The INCREDIBLE Pacific Teams We're MISSING OUT ON!

[@TheLeaguie]

Which of these teams would YOU be most excited to see? 💚

[@LukeCordner]

Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine would smash it for the Kukis

[@MowMowMowDiittyMow]

I am Kumul supporter but I want Tonga to give it a good going

[@sly4x692]

Kukis

[@BrendonIvo]

@@LukeCordnerJosh Papalii is a Real Samoan 😂

[@fantomghost6213]

Love the power of the Samoan and Tongan Teams. They could easily beat or at least be competitive, with both New Zealand and Australia!

[@fu8713]

fantomghost6213 Shuddup fob lol gotta have brains 😂

[@GeorgePhilip-lw7ls]

Papua new Guinea ❤❤ we don't have quality seasoned NRL players but we play with heart....give it a few more year and with the development of the game and introducing a png team into the nrl,PNG will be a powerhouse for decades and definitely we will take Aussie and Kiwis out of the number one spot....we live and breath Rugby League here and with experience and proper pathways to develop the game,it's goodbye to every Aussie dominance...Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬💯💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💪💪💪💪💪

[@TheLeaguie]

Finding footage for this video too I heard a lot of your national anthem. Super, super beautiful song

[@GalacticMeloVibez]

Okay calm down now. We gon get there but not like this.

[@GeorgePhilip-lw7ls]

Time will tell...you will thank yourself​@Mercury1312

[@LukeCordner]

OMG the Cook Islands! That’s so much better than I thought they would be 😳

[@TheLeaguie]

There's NRL teams who wouldn't beat that side...

[@DaMuss-e2w]

Thank you for giving Tiny Cook Islands recognition.

[@TheLeaguie]

I love my Kukis boys!

[@elijah682-e1m]

im a kuki from the heart and no matter we lose or win im so proud to see the team play it out there

[@DaMuss-e2w]

population of 14000 putting out a team is pretty amazing, it would smash any other team that had to recruit only from a small town of 14000 anywhere in the world. Even if you included the Cook Island Diaspora of around 80,000, kukis would beat any other city of similar size, 94,000.

[@benjaminwaters241]

Tonga have always been my favourite team to follow besides Australia, and as a Rabbitoh I always love seeing Keaon Koloamatagi play. Tough, athletic and skillful, just an awesome player to watch.

[@TheLeaguie]

If I’m building a team from scratch, Keaon is the kind of forward I’m targeting. High work rates in both attack and defence. Able to transition between the middle and the edge. And just generally seems like a super positive influence on his teammates

[@EpiiKxKiller]

I don’t have an issue with Australian and Kiwis playing for pacific nations but it speaks volumes about how poorly the NRL have done in growing the game internationally when hardly anyone of the pacific nations players are actually born in their own country. I hate how the media talk about Rugby League being the greatest game of all when it’s not even really a world game when you see even second tier nations teams dominated by either Aussies, Kiwis or the English because there’s no professional rugby league competition outside Australia and England. Rugby league will only ever be a true world game when the Rugby League World cup is competitive and where the majority of every nations representatives are born and raised in their respective countries

[@TheLeaguie]

I agree with the sentiment for sure, although I can understand that the NRL looks out for its own Australian interests before the international interests of the sport. Unfortunately - we have an imbalance of power, where our most powerful international entity is a domestic competition. I do also think though that a Pacific Islander growing up in Aus/NZ is simply more likely to become a professional athlete. Better healthcare and standards of living aren’t things the NRL can control

[@bigdaveyyboi]

