified as a Tier 1 country. It is not right that players choose who they want to play for.. the players like Taumalo and Fifita and the other ones that defected should choose to play for who they desire and there is no turning back.. After all, Tonga beat New Zealand and nearly England. The rule should also apply to those players who are elegible to play Origin not being allowed to play from now one. It's not fair to the other players who can't play because they play for another country. Fifita should not be considered in fairness.
not so super
Guest
please dont
not so super
Guest
they will win the world cup. they are the real winners
twojay
Roar Rookie
Fred just answer the question or wait just can't handle truth
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The rules as to what constitutes eligibility are the same as other sports except that given the lack of Test matches, switching between eligible allegiances is faster. The only reason many PI players play for New Zealand is because New Zealand was the only country they could qualify for that actually played any reasonable number of Test matches.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
That's a only a difference of scale, not of kind. Soccer has the depth and global reach to have such an involved qualification process. Rugby league doesn't and its World Cup qualification process reflects that.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Yes, because Australia were the only team in this World Cup to win a match. Incredible stuff.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
New Zealand were never number one?!? Then Australia were never number one either because all of their victories over the last couple of decades have been against poorer quality opposition. Right? (rolls eyes) (for about the millionth time)
bearfax
Guest
Oh. So that's why an Island state defeated New Zealand....twice? Relaxing the rules would more likely cause the scores to 'go through the roof', not the other way around. I certainly didnt see any favours being afforded the Island states in this tournament, especially when you consider what happened at the end of the England-Tonga match
nerval
Guest
You're wrong when you keep insisting that the likes of Taumalolo or Fifita or Vatuvei or Fusitu'a or...on and on and on are not Tongans. They insist that they are. The fans flocking to see them agree. As does the King of Tonga... Who are you to presume otherwise?
Zac Jones
Roar Rookie
What exactly that i just wrote isn't the truth?? Cmon someone please enlighten me and tell me where im fibbing Im saying without the very relaxed rules scorelines will be through the roof hence why all the Aussies and Kiwis are propping the countries up so the scorelines are a little more respectable. Prove me wrong..
Freddie
Guest
One major difference - all the teams at the Euro's (even in 1992), had to play 6 or 8 qualifiers just to get there. The most any nation had to play to get to the RLWC was 2. Tonga only had to play one game - 8 teams got an automatic pass!
Speep
Guest
Love those suggestions! Go work at the RLIF please
Tom of Brisbane
Guest
What's he going to do when he wakes up Sunday morning and realises there's no more rugby league to bag? Hope he's got something else to h@te on in the off season
Maestro
Guest
Fred, Answer the issue - don't play the man like Graeme Eadie...
Kiwijack
Guest
What rubbish.
Fred
Guest
I see you're still hanging around "Zac Jones", commenting on a sport you hate, got nothing better to do?
Zac Jones
Roar Rookie
You'd have 2 switches per career? If you do that the every nation bar the big 3 will get flogged continually. Rugby league cant afford that again. Very few locals in the other nations play the sport so they need as much help as they can so keeping the rules as relaxed as possible is the only way it will bring nations "closer"
Brainstrust
Guest
NZ were never the no 1 team, it was just like state of Origin you have a team that takes it casually and another team that plays out of their skin. Queensland though are closer to NSW than NZ were ever to Australia, and they were only in with a shot when they could call upon all the Pacific island players, how many of those hundred qualify for the Pacific islander teams. Queensland only plays NSW so they always have the advantage of their fanatical hatred of NSW, but if Queensland were to play North Queensland they would lose because North Queensland would be the super motivated team. Now that NZ are no longer Pacific islands united Australia are going to probably go undefeated for a long while, and it will be the Kiwis and England who are going to get the tables turned on them.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Agree. Get rid of that rule and have players accountable for holding on to the ball.