the islander debate

[sretsoor]

Here's a conflict:

I hear a lot of parents, and Phil Gould recently wrote about this, complain they don't want to put their white kids in junior rugby league because of the relatively large size and therefore unfair advantage carried by the poly kids.

For those on this thread who believe the premise that having too many Polynesians in an NRL team is a disadvantage (maybe you're right, I don't know), I'd like to ask:

At what approximate age/grade does being Polynesian stop being an advantage and indeed start becoming a disadvantage in league?

Whilst not part of this debate, with respect to your question I would think when size no longer an advantage as it is when you're a kid.

[Guest]

Here's a conflict:

I hear a lot of parents, and Phil Gould recently wrote about this, complain they don't want to put their white kids in junior rugby league because of the relatively large size and therefore unfair advantage carried by the poly kids.

For those on this thread who believe the premise that having too many Polynesians in an NRL team is a disadvantage (maybe you're right, I don't know), I'd like to ask:

At what approximate age/grade does being Polynesian stop being an advantage and indeed start becoming a disadvantage in league?

Once the Islander boys reach FG it's then that they no longer have an advantage, it's then that they play against other Islander & Caucasian men there size.

[Guest]

I have NO problem with Islanders playing the game & I have NO problem with any Islander player or person.

When I say that IMO we have to many Islander boys at the Roosters & that you should only have 3 to 4 in your squad I am coming from my observations of Islander boys. Islander boys meaning Tongans Samoans Cook Islanders Fijians & Papa New Guineans.

Most are big strong & look intimidating, most seem to be quiet shy types that like music & church. Most have a soft quiet laid back personality that laugh or giggle alot. Most hang out with each other, alot of them are influenced by American hip hop & most come from very very humble back grounds. Alot of them when they either come to Australia or are already hear live out in the Western area of Sydney, the reason for them resettling here is for a better life. To buy a 200 thousand dollar house out in Minto (which can be payed for by playing league) where you & your extended family can all live would be a success & a better life than what they previously had for most.
Now having 1/2 of your squad with that type of personality & upbringing which is all good but IMO brings the standards down. Parra & the Roosters.

Now compare to say a club that only has 3 to 4 in there squad, again from my observations the 3 or 4 seem to lift there game & are the ones who are dominant in RL, Tony Williams Sika Manu Frank Pritchard Jeremy Smith Neville Costigan, they all play in teams who have only a few Islander boys .

On the issue of a team of Islanders meaning all from say NZ or Somoa I think that would be more successful then having 7 different Islander nations boys some born here some not, all at a Sydney club.

[redwhiteblue]

I have NO problem with Islanders playing the game & I have NO problem with any Islander player or person.

When I say that IMO we have to many Islander boys at the Roosters & that you should only have 3 to 4 in your squad I am coming from my observations of Islander boys. Islander boys meaning Tongans Samoans Cook Islanders Fijians & Papa New Guineans.

Most are big strong & look intimidating, most seem to be quiet shy types that like music & church. Most have a soft quiet laid back personality that laugh or giggle alot. Most hang out with each other, alot of them are influenced by American hip hop & most come from very very humble back grounds. Alot of them when they either come to Australia or are already hear live out in the Western area of Sydney, the reason for them resettling here is for a better life. To buy a 200 thousand dollar house out in Minto (which can be payed for by playing league) where you & your extended family can all live would be a success & a better life than what they previously had for most.
Now having 1/2 of your squad with that type of personality & upbringing which is all good but IMO brings the standards down. Parra & the Roosters.

Now compare to say a club that only has 3 to 4 in there squad, again from my observations the 3 or 4 seem to lift there game & are the ones who are dominant in RL, Tony Williams Sika Manu Frank Pritchard Jeremy Smith Neville Costigan, they all play in teams who have only a few Islander boys .

On the issue of a team of Islanders meaning all from say NZ or Somoa I think that would be more successful then having 7 different Islander nations boys some born here some not, all at a Sydney club.

Mickey, I can't argue with anything you've said..for once! We were on song in 2010 because the balance was far better. Take a look at any Wayne Bennett coached side for instance over the past 10 years. He pretty much always gets the mix right.