Hopefully Luai does as well... Munster will be in front of him as preferred 6 in the Aus setup anywayTo'o said on radio this morning he'll be representing Samoa at the world cup even if he's picked for Australia.
Great move. I hope more players follow his lead so we get a better world cup.
No Lolo wasn't allowed because he had already played for NZ i.e. a Tier 1 nation, before he started playing for TongaWould that be grounds for NSW to drop To’o? Not that they will but surely in theory that should rule him out given origin is supposed to be a trial for Australia.
I’m all for him doing it by the way but this is essentially the same situation as JT2 right and he’s ineligible for origin
100% with gus on this.
They messed up with the NZ player situation in the first place. They went all parochial and absolutely shot themselves in the foot there. Bunch of rich old Sydney boys trying to keep the sport and tradition "pure" while simultaneously trying to expand the game but maintain dominance. It's absolute double-think idiocy that so many bogans bought, because "OrIGiN iS sAcReD!" (since 1982, shhhhhh)Would that be grounds for NSW to drop To’o? Not that they will but surely in theory that should rule him out given origin is supposed to be a trial for Australia.
I’m all for him doing it by the way but this is essentially the same situation as JT2 right and he’s ineligible for origin
They messed up with the NZ player situation in the first place. They went all parochial and absolutely shot themselves in the foot there. Bunch of rich old Sydney boys trying to keep the sport and tradition "pure" while simultaneously trying to expand the game but maintain dominance. It's absolute double-think idiocy that so many bogans bought, because "OrIGiN iS sAcReD!" (since 1982, shhhhhh)
There's nothing wrong with dual eligibility and it doesn't cheapen the concept at all.I am usually critical of the NRL and how they handle pretty much everything but I do get the issues here. You either make it a state against state and mate against mate trial for the Australian team essentially OR you make it a free for all that basically becomes an NRL version of the NBL All Stars and lose the tradition / parochialism of the whole concept.
I am ok with the All Stars approach but you either have to go all in or all out. The current way it works where if you have played for NZ or England pretty much than too bad is just silly and if we really want to get stupid about it, somewhat racist. NZ and England you guys are good enough, other countries, nah you suck and we pity you.
There's nothing wrong with dual eligibility and it doesn't cheapen the concept at all.
If you meet all the criteria for NSW/QLD but don't want to play for Australia, that should be perfectly fine, it'll improve Origin as a product, it'll improve the International game, and no one loses, except the Kangaroos, which is why it hasn't happened.
To'o said on radio this morning he'll be representing Samoa at the world cup even if he's picked for Australia.
Great move. I hope more players follow his lead so we get a better world cup.
The NRL should step in to change that, why should state or Origin be thought of as a selection for the kangaroos?I differ here. and IMO the NRL should have stepped in.
because IIRC, the rule that was brought in was that Origin players could represent a tier 2 nation (and play SOO) IF they aren't selected for Australia. although Vlandy's could have changed this rule 14 times by now.
so technically To'o is not able to represent Samoa, if he get's selected by the Aussies.
don't get me wrong I like that duel eligible players (from tier two nations) are not locked into playing for Australia or no-one in international rugby league ... but SOO is, at least in theory, a selection trial for the Australian team.
Victor Radley has declared he will play for England.
Does he realise they're tier 1 and he'll never get to play origin.Victor Radley has declared he will play for England.
Love it. Moar!! I'm sick of Australia getting all the players because of money.
I might even support the Kangaroos one day when they're not half mercenaries just doing it for the origin $s.