But do you understand how this merrygo round of players for the lower level countries every World Cup can hinder genuine player development in those countries?

That is the point he is making

He's made lots of different points, but saying none of the Scotland squad are born in Scotland is wrong.

And yes, I do understand the point.

How did you get off my ignore list by the way?

I don't remember doing that!

So you are ok for short term gratification to damage long term development?

Seriously, you have an ignore list?

Not really a list.

List implies plurality.

It depends on which outweighs the other. Personally I have zero problem with using the same eligibility criteria as every other sport, even if it means that the entry requirements that some disagree with are activated more often simply because RL is still an underdeveloped sport.

Structurally, there's nothing wrong with the rules that isn't wrong with other sports, and they cope just fine. That we have more heritage players is much more the product of the conservatism of the sport as a whole than failing to expose amateurs from developing nations. So from a long term point of view, I see nothing wrong there.

What is wrong is that there's only an incentive to trigger it every 4 years, and in the meantime neglect the good that a strong top level can have for junior's aspirations.

Mod badge, you have to read everything

Seriously? You don't think some kid in Fiji is more likely to take up playing the game due to getting excited watching Hayne et al make Fiji a competitive side in the World Cup as opposed to not seeing a Fiji amateur team made up of locals playing in some b grade comp that isn't shown on TV?

Reality is these countries are not going to have FT prof RL comps for decades, the hope is to see more kids take up the game, better development for those kids, get more of them playing in SL and NRL and have competitive international RL. Anything else is simply wishful thinking.

So some kid in Milan is going to watch Italy playing in the WC and see star man Craig Gower and think 'wow we really have similar backgrounds if he can do it I can'

Why because I dare to state an opinion that's not the same as yours ???

Get out more mate, then you won't have to spend half your life defending a joke comp.