As a Samoan Australian, I know for a fact that your view on the game is both very over-simplified and very ignorant. There are MANY factors that contribute to RL not being played even semi-professionally in the Pacific Islands, but the biggest and most ardent reason stems from government officials (and in Samoa's case, the former PM of Samoa) doing their very best to deny any other rugby code other than Rugby Union, mostly due to corruption, stemming from a fear of losing their golden goose, as (speaking in relations to Samoa and the SRU) it is well documented that the Head of the SRU is the only official that makes all final decisions on the distribution of all funds, whether it be to programs, player payments, expenses etc, most of which end up in their own pockets, and/or being distributed amongst his families through the form of "contracts" or as 3rd Party Businesses bought on to "consult" the SRU. whilst the playing group loterally get peanuts. In fact, most of the Manu Samoa players that play for the blue jersey in Rugby Union, pay their own way to International camps, and live out of pocket just so they can represent our national team. All of this is happening yet there still isn't anything more than semi-pro Domestic competition, with most villages fielding teams of their fittest local players into its First XV. Just this reason alone has seen many attempts at introducing RL into Samoa, let alone out being a sport that's played by anyone in Samoa, fail. It started with Brad Fitler, who wanted to take programs and begin recruiting potential Samoan athletes in Samoa into NRL pathways, but that got shut down. Then the john's brothers tried. Then SBW tried. All. Shut. Down. The ARL are making the right choice by not putting millions of dollars into black holes like Samoa, Tonga, Fiji in terms of trying to develop league at even a semi-pro level. It actually works out to be cheaper to develop the PI kids in Australia and NZ. Not every PI player in NRL or ESL will be good enough to play for the Kiwis or the kangaroos. But they'll all be eligible to play for Toa, MMT or Bati. And to be fair, we'd rather that. We want the best playing in the best competitions. It's how we're recruiting for Union as well. Most of the Manu pay abroad in the biggest domestic competitions, and our coaching staff recruit from them. Most of them are 1st gen Brits, Aussie, Kiwi or even French. But their heritage all make them eligible. And as soon as they decide to wear the blue in either code, they are all proud sons and daughters of Samoa.

[@theophilussogoromo3000]

So true. Heritage qualifications is the way to make the international games more competitive right now because of the issue you've mentioned here.

[@Jack-sq5yu]

​@itsfqndave oh look, yet another case of rugby union not allowing league to grow somewhere. They have hindered this game internationally beyond measure, it's actually ridiculous.

[@danmclaughlin1180]

The reason why the NRL,AFL, NFL & rugby union will never dominate world sports is because there are certain physical attributes required to play those sports. Why do you think soccer dominates the world?? Because any useless human being that can kick a ball can play.

[@Ozwombats]

Killing it this year bro 👏

[@TheLeaguie]

Just getting started mate 💚

[@boubear26]

Great Video. Love it.

[@Arloson7]

Great video so excited cmon australia 💚

[@TheLeaguie]

I'm all aboard the Tonga Train personally!

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@TheLeaguie Tonga in the final!

[@shutupsiana]

Great vid g 🤝

[@WTC-1990]

The Samoan Side would line-up differently in my opinion 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Brian To'o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Dylan Brown 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Erin Clark 10. Payne Haas 11. Shawn Blore 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaden Su'A 18th. Isaiah Papali’i 19th. Ronaldo Mulitalo

[@TheLeaguie]

That’s interesting - yeah I don’t mind it. Although I think given their positions at club level, RTS would more likely be a centre and Hammer would more likely play fullback. Shawn Blore was super close to making it ahead of Papalii for me - but I want to see another good season from him. Terrell May was voted best impact player by the RLPA too, so I included him ahead of Stefano

[@WTC-1990]

@TheLeaguie hammer is an origin centre with RTS Waa one of the best Fullbacks before he left, I also believe the Warriors would of made the finals if they had just put him at fullback and not catered to the cry baby CNK who's best position is centre Stefano is an origin prop where May can't make the starting side for the chooks Papali’i has been very disappointing since he left the eels And you need Fa'alogo on the bench for versatility, Clark is a better player than Levi

[@georgelopeti9496]

Chanel Harris-Tevita for Erin Clark ?

