OMG
It would be slight, but there is a chance, IMO he should have had an easy hat trick against the Cows, and when your scoring the tries it makes you very hard to go past, but it won't happen with Leuluai there.
It would be slight, but there is a chance, IMO he should have had an easy hat trick against the Cows, and when your scoring the tries it makes you very hard to go past, but it won't happen with Leuluai there.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
No Matai was available at the time. Kearney didnt select him because he thought the game was going to be a close one and didnt want to risk Matai giving away a penalty. Thats how I remember it anyway...
Apus
Haha yeah I was just taking a jab at Matai, dude is constantly suspended, especially around test time.
¿N. ig-mah¿
I was referring to the fact that Williams allowed Tonga? to name him first, then waited to see what the Kiwis would do, then after the Kiwis expressed their interest he waited for Australia. He was hedging his bets. If the Aussies had passed him up, he would have taken the Kiwis jersey, if we had rejected him too, he kept himself available for Tonga. A really low way of choosing you allegiances in my view. It wasn't his decision, more the way he made it.
I believe there should be a declaration of allegiance at the start of the year and no way back once declared. A two year stand-down should be the only way to reset eligibility. I don't mind players stepping back to the Island nations from the top teams though.
OMG
I believe you are incorrect there, he played for Tonga in the 08 world cup, and then again 09, the Kiwis then tried to get him for the 2010 4 nations but he declared for Oz.
¿N. ig-mah¿
Maybe I am mistaken, but I'm sure I remember Tonga naming him in their squad, followed by the Kiwis, then Australia. It was only after Australia's squad was named that he chose his team. I'm not saying he hadn't played for Tonga, just that he waited until he saw which of the "top 2" teams wanted him before making his decision for the 4 Nations. Put simply, he hedged his bets and kept his options open.
OMG
No he turned the Kiwis a year before making an OZ team.[DOUBLEPOST=1364886980][/DOUBLEPOST]
Australia has a history of starting young talented attacking backs with defensive frailties, maybe it's about time the Kiwi's did too.
I remember this fulla the storm had, they reckon he always used to miss tackles and go missing in games but that didn't stop him playing in GFs, Origins and Australian teams. He got a lot better, but can still misread them with the best of them and he has had the luxury of playing with class players that help take your game to the next level.
wallacenz
didnt samoa have a team full of kiwis in the last world cup? I remember Luake turning his back on the kiwis aswell. They should declare their loyalties at the start of their careers, its not like theres a huge financial benefit playing for the kiwis unlike Aus with SOO. If they dont wanna be kiwis dont play for NZ from the start. Im pleasantly surprised SBW still wants to be a kiwi.
Sup42
Sonny Bill Williams hysteria coloured the facts.
He's a Kiwi , end of , the Origin bollocks was never a reality.
First All black to text the Kiwis and wish them well while on tour for Rugby.....SBW might actually do some good in the politics between league and Union in a round about watershed type career way......blur a few more invisible walls.
He's a Kiwi , end of , the Origin bollocks was never a reality.
First All black to text the Kiwis and wish them well while on tour for Rugby.....SBW might actually do some good in the politics between league and Union in a round about watershed type career way......blur a few more invisible walls.
wallacenz
actually I was referring to him turning out for samoa or whatever. So many of the island players who have represented NZ arent shy about coming out and saying they are prouder of their island heritage
OMG
and he is a better player now, much better - all that plus a bag of cash...2nd picked at the moment.[DOUBLEPOST=1364888331][/DOUBLEPOST]
His integrity gets questioned quite a bit by those not in the know, apart from one incident there isn't anything he has done or said that has portrayed him badly,it's the opposite.
SBW has a proud Kiwi Rugby League heritage, it would be very difficult for him or anyone to turn their back on.
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Actually the Kiwis get paid something like 12K per game where as the Island teams will struggle to pay for the airfare let alone pay their players...
wallacenz
really? i had heard the kiwis only got 5k, and was thinking 15 or 20k is nothing compared to repping your preferred country. but 50k for a world cup comp would be huge
OMG
mt.wellington
Warriors Orange Peeler
Contributor
Last I heard (early last year) the Kiwis were getting $7500 and the Ozzies $12,000. Not sure if they get that per game for the WC? They would also have alot more money with any new rights deal so I suppose its anyones guess really???
OMG
A= Being a Kiwi
B= Being a Kiwi
when you live in Ozzie you don't need another reason..
Seriously though, higher profile, more exposure usually translates to other opportunities outside football but also gives him valuable tools to take back to the islands later in life or should he want to rep Tonga in the future.
Sam McKendry has broken his neck, looks unlikely for the RLWC
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...y-fractures-neck/story-e6frexqi-1226633254647
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...y-fractures-neck/story-e6frexqi-1226633254647
Miket12
Shocking news for Sam - ET to play prop then
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