That’s the exact issue. You ask them what they are and they say Samoan or Tongan or Fijian with the majority never having lived a day there. Haas said it perfectly, I have lived in Australia all my life, I am an Aussie. They are fucken Aussies with Samoan heritage and have grown up in a Samoan culture (or Tongan, Fijian etc). That’s fine and that’s cool. If that’s how they identify go ahead. But we have players who aren’t afforded that luxury who first say they are Qlders and Aussies and they have 0 hope of ever representing such a team. Fucken 0. The reality is if you apply origin eligibility laws to internationals almost every single player would not be able to play for those nations. So for them to be able to have the opportunity to play in such a team they should have to give something up (origin). You are seemingly mis-interpreting that their culture is also not their nationality. I can respect that they wish to align themsleves as that but if they can’t consider themselves Australians which they truly are despite having lived here their entire lives why do they deserve to represent AUSTRALIAN STATES. The tier system for the last 5-6 years has been fucken ludicrous. How is a Tongan or a Samoan now anymore deserving to play origin than a kiwi who passes eligibility for our states or Victor Radley who moved off to England. These people had to make the decisions to forego ever playing for there state (for those who had that desire as well) in order to play for the nation of there choice. So don’t ever give me this culturally ignorant crap EVER. These players who are eligible to tier one nations from young ages have to make such difficult decisions that shape their careers and even there identity. They’re tough decisions to make but it’s time for all these Tongan and Samoan players to stop having their cake and eating it too. They have to choose what is more important. It’s become a fucken farce. Can’t have Tongans and Samoans representing a rep side that feeds to the Australian team just as an Australian player would never be able to represent a Samoan island rep team if such thing existed.
Easy because a person can be multi cultured, you are saying a person is either Australian or Samoan but that's just incorrect, you do realise this country like most allow people to hold more then one passport for a reason?
I don’t think you understand what is being argued here the point being is that they full and well can choose which country they wish to represent but they can’t benefit more than every other fucker who has to fit within the system. They literally have no system or laws that prevent them from anything. They get to choose when, where and how they play for whatever team whenever it suits. The fact is they have to choose what’s more valuable like every other bloke out there. The rules shouldn’t be changing to let them have a free for all but to limit them. Origin is far more valuable to the game at the minute than a failing International game. That’s the reality. The international game will be fixed in a way that has 0 detriment to origin.
This is a complete crock of shit.
Why?
Yeah, I’m actually sorry you have to read this drivel. Of course people can be proud of more than 1 location.
Mate, this is rugby league not a world war. What a dumb opinion.
Why.....?
Maybe he would like to honour a grandfather or parent. Maybe he would like to improve the quality of international league by repping his country of heritage. Maybe he knows that playing for Fiji would mean more to them than it would to them aussies with a stacked team?
I put Australia first in everything I do everyday?
Like I said, I give back to Australia everyday and yes I would still choose Fiji.
As mentioned above.......maybe he would like to honour the country that afforded him every benefit in life that he holds today?