[@WTC-1990]

@@georgelopeti9496 he's never played hooker

[@WTC-1990]

Tongan team 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Sione Katoa 5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 6. Latu Fainu 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Siliva Havili 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. David Fifta Jr 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Keaon Koloamatangi 15. Haumole Olakau’atu 16. Taniela Paseka 17. Samuela Fainu 18. Hame Sele 19. Will Penisini 20. Sitili Tupouniua

[@wuzzyfuzzy22]

Another great vid mate. Personally would've loved for the NZL & AUS teams to be included alongside the others in the video. With all these superstars spread across the Pacific Nations, those two teams would look drastically different. AUS has the depth to still pick a world class team, however NZL might suffer with many of their starting players moved to the other Pacific nations.

[@TheLeaguie]

That’s true - I just didn’t want to make it too long. I do still expect that the Kiwis would be fine though. Off the top of my head they’d be able to put together: Fb: Keano Kini W: Ronaldo Mulitalo C: Matt Timoko C: Roger Tuivasa Sheck W: Will Warbrick FE: Kodi Nikorima HB: Jahrome Hughes P: James Fisher Harris HK: Jeremy Marshall King P: Nelson Asofa Solomona SR: Jordan Riki SR: Briton Nikora L: Brandon Smith INT: Phoenix Crossland INT: Kenny Bromwich INT: Leo Thompson INT: Josh Aloiai

[@Panthersforever]

Up Samoa 🇼🇸

[@TheLeaguie]

Your panthers have done A LOT of heavy lifting for that side 😂

[@Yourdad-62]

@@TheLeaguiethey were Samoans before they were panthers so it’s the other way round mate 😂

[@southgeorgiarepublic]

Nice video brooo

[@tigerwalccer]

Great video. The Cook Islands seem like they would be great. Go the Kiwis

[@TheLeaguie]

It blows my mind how a nation of less than 15 thousand people has produced talent like that. Even accounting for the fact that they’re heritage players

[@tigerwalccer]

@@TheLeaguie They would be a force if they could have that team. Keep the ball rolling this off-season

[@TheLeaguie]

@@tigerwalccer Believe me mate - I've got way more ideas for videos this off season than I could ever realistically make. We're charging straight through to 2025!

[@tigerwalccer]

@@TheLeaguie Same here. Get to 2.5k subs by the end of the year

[@bmilner1911]

The Cook Islands are cooking at the moment

[@toanz4869]

Great Video ❤

[@lomiaseliga3405]

I'm not kidding but Tonga can win this Championship 😂😂😂

[@dannys_wrld]

This was the closest video i could comment on but Clez rlly appreciates the kind words and support

[@TheLeaguie]

We’re with you Clez! Use the setback as an opportunity to study the game closely. Think about what you’ll do better when you get back on the field. Your body might be repairing, but 80% of the game is your mind. Focus on that for now brother 👊🏻

[@dannys_wrld]

@@TheLeaguie "well yeah nah upon second thought running at the big islander prop isn't the smartest idea but appreciate the support big man" -clez Also when the new video is releasing

[@TheLeaguie]

@@dannys_wrld I’m going to work on the video today, with it hopefully coming out 3pm tomorrow 💚

[@wendyclarke9011]

Clez is injured😢😢😢🤷‍♀️

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@dannys_wrld learn to step

[@arlomoreland8011]

Samoa is scary good

[@TheLeaguie]

In my opinion, we are 3 or 4 key positions away across those two sides from it being an origin-calibre game

[@arlomoreland8011]

@@TheLeaguie I agree

[@timreserve]

yeah except the hammer will never play for samoa again

[@torettomalachi2248]

@@timreservehe did in the 2022 WC but got injured in the first game.

[@d_uzooo3972]

⁠@@timreservedo your research kid.

[@theamazinggamer3279]

Go the kiwis great video

[@wendyclarke9011]

Let’s go Cook Islands 🇨🇰 🏝️🏝️🏝️🤩🤩🤩

[@heightsproduction6425]

Regardless of limited Inclusions in the Nrl, Papua New Guinea players Never Back Down, Neither retreat nor Surrender. They Do Or They Die as One.💪🇵🇬Up

[@TheLeaguie]

You should join us for the watch along livestream this evening for the PNG v Fiji game!

