LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Australian coach Mal Meninga has expressed his concerns about the current international eligibility rules in rugby league, calling for them to be revamped.
Despite the recent rise of nations like Tonga and Samoa in the international game, Meninga believes that players should not be allowed to switch between nations at will.
An interesting situation will arise this weekend, as New Zealand-born North Queensland winger Murray Taulagi, who represented Australia in the 2022 World Cup and played for Queensland in the State of Origin series, will now be playing for Samoa in the Pacific Championship.
This highlights the issue that Meninga is addressing, where players have the freedom to choose which nation they represent.
Meninga's argument is not aimed at criticizing Taulagi or any other player who has taken advantage of the current rules.
Instead, he believes that the rules themselves need to change, in order to maintain the integrity of international rugby league.
The debate surrounding dual international eligibility has been ongoing for some time, with critics arguing that it weakens the strength of national teams.
Meninga's stance is clear - he wants to see an end to players picking and choosing which nation they represent and when.
While the emergence of teams like Tonga and Samoa has brought excitement and competitiveness to the international game, Meninga's call for change highlights the need for a more structured and consistent approach to player eligibility.
As the rugby league community continues to discuss and debate this issue, it remains to be seen whether Meninga's call for change will be heeded by the NRL and the international rugby league governing bodies.
In the meantime, fans can expect to see more instances of players switching between nations, as the current rules allow.