B rad

This wont be an issue soon as it wont be long before Tonga are promoted to a tier 1 nation ending their nation swapping days. There is a push for it from the Tongan players. As for the ancestry thing I think there are 2 types of heritage teams. Those that are embraced by the nation they represent and supported and those that are not. The Pacific Nations, Lebanon are in a lucky position where they can field a team of guys born in Sydney or New Zealand and have massive support from the nation they represent. Ireland, Scoltand, Wales, Italy and the USA probably Canada as well I think you need a majority of the team to be born in that nation as well as they be high quality before they gain national public and media support.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/19/cronulla-sharks-forward-scott-sorensen-named-in-tonga-squad-for-test-against-kangaroos/ Tonga squad Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks) Addin Fonua-Blake (Manly Warringah) Mahe Fonua (Wests Tigers) Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans) David Fusitua (NZ Warriors) Siliva Havilli (Canberra Raiders) Ata Hingano (Canberra Raiders) Will Hopoate (Canterbury Bulldogs) Koniseti Hurrell (Gold Coast Titans) Michael Jennings (Parramatta Eels) Robert Jennings (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Solomone Kata (NZ Warriors) Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers) Samisoni Langi (Catalans Dragons) Tuimoala Lolohea (Wests Tigers) Sika Manu (Hull FC) Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons) Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves) Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos) Tevita Pangai jnr (Brisbane Broncos) Agnatius Paasi (NZ Warriors) Leivaha Pulu (NZ Warriors) Scott Sorensen (Cronulla Sharks) Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield Giants) Jason Taumalolo (North Qld Cowboys) Tevita Tatola (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sydney Roosters) Peni Terepo (Parramatta Eels) Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)

So my old man is 72. State of Origin time I paid him a visit and said to him," lets watch the women's game". He had to be talked into it and he loved it. The other day after his beloved Broncos had been knocked out I got him to watch the girls. He was yelling and screaming just like he does in a normal Broncos game. He loved it. They are winning over the old guard who don't like change, they are doing very well.

How many rounds left?

Can I watch it in Australia? is it on Fox?

I could be wrong, because my information is from some other guy who "knew better" from the internet but I was informed that there was a rule change and he would never be eligible for SoO and maybe even Australia. It was a while back now I cant really remember the details, but I was posing your exact argument.

And ... he is Fijian and not eligible for Australia or anyone else. More reason why we need more games for these guys. Penrith have wrapped him up for a few years but French Rugby are keen to grab him when they can as a centre.

What do you think? Will it be much different? How strong compared to past test teams now the super star factor is at an all time low (No Slater, Smith, Cronk or Thurston). Is there hope for England, New Zealand and Tonga or will someone step up and it be the same old same old Aussie dominance? Another thing, if they don't pick Felise Kaufusi (I think they will he had a big quarter final for Storm) I wonder if Tonga will get a chance to pick him. Imagine their pack then. https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/13/steve-renouf-three-centres-can-give-australian-kangaroos-strikepower/ Steve Renouf's Australia Test team 1. James Tedesco 2. Valentine Holmes 3. Greg Inglis (c) 4. James Roberts 5. Dane Gagai 6. Cameron Munster 7. James Maloney 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Boyd Cordner 13. Josh McGuire 14. Latrell Mitchell 15. Jake Trbojevic 16. Josh Papalii 17. Jordan McLean.

They will have Sione Katoa come in, which isn't ideal because he is a hooker, but at least still a good player.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/finals/tevita-pangai-jr-is-caught-between-representing-australia-and-nsw-and-tonga/news-story/bb8be7baf15ad471e22b155363876e02 Australian selectors have reached a new low in sportsmanship trying to entice Tevita Pangai jr over to the Kangaroos for the up coming tests. There is a bunch of guys who played State of Origin this year and for Australia last year they would have to over look to pick him. To target one of the best players from a up and coming nation your about to play for the first time ever when your nation has more depth then anyone is not in the spirit of the game.

Id love France to become strong again but until they can match the rich French RU I cant see them retaining players once they become high quality. They just don't have the money to compete. Sadly I doubt France will ever be strong again in RL unless something changes and somehow they acquire a large amount of wealth.

You may be right. I wouldn't be surprised if Australia ran in a decent win. There are other factors though. For one Australia for the first time don't have a super star in their team. The retirement of Smith, Cronk, Slater and Thurston have puts them in a position I don't think they have ever been in before. Inglis is a super star but his days of busting tackles to run 80 m down the field to score are over. He isn't the super star he use to be. The other thing is they will be playing a fired up, very strong Tonga in front of a very passionate loud supporter base. It is a lot more important to the Tongan players to win then it is to the Australian players. They will be more motivated. The one last thing is Tonga, unlike England don't have that mental monkey on their back. Tonga have never played Australia before. Sometimes I think England are half beaten before they get on the field because of all the previous near wins and dominance the Aussies have showed over them. For the Tongan players its a fresh start with no history between them. They don't have the mental baggage of years gone by haunting them. I think it will be close and a Tongan victory is defiantly a possibility if they can keep their cool and not make silly mistakes.

New Zealand PNG Fiji Id be ok with Canada.

Tonga are playing New Zealand in the mid season test now leaving Samoa open. And of course there is Fiji, Lebanon or PNG. Hopefully they go with one of the first 2. If it is played in the northern hemisphere France are the obvious choice I would think. Maybe Ireland if they can field the same squad they had in the RLWC.

That's what England and NZ thought last RLWC too. How are they a team of mercenaries, they hardly get any pay compared to what they could be getting. That has to be the dumbest comment ever on these forums. Congratulations that's quite the prize.