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Anzac Round is done and another NRL touchpoint is ticked off amid the onward march of the 2024 season. It helps to see things…
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?
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