[@dingo_463]

Great vid uce

[@tysonalexander6274]

You realise hamiso is also Torres straight Islander and samoan. So he can choose which to play for. Same wiry kotoni Staggs being indigenous and Tongan.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah for sure. This video is just to see the best possible teams these countries could put together.

[@Runnistr8]

Can go a long way with the right coach and spine

[@aetfggdgdfgret]

Interesting video. But who would play for New Zealand then???

[@TheLeaguie]

They’d still have plenty of high quality talent. Just off the top of my head: Fb: Keano Kini W: Ronaldo Mulitalo C: Matt Timoko C: Roger Tuivasa Sheck W: Will Warbrick FE: Kodi Nikorima HB: Jahrome Hughes P: James Fisher Harris HK: Jeremy Marshall King P: Nelson Asofa Solomona SR: Jordan Riki SR: Briton Nikora L: Brandon Smith INT: Phoenix Crossland INT: Kenny Bromwich INT: Leo Thompson INT: Josh Aloiai

[@aarronrobinson5543]

I find that list for samoa rather interesting on many fronts ? enjoyed the vid man.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah a few people have suggested changes they’d make to it. I think specifically around Terrell May. But tbf, he was voted best impact player in the comp by his fellow players

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@TheLeaguie May and Leniu off the Bench..................................you could even put big Nelson there, Yeesh!! 👀

[@matuasteve377]

Would love to see Rugby League adopt the same concept from Union. Instead of the British and Irish Lions, a Pacific Island Warriors team would be awesome. They would tour Aus, NZ and the UK once each every four years.

[@TheLeaguie]

That would be really cool, but I think I can understand why they don’t do it. Union have the luxury of a greater number of competitive international teams. If you combine the pacific islands into one, you’re left with only four competitive sides. That’s much too few imo

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@TheLeaguie He meant only for a once a four year tour like the Lions do.

[@samr227]

I've said for a while, I'd love to see a way for players to be encouraged to play for lower tier nations wherever possible. The Tier 1 nations have more than enough depth, so having as many top players playing for Tier 2 nations as we can would be awesome.

[@TheLeaguie]

Agreed for sure. I think initiatives like multicultural round help with that more than we’d expect. As a player, I’d feel weird if I walked out for a game holding a Fijian flag, then chose to represent NZ instead

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@TheLeaguie Semi Radradra lol.

[@PoweredbyRobots]

DWZ will likely play for Poland again, which is great for their game -add this to the polish immigrants kids who settled in the RL playing parts of the UK, and they should be good in 10 years or so.

[@MonclerMaestr0]

Isaiya Katoa is also Half Cook island aswell 👀

[@TheLeaguie]

Ooh damn, so we could have Isaiya Katoa -> Cook Islands, and Latu Fainu -> Tonga. That sounds awesome

[@mitchellmyerson4304]

Isaiya Katoa Could Be playing for Cook Islands in future

[@DaMuss-e2w]

Is he Pukapukan? I know quite a few Pukapukan Katoas, PukaPuka is an Island in the CKs near American Samoa.

[@MonclerMaestr0]

@@DaMuss-e2w nah the last name 'Katoa' is from his Tongan side which I believe is his dad, and his mother is from the Cook Islands

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@MonclerMaestr0 Ok, easy mistake to make because in the Cook Islands language, Katoa is a word and also a name, I assume its the same in Tonga. And Tonga is also a word in every Polynesian Language meaning South. I know a lot of people named Tonga, as first or family name and they are not Tongan.

[@ivorysamoan]

I reckon NZ gets the rough end of the stick overall - at least the Islands can play Origin now: apart from our last game, we just get stommmped. Don't get me wrong, the JFH led Kiwis are going to be dope, but the Origin lure always makes it an uphill battle vs Aus. Let everyone play Origin that qualifies WITHOUT the necessity to play for the 'Roos....see how we go then.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah I’m definitely open to Origin reform. If it exists on a level above the international game (which realistically it now does), then let it exist separately entirely.

