Representatives from the ARLC and International Rugby League (IRL) are currently reviewing the sport’s representative eligibility rules, with estimates a player could potentially qualify for up to nine nations if proposed rules pass.
These new bylaws could potentially see players such as Josh Papalii and Daniel Saifiti turn out for Queensland and New South Wales respectively in the State of Origin series and Samoa and Fiji internationally.
Most would accept the stated goal of the reform, which is to strengthen the international game, especially with a World Cup coming up next year.
On the contrary, the only goal achieved by jury-rigging a suite of plasticised international teams via league’s own style of gerrymandering is the true goal of the IRL: to make money.
What fans will typically hear from international rugby league power brokers such as the ARLC and IRL is that it is in the sport’s interest to support a region, which supposedly offers so much in the way of playing talent to league and the NRL.
This will be packaged and sold to rugby league fans as what they have always dreamed of: genuine international competition between a multitude of countries, ultimately paving a pathway for a truly great World Cup to even rival that held by rugby union.
All this is an illusion, with teams of Australians badged as Tongans, Scots and Italians, and each World Cup cycle that passes leaving no actual impact on rugby league in those nations, but plenty of sentiment for Aussies, New Zealanders and Englishmen with cultural links to said countries.
Some may even call what is going on selfish. After all, what right does Jason Taumalolo have, not born or raised in Tonga, to arrogantly step into the Tongan 13 jersey and take it away from a player who was born and raised in that country?
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Of course, international rugby league bodies are not only happy for this to happen, they encourage it. Players of this talent level defecting to nations of their cultural heritage is new and exciting, and what’s new and exciting prints money.
These organisations will chum the footy waters with buzzwords such as “development, “growth” and “passion”, but the trickle-down economics suggested by the sport’s governing bodies don’t really add up.
The AUD and European paychecks that would likely be life-changing money for Pacific nationals stay in the hands of athletes representing these countries, but living in Australia, and spending their money in Australia.
Even the big dollars to be had through marketing these wildly popular World Cups and Pacific Tests? They stay in the hands of the IRL, and I wonder just how much of it would make it back to the minnow nations.
There is not a buck to be had by these developing nations, and what went on was what was always going on in the first place: wealthy organisations in highly developed countries lining their own pockets, using the emotional lure brought on by a player connecting with their heritage through rugby league.
There is no developed international sport as the prize. The IRL is richer, the television networks are much richer, and rugby league fans have parted with their money and their emotions for the mirage of a Test between Samoa and Tonga played by Australians and New Zealanders.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
you seriously project your behaviours on others. You're a narciss!st plain & simple.
Eddie
Guest
Nobody can have a different opinion. Look at you and Crosscoders usual campaigns. Attack every sport because Rugby League is on the brink. As I said it's pretty evident why Rugby League is where it is with fans like yourself and Crosscoder
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Oh please, you're a deluded individual who makes up these claims to justify your tr@lling on these threads. Stop manufacturing these storylines.
Eddie
Guest
Why can't anybody have a different opinion to yours? No wonder Rugby League is in the state it's in with diehards like yourself
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Haha it's my own personal st@lker, thought it was you Mr Alias. 'Shouting down' lol. Seriously you need to get a life.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
who gives a flying fig what other people care about. Why does it bother you so much? It really is odd behaviour. If it's not your cup of tea, then just ignore it. Is it so hard?
can see how that post would confuse...Used cut and paste and it didnt so it pasted the previous copied text. Saw it too late to edit unfortunately...My bad...LOL. This is what I thought I was posting ... Australia is full of these types of migrants Perhaps you should consider the reasons for this Micko rather than just get angry
Micko
Roar Rookie
Absolutely farcical how NZ lost all those guys before that WC. If players were going to defect you'd assume the international governing body would mandate some kind of transition period where they had to sit out of internationals.
Eddie
Guest
So do you think the majority of Rugby League fans care about International Rugby League Cathar?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Not sure what your point is Jacko, why would I be angry about the springboks? Who are you quoting anyway?
springboks is current world champs and most successful nation in the history of the rugby world cup.. Perhaps you should consider the reasons for this Micko rather than just get angry
Micko
Roar Rookie
That is absolute garbage Jacko. I've criticised everybody with this mentality. If you've paid attention to my comments in the past on the soccer articles I've stated how this awful mentality has set aussie soccer back a lot over the past few decades. Even the establishment of the A League can't completely solve this issue.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Understand Jacko.Read my rant at the end of thread.I'd prefer origin not heritage,whether a player Is PI/NZ/PNG/Whatever.This will only happen when all these new countries ,over the many future decades become competitive.Most of the NZedders are PI heritage not many of the Forans running around in the NRL. Micko appears to be accepting now of my view.
Micko
Roar Rookie
And where you are whinging about my apparent whinging. :laughing:
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Plus they make themselves look like they’re in the majority by attacking the game with multiple aliases. Sorry but we’re not s!ckos like some.
Crosscoder its only white NZers that Micko is upset about. other nationalities who shift to Aus are no probs and even Nzers with PI heritage are fine to believe and respect their heritage as far as he is concerned but not white Kiwi's
Neither am I but here you are whinging at me
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Micko Direct Tongan or Samoan heritage.I suggest you argue with one from those backgrounds, and you’ll understand the passion they have for their heritage country.They are Australians if naturalised of those descents. What do Chinese ,Vietnamese born here of parents from those countries call themselves.Australians of Chinese or Vietnamese heritage.Why do they celebrate passionately,the Chinese New Year here,or Tet? I’m about a 4-5th generation French /German descent, because of that long lineage,I have no passionate heritage feelings towards those countries.If had French born parents I could play for France, but in the RLWC most of their players are in fact French born and play in France. When more than 22% of players in the Rugby World Cup 2019 played for countries they were not born in,people just got on with the event.Nothing to see here.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
They would not have a team in the event Micko ,if there was no clubs operating in their respective countries.eg.They would not have Chinese team. In fact in some cases were the representation is overwhelmingly heritage,there are in fact some home grown players. The British Govt is providing 25m pounds for assistance ,some of which goes to grassroots growths they think its worthwhile.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I'm not the bloke who decided to live in another country and make a point of encouraging my kids NOT to support their own country!