http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/they-play-for-nz-now-but-wait-until-mal-gets-to-them/story-e6frexnr-1226495740811
MEET the Kangaroos' Generation Next.
A gifted bunch of footballers who are all Maori ink, Auckland passports and "how the bloody hell do you sing Advance Australia Fair, cuz?"
With the Australian Rugby League Commission yet to sort league's shambolic eligibility laws, there is a chance these Junior Kiwis could one day play for the Australian Kangaroos.
In fact, The Daily Telegraph can reveal it was this squad of 19 young men - 10 of whom already represent Australian Toyota Cup sides - that formed much of the discussion when New Zealand Rugby League officials met with the commissioners in Townsville over the weekend to thrash out the eligibility crisis.
Only hours before James Tamou demolished his countrymen wearing a Kangaroos jersey and Maori tattoos, a series of ideas were debated inside a meeting called specifically to keep these young Kiwis in black.
It's understood the ARLC discussed three different eligibility options, one of which insists a player can only represent Australia, and therefore be eligible for State of Origin, once he has lived here for 50 per cent of his life.
Therefore, a New Zealander who moves to Australia aged eight can represent Australia once he turns 16\. However, a Kiwi who moves here at 16 is not eligible until he turns 32.
Tamou, who moved to Australia at 13, would still be representing New Zealand under this model. The Kangaroos' 18th man Ben Te'o, a Junior Kiwi who represented Samoa at the 2008 World Cup, would also be wearing black.
Asked how it felt to watch the prop dubbed "Aussie Jim" tear his Kiwis apart on Saturday night, NZRL chairman Scott Carter said: "Oh, look, certainly there is some irony to it. But over the past two days we've covered a lot of ground with the commission regarding eligibility laws.
"I'm not going to reveal exactly what was discussed, but we're hoping before the start of next season there will be rules in place so this latest batch of Junior Kiwis . . . they'll be staying in black jerseys."
Of this current batch of Junior Kiwis, 10 are already playing Toyota Cup with Australian clubs in NSW or . . . worse . . . Queensland.
Already, Carter has voiced his concern about Maroons coach Mal Meninga and his cronies "hanging from the trees in Townsville" to get a look at his boys.
Living in Queensland and playing for the Cowboy' Toyota Cup side are backrower Jason Taumalolo and winger Wayne Ulugia. Next year, centre Curtis Rona will join them. Meninga will also have an eye on backrower Tohu Harris and 18th man Jeremy Hawkins, aligned with Melbourne and the Raiders respectively.
Given the way Tamou played, you can circle a blue target around boom Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Cronulla halfback Penani Manumalealii and Tigers props Mosese Fotuaika and Jesse Sue.
The Junior Kiwis bench also included Tupou Sopoaga (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Apirana Pewhairangi (Newcastle Knights).
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haha whats going on, another decent article by the tele? lol
MEET the Kangaroos' Generation Next.
A gifted bunch of footballers who are all Maori ink, Auckland passports and "how the bloody hell do you sing Advance Australia Fair, cuz?"
With the Australian Rugby League Commission yet to sort league's shambolic eligibility laws, there is a chance these Junior Kiwis could one day play for the Australian Kangaroos.
In fact, The Daily Telegraph can reveal it was this squad of 19 young men - 10 of whom already represent Australian Toyota Cup sides - that formed much of the discussion when New Zealand Rugby League officials met with the commissioners in Townsville over the weekend to thrash out the eligibility crisis.
Only hours before James Tamou demolished his countrymen wearing a Kangaroos jersey and Maori tattoos, a series of ideas were debated inside a meeting called specifically to keep these young Kiwis in black.
It's understood the ARLC discussed three different eligibility options, one of which insists a player can only represent Australia, and therefore be eligible for State of Origin, once he has lived here for 50 per cent of his life.
Therefore, a New Zealander who moves to Australia aged eight can represent Australia once he turns 16\. However, a Kiwi who moves here at 16 is not eligible until he turns 32.
Tamou, who moved to Australia at 13, would still be representing New Zealand under this model. The Kangaroos' 18th man Ben Te'o, a Junior Kiwi who represented Samoa at the 2008 World Cup, would also be wearing black.
Asked how it felt to watch the prop dubbed "Aussie Jim" tear his Kiwis apart on Saturday night, NZRL chairman Scott Carter said: "Oh, look, certainly there is some irony to it. But over the past two days we've covered a lot of ground with the commission regarding eligibility laws.
"I'm not going to reveal exactly what was discussed, but we're hoping before the start of next season there will be rules in place so this latest batch of Junior Kiwis . . . they'll be staying in black jerseys."
Of this current batch of Junior Kiwis, 10 are already playing Toyota Cup with Australian clubs in NSW or . . . worse . . . Queensland.
Already, Carter has voiced his concern about Maroons coach Mal Meninga and his cronies "hanging from the trees in Townsville" to get a look at his boys.
Living in Queensland and playing for the Cowboy' Toyota Cup side are backrower Jason Taumalolo and winger Wayne Ulugia. Next year, centre Curtis Rona will join them. Meninga will also have an eye on backrower Tohu Harris and 18th man Jeremy Hawkins, aligned with Melbourne and the Raiders respectively.
Given the way Tamou played, you can circle a blue target around boom Roosters fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Cronulla halfback Penani Manumalealii and Tigers props Mosese Fotuaika and Jesse Sue.
The Junior Kiwis bench also included Tupou Sopoaga (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Apirana Pewhairangi (Newcastle Knights).
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haha whats going on, another decent article by the tele? lol