[@harrisoncrossley1363]

I totally agree everyone seems to get some form of benefit from the set up bar New Zealand (and England), the only way I see NZ getting some form of leverage is if the AB’s make a rule of if you represent Australia in anything you automatically forfeit the opportunity to ever play for the All Blacks. Then players such as Ponga and more recently Howarth, have to pick a loyalty to either country. “I wanna play origin, but my dream is to play for the All Blacks” would get a few handy players committing to the kiwis I think. Sucks that NZ rugby league don’t have anything themselves to leverage.

[@adammaggs8563]

Would love to see Hughesy Play for QLD.

[@AolhopoPip]

True, spread the talent t😂throughout 😅

[@buckmajor]

Very good sir! I like it. I didn't know Joe Tapine was Cooky? It doesn't say on Mr. Wiki Pedia.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah I’m not sure why it’s not mentioned there. If you Google ‘Joe Tapine Cook Islands’ then heaps of sources saying he’s eligible there come up

[@bradleygregory1275]

Go Kumuls!

[@tokoamarsters8786]

This is why I believe the pacific cup should only feature Cook Islands Fiji PNG Samoa Tonga So that it allows the tier 2 nations to put up their best players. Push Australia v NZ test match early in the preseason year.

[@TheLeaguie]

Would you then not have Aus and NZ playing at all during that time? I think the Australian interest in the tournament would decrease even more if the Kangaroos weren’t playing

[@kopejr_]

Apparently the saifiti brothers could also feature for Samoa as being half Fijian and Samoan, but I doubt it especially playing mainly origin and for Fiji , I reckon other forwards ( if extended to super league) the likes of pati Mago and Ricky leutele

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah absolutely they can. Unfortunately this pacific championships, they’re playing for neither, because they want to ‘focus on preseason’… Every time a player makes that decision… our sport is damaged

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@TheLeaguie NRL season is ridiculous should be scrapped to playing each team once, instead of 26 rounds. NFL is only 17 weeks in a game where if you play defense and make 10 tackles that is counted as huge stats. And you only play half the game of 60 minutes play time.

[@bmilner1911]

Do you think that png will become a more successful recruiting ground at some point? Leeg is basically a religion over there so it’s interesting that there are so few locally raised papuan players in the nrl

[@TheLeaguie]

It’s to do with a lack of opportunity. NRL scouts far prefer regional NSW/QLD or areas of NZ, and the facilities in PNG simply aren’t at the same standard. They do have a team in the Queensland Cup now though - so that’ll reap benefits in future. Now - a solution to lack of opportunity would be to put an NRL team there. But imo it’s nowhere near enough of a concern to justify that level of commitment

[@dannys_wrld]

Samoa winning the world cup trust But going for tonga in the Pacific championship (I love samoa so im most definitely biased)

[@TheLeaguie]

I was gutted when they lost that World Cup final, but so so proud at the same time. Every time the Kangaroos lose, Rugby League Wins

[@dannys_wrld]

@@TheLeaguie I was gutted aswell love my brothas from Samoa And I'll continue to support Samoa Glad that a lot of good origin level players have decided to side with there nation next year Such as the hammer, Hass ect ect

[@jasonh7085]

@@TheLeaguieas another Australian, I agree - even though the 30-0 loss in the Pacific Championship final last year was disappointing, NZ winning at least gave international RL a little bit of a pulse. And the fact that the NRL has committed to Pro/Rel for the Pacific Championships means that it’s a long term project, and I’m all on board for it

[@DaMuss-e2w]

@@dannys_wrld Hammer has committed for Samoa for next year?

