Almost that time of year again when international RL is back on the agenda, and again more than likely we have another enquiry as to why England failed to impress and perform when it matters....... One thing that puzzles me is how certain players can just shift allegiance from one country to another willy nilly?! Players from NZ and Australia named in squads, then suddenly wanting to play for Tonga etc?!! I thought these people are proud of their nationality and heritage? Yet they have played for two nations, in the odd instance three!! Fifita named in the Aussie squad, not like he missed out on selection, yet now he's switched?!

Speaking of Fifita, brings me onto ourselves and the season some of our players have had. No-one in the dream team, virtually no mention/representation on man of steel night, and barring a miracle, probably no-one in our squad deemed good enough to represent their country?! I'm not actually sure who Bill Tupou, and our Fifita are eligible to play for, but looking at the names in the squads announced, they are as good as those selected for me, unfashionable wakey again eh.......?

Tupou has played for Tonga before and I'm a bit surprised he isn't in the squad after the season he's had but tbh they do have the likes of Konrad Hurrell, Michael Jennings, William Hopoate & David Fusitu'a who can play . Tonga have a really strong back line, but light on halves. They're gonna be a handful for anyone that's for sure.

As for Andrew Fifita, it seems a bit of a two fingered salute to the Aussie RL imo. They gave him a torrid time last year and then didn't pick him when he was arguably the worlds best Prop. As for Dave, If his twin qualifies, he will I imagine and I'd have picked him in their squad instead of Sam Moa tbh.

They've got a cracking forward pack anyway with fifita and Taumalolo, along with BMM, Sika Manu, Ukuma Ta'ai etc.

Tbh being selfish, let them get their rest and recuperation and come back for pre season nice and refreshed. Be a massive hit to us if they picked say Fifita and he got a bad injury.

Dual nationality.
For most of the time the big games are only the big three.
In world cup year they get the chance to play for their heritage team.
A lot of families migrate to Oz or NZ for a better life so there is a lot of dual national players.

Before being the opportunity to switch they would always have chosen the big team where the money and prestige is. This allows Tonga and Samoa a chance to show their strength and will hopefully get players choosing these teams over their adopted one in future.

I understand what you are saying, and maybe in that part of the world it's a different mentality in the way representing an area of the world rather than one nation perhaps. The rules obviously allows this, and maybe that puzzles me also, it's just seems a bit weird you can be named in one country's squad, then just a matter of weeks before the tournament starts you jump into another squad! Can you imagine say, if Harry Kane had Welsh grandparents, was named in England's world cup squad next Summer, then a fortnight before it begins, decides he'd like to play for Wales instead!! Sometimes RL can be a bit of a laughing stock the way it conducts itself, we don't do ourselves any favours sometimes in the way it's promoted and regulated.

I would have suggested that the teams should have checked before naming them.

Tbf I always thought if you played for a national team that's it no changing allegiance

The national teams rules changed recently to allow players from 1st tier teams (Australia/NZL/England) to play for 2nd tier teams (Samoa/Fiji/Tonga/Scotland/USA if you qualify for two that is
It also means you aren't stopped from going back to the 1st tier team, which traditionally has stopped players from switching

Its to help the Pacific and European nations grow and I think its a fantastic rule, just look at the result, the Italian / Tongan teams already named look class! (Fiji/ Samoa/ Scotland will benefit too I'm sure when their squads are named) they should compete really well and it will make for a much better competition

Australia are pretty much untouchable but it will make for a much better tournament

I think a lot of people here forget that Australia is a nation built on immigration so there ideas of nationality are very much different to ours
Dual nationality is totally normal to them

We need the game to grow at international level and its grown at a phenomenal rate since the 2008 WC in Australia for Australia and the pacific islands, the people in charge of the Australian game really know what they are doing .......... unlike the idiots that run it over here

I do know what you mean and the football example is fair enough (really, I do get why you don't like it), in football once you have picked you can't change and that's fine in football because it has an almost endless supply of players BUT its not football, it RL!
Rugby league just doesn't have the depth of players to do that, its not different in many sports, rugby union is no different

Remember for those watching for the first time they wont know who comes from where either, I know I don't when I watch the RU world cup lol

I just think the only thing that matters is that the tournament is an awesome is a success which will help to grow the game especially in the Pacific

There is already a PNG side in the Queensland cup (who won it!) and they are not far off the other pacific nations following

I'm v surprised he's not being picked, hes being awesome! selfishly though it will be good for him to get some time off



Yes agree re Andrews reasons for the Tonga switch, he did get a harsh time in the press for supporting one of his pals as well who got in trouble with the police, I'm v v surprised that our Dave hasn't got in there though with Andrew, I would have though them playing together was part of the switch, unless Dave needs the time off to recover?

Dave has played for Tonga once before, they qualify through parents




haha I agree with you re keeping fit for Trin, would have being great to see them both playing but its not to be

is anybody surprised that he did that!! surely tell them before they named you - looks so so bad - he will never play for Australia again...

it could be a Australia vs Tonga Final they have now a very very strong team - England and nz would be worried I think.

We will have players in the World Cup such as Finny and Grix for Ireland

I don't think it's his place to tell them at all.
He can't choose. He accepts an invitation or not.
They needed to ask before naming him.

this!!!!!! www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/cooper ... 5eadfc5885

this!!!!!! www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/cooper ... 5eadfc5885

Ok that's different. Shouldn't have done that.

I'd say Ashurst and BJB are worth taking from an England point of view. I think had TJ not been injured he'd have been in the mix two though.

Realistically England won't pick any Wakefield players, they very rarely do. They were loath to pick Neil Fox and look at his record.