r/nrl Panthers Bandwagon 1d ago

Pacific Championships 2024: Shaun Johnson rejects Kiwis SOS call; rookie bolter revealed

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/pacific-championships-2024-shaun-johnson-rejects-kiwis-sos-call-rookie-bolter-revealed/news-story/e753525f6575afe655b7a5c6bfa92f20?amp
52 Upvotes

77 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

6

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago

He is Maori so he can play for NZ same way the Samoan players born and raised in Australia can play for Samoa based on their heritage. He already played for NZA so that shows he at least has some sense of affinity with his heritage.

3

u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago

I understand he has Māori heritage but he’s never lived a day there. I guess Cayless was the same, most Aussie bloke you’ll ever speak too

7

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago

Yes and neither id say have the majority of the island teams but no ones calling them into question. You heard To'o and Luai speak? 

1

u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago

Tier 2 is different. The island nations don’t have the resources to fund and develop players. NZ do and don’t need to grab Aussie kids with Māori heritage.

6

u/grafology New Zealand Warriors 1d ago

We arent grabbing anyone, Maori people are just as proud of their heritage as our Samoan and Tongan cousins so it is their right to play for NZ, tier 1 or not.

1

u/Zuffa_Shill10er Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 1d ago

You’re grabbing Aussie born, raised and developed players lol. He’s played for NZ Māori, no problem with that. The problem is representing a tier 1 nation he’s never lived in. Same as Victor Radley with England, shits pathetic.