Rugby League has turned a land of tribes into a nation of civilised people. Papua New Guine winning both men and women`s League matches against England is the start of there emergence asva nation All started by Rugby League.
You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!
Replies
Hold on, didnt one of the PNG girls get charged for biting?
It is the only country in the world where Rugby League is the national sport
Yes... Rugby League... renowned for civilized behaviour...
The PNG beating GB was great for them and the game but international rugby league is a joke these days with players switching international sides each year. I can understand them having a preference having prime allegiance to Auz and NZ because there's more money but then chosing another country the year after and then back again for Aus make it a laughable game. I really can't take it seriously or get a slightest bit excited about it.
IMO if you choose an international country, you're stuck with that country for a minimum of 4 years (WC cycle). No going from i.e Lebanon to Aus back to Lebanon etc from year to year. Some rule needs to be impletmented.
Yes, and I think eventually there will be, but to help the international game grow there has to be a fair degree of flexibility on eligibility for probably a generation.
It's a real Catch 22 situation. The Tier Two nations can't afford to pay players what the Tier One nations pay their players but they can't attract those same players without providing them with quality competition to play. Tonga wouldn't be in the position it is if they hadn't had the opportunity to play & beat NZ, Aus & GB in the last 18 months. Beating the likes of Fiji & Samoa is all good and well, but until you beat the big boys you aren't really allowed at the grown ups table.
The reality is even worse for Tier Three countries like Lebanon & Italy, who don't have access to NRL players except at World Cups.
For International Rugby League to mean anything in the future, it has to be very flexible when it comes to eligibility in the present.