Radradra to play for Australia (Merged threads)

[Total Rugby League]

Fijian sensation Semi Radradra has been selected to play for Australia. It has been reported that the World XIII member has been selected and will feature in the upcoming ANZAC

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[Sports Prophet]

I think I heard that Semi is not elligible for Fiji until after the World Cup. Can anyone confirm or deny and elaborate why? I think he moved to Aus in 2012 when he was 19.

I don't like it personally. I know the rules allow it, but it just doesn't sit well with me. I would prefer residency was not an opportunity for you to represent another nation other than the one of your birth or that of your parents.

[GeordieSaint]

W***** and pathetic from Australia considering the resources they have at their disposal. I absolutely understand if this individual was a Fijian heritage player but this bloke is a Fijian-born international. Disgusted by the Aussies stealing players from minor nations when they don't need them.

[Sports Prophet]

That's not the problem GS. The problem is he made himself available for Australia. It is his decision to play for Australia because he qualifies and wants to. You can't blame Australia although many want to. The blame lies squarely with the eligibility rules. Change the rules, it can't happen. Don't forget England picked a certain Rangi Chase not too long ago.

[Scubby]

W***** and pathetic from Australia considering the resources they have at their disposal. I absolutely understand if this individual was a Fijian heritage player but this bloke is a Fijian-born international. Disgusted by the Aussies stealing players from minor nations when they don't need them.

 

There is absolutely no defence to this. This means that James Graham, Gareth Widdop, Adam Blair, Kieron Foran, Sam Burgess, Dean Whare, Jessie Bromwich, Shaun Kenny Dowell are all eligible to play for Australia in the Anzac test if they phone up the RLIF?

 

Where does it end? If it was about a bit of cash then the NRL could have made him an ambassador for their pacific programme (this is actually a real initiative) and bunged him $50k providing he made himself available for Fiji. The guy doesn't want to play for the Kangaroos any more than you or I.

 

Don't they realise this guy could be a poster boy for Fijian RL for a decade? Off the back of him, the NRL could get 20x Semi Radradras.

[EastLondonMike]

He doesn't qualify though does he?.. he's played for Fiji as recently as 2014 and therefore isn't able to switch until after next years world cup. Unless the IRLF give special dispensation. Which they must have, so the fault lies with them. Pathetic. No balls at all.

[Sports Prophet]

I am still of the inkling that somehow it is actually Fiji he is not eligible for in this cycle. Someone in Aus may know more....

Of course I may have totally misheard. I can't find any reason why he wouldn't qualify for Fiji

[Scubby]

He is eligible and my view is that it has been planned for some time. The ruling is that a switch can happen if you have not played for another country for two years. The switch can only happen once in a world cup cycle.

 

This explains Radradra's mystery injury which forced him out of the 2015 Fiji v PNG game - yet he was running around for Parra the week after. This was all about trying to get into Origin via the back door.

 

This is an agent not giving two hoots about international RL and wanting $$$ for his player. The RLIF are guilty of organising scraps for nations 4-10 to feed off.

[Guest]

That's not the problem GS. The problem is he made himself available for Australia. It is his decision to play for Australia because he qualifies and wants to. You can't blame Australia although many want to. The blame lies squarely with the eligibility rules. Change the rules, it can't happen. Don't forget England picked a certain Rangi Chase not too long ago.

The difference between England picking chase and Australia picking Radradra is that NZ weren't affected at all while Fiji will be massively affected.

[steef]

The whole idea of eligibility cycles is utterly absurd. No issue with eligibility rules based on grandparents or on residency but once you have played for a nation at senior level that really should be it.

[Farmduck]

The worst case scenario: if his paperwork has been approved and OZ doesn't pick him, he won't be eligible for Fiji until after the next WC.

[Guest]

2008 World Cup semi-final Australia 52 v 0 Fiji

2013 World Cup semi-final Australia 64 v 0 Fiji

Question, what can we do to make the 4th best placed nation in the last 2 world cups more competitive??

Answer, I know let the richest rugby league nation with the largest player pool on the planet steal their best player.

Fu#*ing genius. Let's just hope that PNG don't unearth their own Darren Lockyer or Greg inglis because the Aussies will steal them!!!

[Scubby]

2008 World Cup semi-final Australia 52 v 0 Fiji

2013 World Cup semi-final Australia 64 v 0 Fiji

Question, what can we do to make the 4th best placed nation in the last 2 world cups more competitive??

Answer, I know let the richest rugby league nation with the largest player pool on the planet steal their best player.

Fu#*ing genius. Let's just hope that PNG don't unearth their own Darren Lockyer or Greg inglis because the Aussies will steal them!!!

