Sam Kasiano now a Queenslander

[alex]

Has anyone heard it from the horses mouth that he wants to play for the Cane Toads

http://www.nrl.com/kasiano-mad-about-the-maroons,-says-barba/tabid/10874/newsid/68160/default.aspx

"Giant forward Sam Kasiano has given the clearest indication yet that he wants to play State of Origin for Queensland by telling his Canterbury teammates of his desire to don a Maroons jumper."

One thing that got me thinking… Both Kasiano and Tamou have said they have defected from NZ because they want to play Origin. Neither have said anything about their desire to pull on the green and gold. All they care about is NSW v QLD. I think that's where the NRL needs to focus their efforts. Why not give an Auckland v The Rest a go? Or a NZ v Pacific Islanders? Most of the Kiwis (and some Aussies for that matter) are of Polynesian descent. I think there'd be more pride and passion in a NZ v Pacific Islanders than Auckland v The Rest?

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Has anyone heard it from the horses mouth that he wants to play for the Cane Toads

http://www.nrl.com/kasiano-mad-about-the-maroons,-says-barba/tabid/10874/newsid/68160/default.aspx

"Giant forward Sam Kasiano has given the clearest indication yet that he wants to play State of Origin for Queensland by telling his Canterbury teammates of his desire to don a Maroons jumper."

One thing that got me thinking… Both Kasiano and Tamou have said they have defected from NZ because they want to play Origin. Neither have said anything about their desire to pull on the green and gold. All they care about is NSW v QLD. I think that's where the NRL needs to focus their efforts. Why not give an Auckland v The Rest a go? Or a NZ v Pacific Islanders? Most of the Kiwis (and some Aussies for that matter) are of Polynesian descent. I think there'd be more pride and passion in a NZ v Pacific Islanders than Auckland v The Rest?

Sounds like a concept the New Zealand Rugby League should be organising, not the ARLC.

 

[tig_prmz]

sounds great alex.

idc about SOO eligibility rules. at the end of the day, imo all the ideas mentioned have flaws with them. no doubt, so does the current system as well… seems like something you can't fix.. let players play whoever they WANT to play for imo.

what does need fixing is international rugby league. not just the eligibility issues regarding that, but the state it is in and the little or no regard it is given. playing for you state shouldn't be the pinnacle of the game, playing for your country should be. new initiatives must be taken in order to promote international rugby league.

i suggest the inclusion of a non Australian/NZ/England member/s to have a major say in the IC. international rugby league should be the priority imo.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

The IC is just the body for Rugby League in Australia… The RLIF is responsible for the game of RL from an International perspective.

 

[Yossarian]

That's true Watto but they can't pretend they opperate in a vacuum. The decisions they make have a wider impact than just the NRL and (IMO anyway) they have an obligation to the game at a wider level. Afterall a strong international scene is in the benefit of the NRL too. I've always suggested two possible solutions:

1 - Give salary cap exemptions to non-Australians (possibly excluding Kiwis too) so that players have an incentive to play for Fiji, Tonga etc

2 - Allow NSW and QLD to pick say 2 non-Australian qualified players (players couldn't switch states and the usual rules re eligibility would apply). People suggest this would somehow ruin SOO by including non-Australians but how can it be any worse that the current unedifying spectacle of both states convincing foreigners to turn out for Australia just to play origin.

 

[alex]

Bring back a citizenship test! :laughing:

 

[Marshall_magic]

Bring back a citizenship test! :laughing:

Half the boys who legitimately qualify for Australia would fail it: Carney, Inglis, Watmough, Bird, Boyd, Taylor all come to mind as one who may struggle with it.

 

[happy_tiger]

I've said it before and I'll say it again Easiest solution is to play SOO for NZ

South Island v North Island

Run it in conjunction with our SOO series and then have the two winners play off in a one off game post season

Must admit one of the best games I ever saw was during the Super League Tri Series when you blokes beat us in extra time

 

[cktiger]

Solution is very simple.
If you didn't play your first rep football (from age 16 ) in either QLD or NSW then you can't qualify.
And you can't EVER play for another country.
I thought that was already the case - but obviously not it seems.
Any way , how could anyone build up a real hatred if they've only just lobbed here?