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Opinion
Growing up knowing you are a little bit different can be challenging.
My last name is a dead giveaway. Both my parents were born overseas, my dad in a small village in Greece called Neapolis and my mum in a small village in Cyprus called Monagroulli.
My mum and dad both arrived in Australia as children. My grandparents packed their lives into small suitcases and boarded a boat for several months to come to Australia for a better life for their children. Given the limits to technology, I wonder if the thought even crossed their mind as to whether they would see their parents again.
When I was younger I was a little bit embarrassed to be Greek. I was forced to endure Greek school on a Saturday for several years, followed by Greek dancing. I remember going to weddings and parties and rolling my eyes when the circle dancing began.
I’m a lot older now. Don’t tell my parents that I’m grateful that I went to Greek school, because it means I have a second language and a really special relationship with my grandparents because I can communicate with them. I also love Greek dancing and celebrating that part of me that makes me me.
There’s also something really special about when I get to go back to Greece and Cyprus. It’s not home, but there is something that pulls me back there.
I’m a proud Greek Australian. I’m proud of where I came from and proud of where I live now.
So what has the above got to do with rugby league?
Surprisingly, quite a bit. Especially this week.
In a boost for international rugby league, this week it was announced by Penrith Panthers player Brian To’o that he will represent Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup. When To’o made the announcement he told the media that he would be “playing for his family”.
My view is that the story should have stopped there and turned into a conversation about the upcoming World Cup and how Samoa may actually beat England in the opening stages of the tournament.
But the conversation continued.
There are different eligibility requirements depending on whether a nation is considered Tier 1 or Tier 2. Currently To’o is able to play State of Origin and elect to play for Samoa, which is considered a Tier-2 nation.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Some media commentators have suggested that the decision by To’o is an example of him having his cake and then eating it too.
In the past, State of Origin has acted as a selection series for the Australian Kangaroos. Some are upset because To’o may have been picked for Australia following his Origin performances.
With respect, my response to commentators like this is that they are the ones who want to have their cake and eat it too.
While State of Origin may have been a selection series for the Kangaroos in the past, considering how little the Kangaroos play, the series has become so much more than that. Additionally, many players have been picked to play for the Kangaroos without playing Origin, which also illustrates the role that the NRL competition plays in selection.
State of Origin is an event that brings our country together. People who have very little interest in rugby league tune in to State of Origin because it is considered the pinnacle of the sport.
This equally applies to children who were born in another country and come to Australia when they are young or children who were born here and who have strong ties to their cultural heritage.
Why on earth would we want to make players choose? Why would we not want players given the opportunity to celebrate where they live now and also their link to their own cultures?
It’s extremely myopic and speaks of rugby league in such an Australia-centric way.
The growth of the international game is a wonderful opportunity, and this should be celebrated.
What’s even more ridiculous about this debate is how well the current system is working and how much depth we are now seeing in the international game.
We have the benefit of watching Tier-2 nations go from strength to strength and a brilliant State of Origin series with some of the best talent in the game.
By forcing players to make a choice between playing for a Tier-2 nation and for their families and their cultures and playing for their state, some players will choose the former. That will diminish the talent available for State of Origin and may even mean a weaker product. If players choose the latter, it will harm international rugby league and likely mean that the only competitive nations will ever be those Tier-1 nations. To me that’s a little bit boring.
There’s also an undercurrent to this debate that unsettles me. In the media this week we’ve heard from a lot of white people. They are absolutely able to express their opinions, but it’s not their opinion that I am really interested in. I want to hear from Brian To’o and our other players who have strong links to their heritage. I want to hear his story and understand why wearing a Blues jersey may be just as important to him as wearing a Samoan jersey.
At its heart sport is about inclusivity. No matter who you are, you should feel welcome in our game. I want to celebrate our players and also give them the chance to play for the countries that continue to mean so much to them.