Footy legend Mal Meninga slams shock move that could mean only WHITE players represent Australia
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has sounded a warning about a proposal for Indigenous Aussie footy stars to form their own representative team, saying it would mean only white players would end up representing their country.
The Canberra Raiders and Queensland legend was responding to comments from First Nations footy star Dean Widders, who called for the formation of an Indigenous side to play in the Pacific Championships.
‘We saw last year at the World Cup, in the men’s, Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, some of our big star players … they all sat on the sideline,’ Widders said on NITV’s Over the Black Dot footy show.
‘They watched these international games, which is the biggest platform in rugby league … so we need to find a platform for our players at the highest level.
‘I think we should have a team in the Pacific Cup.’
Meninga said if the plan was implemented, it would mean the Kangaroos national team would become white-only, as players of Polynesian background who are born in Australia increasingly choose to represent nations like Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands, which is allowed under international eligibility rules.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga (right) has lashed out at a proposal that would see Indigenous Aussies form their own international representative team
Footy star Dean Widders (pictured playing for Souths) wants to see the side created in order to give First Nations stars a platform to play ‘at the highest level’
Meninga believes Widders’ idea – combined with Australian-born NRL stars opting to represent countries like Samoa – would have the effect of making the Kangaroos an all-white team (pictured, Cameron Munster and Nathan Cleary celebrate Australia’s 2022 World Cup win)
‘At some stage, we have got to make a decision: are we Australian first?’ Meninga said on Fox Sports.
‘That doesn’t disrespect First Nations people because they play a really important part in our history but also a really important part in our game.
‘If a First Nations person by heritage is good enough to get picked in the Australia team, we do that. So I don’t think there is any bias.
‘I have got an Australian South Sea Islander background but all my cousins are First Nations peoples.
‘But I take the view that we are Australians first.
‘I pick Latrell Mitchell and I pick Josh Addo-Carr in my footy teams … so we have an everlasting respect for First Nations people in footy teams.
‘So I disagree they don’t get a platform to excel. I think they do.’
In recent weeks Brisbane and NSW star Payne Haas – who has played four matches for Australia – admitted he is considering switching his allegiance to Samoa.
Meninga stressed that Indigenous stars like Latrell Mitchell (pictured third from right) already get a platform to excel when they’re selected for the Kangaroos
Payne Haas (pictured) has played for Queensland and Australia but has been tied to switching his allegiance to Samoa
Queensland and Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who has also run out for the Kangaroos, has also said he’d like to represent Samoa, where his father was born.
Gold Coast forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – who has played for Queensland and Australia – is also considering making the same switch.
Sydney-born Tigers star Jarome Luai started representing Samoa in 2017, with other Australian-born NRL stars like Andrew Fifita and Paul Alamoti opting to play for Tonga.
Meninga described the situation with players like Haas as ‘frustrating’ but said he would never stand in a player’s way if they decided to switch allegiances.
However, he did say the game needs force stars to pick a nation and stick to it.
‘I don’t believe guys should be able to go back and forth,’ Meninga said.
‘What I would like to see is that every player nominates which country they want to play for right from their first registration in the NRL.
‘That way there is no confusion around who they are eligible for.
‘When they make the NRL and they have to make a tough decision on Test football, they have to make one call.’
The current rules allow stars to flip-flop between representing Tier 1 nations Australia, England and New Zealand, and Tier 2 countries Tonga, Samoa, France and Papua New Guinea.
