"International powerhouse Tonga" who rely on aussies who can't get into the main Aussie side

They want the extra money to make it worth their while turning up. Internationals are way down the priority list in Australian RL, from both players and fans. See the stadium not being sold out to watch their own team play in the World Cup Final, and then the majority of the crowd who did go leaving before they had lifted the trophy as the clearest example you'll ever get. They aren't interested.

Because they've got an effective players union. Something that our players managed to make a compete pigs-ear of.

It’s not effective if it stops international matches taking place

It's effective at looking after the interests of players, which is what a players union exists to do.

Meanwhile in Blighty, our players are still being flogged by club owners who aren't investing in club growth and at the same time, have experienced real-terms pay cuts since 1999.

Mainly Kiwis with 2 crimes IIRC

It's all about money motivation, not national pride and giving something back to the sport that made you....so typical...

Oh yeah because 5 grand and representing your country isn't enough, right?

Are these the 'Aussies' who were born in Tonga, signed youth forms for NRL clubs to obtain Ocker nationality, won a cap for Oz or played the odd State of Origin before being discarded by the Aussie representative sides for younger Tongans? Rinse and repeat.

They should take a leaf out of the England association football team who, for years have donated any match fees that they receive to charity as it’s an honour to play for ones country

Regards

King James

Yeah big sacrifice, easy to do when you’re paid £150000 a week anyway.

Well no, which is exactly my point. They couldn't care less about playing internationals. State of Origin is the one that matters there, then the bread and butter of the NRL. That's it.

Well considering the £2k match appearance fee England football players get offered is like offering Joe Public 10p then it’s not really that much of a gesture.

Look at the names of the players.

It’s hardly good old John Smith, ninth generation white Australian, is it?

They are either Tongans or mostly first generation New Zealand or Australia citizens to two Tongan parents.

Glad you think donating £2k to charity isn’t much of a gesture. Before you even try and justify yourself, don’t even bother

Regards

King James