 

I think you'll find PNG's best player (who currently plays at Penrith) has also put his hand up for Australia. Samoa's best player in the last World Cup also put his hand up for Australia. It's great!

[Farmduck]

I've seen no evidence that anyone in NRL/ARLC "stole" him. From everything Semi has said, he wanted to change his eligibility. If, as I said above, OZ doesn't pick him, nobody will see him play Tests. That won't help Fiji either. Maybe the blame lies with Semi for not considering his potential role in Fiji RL, or maybe his agent, or maybe the RLIF for approving his request.

[GeordieSaint]

That's not the problem GS. The problem is he made himself available for Australia. It is his decision to play for Australia because he qualifies and wants to. You can't blame Australia although many want to. The blame lies squarely with the eligibility rules. Change the rules, it can't happen. Don't forget England picked a certain Rangi Chase not too long ago.

 

The Aussies could simply turn round and so no thanks. I agree the eligibility rules are rubbish but England, NZ and Australia shouldn't be using it as an excuse and should know better.

[Guest]

I think you'll find PNG's best player (who currently plays at Penrith) has also put his hand up for Australia. Samoa's best player in the last World Cup also put his hand up for Australia. It's great!

Although Milford was born in Australia and segeyaro moved to Australia when he was a child they have both represented Samoa and PNG so therefore they shouldn't be allowed to represent another country.

[Scubby]

Well I hope all Australians enjoy the Anzac Test complete with Semi on. If they carry on like this, they'll be playing with themselves full time and that probably suits them just fine. After all, Origin is the ultimate test.

[Guest]

Well I hope all Australians enjoy the Anzac Test complete with Semi on. If they carry on like this, they'll be playing with themselves full time and that probably suits them just fine. After all, Origin is the ultimate test.

What we need is a few billionaires to bankroll Fijian and PNG NRL franchises and stock them full of Aussies and after 3-4 years these players will become eligible for both Fiji and PNG.

[GeordieSaint]

What we need is a few billionaires to bankroll Fijian and PNG NRL franchises and stock them full of Aussies and after 3-4 years these players will become eligible for both Fiji and PNG.

 

Wouldn't make a difference; the NRL wouldn't allow the sides into the competition.

[Robb]

If anything, the outrage should be directed at the RLIF for their ridiculous eligibility rules. Australia is merely taking advantage of it. Yes I'm aware that Radradra wanted to switch but there's no way he'll be turned down by the Aussies for the sake of international rugby league. Getting the best squad they can will always be their main priority and the state of international rugby league will always take the backseat in doing so

[marklaspalmas]

This is just so wrong.

[GeordieSaint]

If anything, the outrage should be directed at the RLIF for their ridiculous eligibility rules. Australia is merely taking advantage of it. Yes I'm aware that Radradra wanted to switch but there's no way he'll be turned down by the Aussies for the sake of international rugby league. Getting the best squad they can will always be their main priority and the state of international rugby league will always take the backseat in doing so

 

But they shouldn't as NZ and England shouldn't either. We all know the rules are rubbish and need changing but a nation with the playing resources available like Australia shouldn't need to take advantage of the situation; they should know. My opinion has never been great of the Aussies as they are far too insular (like the game in England) but this is just plainly morally incomprehensible from them no matter what Radradra's wish's are.

[B rad]

Here is a joke.

 

What do you call a good Fijian Rugby League player?

 

An Australian.

 

Not funny I know.

[Robb]

But they shouldn't as NZ and England shouldn't either. We all know the rules are rubbish and need changing but a nation with the playing resources available like Australia shouldn't need to take advantage of the situation; they should know. My opinion has never been great of the Aussies as they are far too insular (like the game in England) but this is just plainly morally incomprehensible from them no matter what Radradra's wish's are.

The pinnacle of rugby league is Origin in the eyes of Australians. Did you really think they'll consider international rugby league in selecting Radradra? A bit of wishful thinking

[B rad]

The biggest problem is there is no incentive for pacific nations players to continue representing those nations. They play more games now then they use too which is good, but still a career as a pacific rugby league international is still far less appealing then representing Australia or New Zealand. 

 

Until these players play a similar amount of games and receive a similar pay then these nations will always be feeder teams to much stronger nations that can offer them so much more. If only the RIFL or these nations had money the playing rosters could be significantly stronger especially for Samoa, Tonga and to a lesser extent Fiji and PNG at international level.

 

We could easily have a very strong competitive 5 nations right now at the top level under the current international eligibility rules. Unfortunate no one with in our game has the money or desire to make it happen.