[@dannys_wrld]

@DaMuss-e2w there a bunch of players who have committed to Samoa next world cup from the Aus team so not next year that was my fault but you get the point

[@boywonder415]

Mate I had no idea Josh Papalii was half cook islander 👀

[@mitchellmyerson4304]

9:55 I didn’t know Josh Papalii was Cook Islander, I thought he was Samoan

[@TheLeaguie]

He’s both. A lot of these players, particularly those born in New Zealand, have ancestry from multiple pacific islands

[@Br0wnCh3]

The two half’s Fiji are sadly missing, Jarryd Hayne and Brandon wakam 😂 😅 take away both their off field incidents, Fiji would have been very competitive had they both been playing. Hayne at his prime was almost like one man army. Also ex Rabbitohs half, John Sutton is Fijian. A Sutton Hayne halves pairing back in the day would have been epic!! It’s all on Donoghue now, who’s still young so hopefully he can develop into a decent half until another player comes along.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah very true. Unfortunately with how big and strong these Pacific Islanders genetically are, they’re much more suited to being forwards or outside backs… rather than playing in the spine. Hopefully someone comes along for them soon!

[@JTED1TS]

SAMOA lesssgoooooo!

[@JoshuaDavis-b4e]

Yes depth of competition internationally that's great,instead of the world cup being a three horse race now if France is decent eight top quality teams

[@sly4x692]

Bayley Bentley -unfortunately was ruled out for the Bati in the pacific championship and can easily slot in at 6 for the Bati. Mark Nawaqanitawase will be an incoming talent also and can cover both wing and centre. All teams are looking solid,.....

[@TheLeaguie]

Nawaqanitawase is absolutely going to be a big part of this side moving forward. I wasn’t quite ready to put him in yet ahead of some more established guys, but he will be in the future for sure

[@lazarusufrafo5733]

Go kumuls you can prove it.with you

[@maryking2796]

Dan Russie. Sounds familiar.

[@miokkumasi6861]

Damn, didn't know RCG was mixed Fiji

[@ferrijsspectreculio8557]

How’s the Hammer on Samoa’s line when he plays for Australia?.🤔🤷‍♂️

[@TheLeaguie]

The idea of the video is the best teams that these countries could possibly put together. It’s not the actual Pacific Championships squads 👍🏼

[@danielruapuna5565]

Did you even watch the video 🤦

[@JohnWick-ez4ru]

I’ll tell you what’s funny how Australia takes all the Samoan players 😂

[@Samizouza]

Fortunately for Fiji, the Kaiviti Silktails partnership with the Bulldogs in Jersey Flegg (although the Panthers or Storm would've been better) means establishment of a future halves and hookers academy and long overdue. But overall ideal selections for the pasifika teams if all players were available.

[@TheRedV-odcast]

Dan Russle should be no where near a World Cup

[@TheLeaguie]

I definitely think he’s shown decent glimpses across his career. He’s been picked up by Warrington for next year - so they definitely see positives in him

[@TheRedV-odcast]

@@TheLeaguie he played terrible in the prime ministers game

[@TheLeaguie]

@@TheRedV-odcast In fairness to him, he was against a squad of established NRL stars, in a team featuring no NRL talent. Even for Russell himself - that was the first time he'd faced NRL talent all year. I wouldn't hold it against him too much.

[@elizahkajep3250]

I'm sorry but PNG loves Dan Russell 🇵🇬🔥🙏

[@freelancerconverse4413]

How many of these players were born in the islands? And many are mixed race so they’ll qualify for couple or few countries.

[@mcdonish]

Do a video on who makes NZ and AU squads if all these guys are gone

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah that’s probably not enough to warrant its own video… but I can answer that question. The kangaroos side would be the same as it is now (minus hammer and Coates), and I’ve said in a couple of other comments what NZ would probably be

[@mcdonish]

Fair enough bud

[@Dmillseye]

Tapine isnt Cook Island hes stated it before

[@TheLeaguie]

Could you maybe show me where he’s said that? There are a number of sources online claiming he’s Cook Islands eligible. But they could definitely be wrong

[@jo6re3]

Would have thought Papalii was declared for Samoa over the Cookies?

[@TheLeaguie]

He would be - this video is just about the ultimate teams these nations could put together, if they were able to choose completely freely

[@ejsmith9194]

Good teams, for Samoa would switch out Terrell May for Nelson Asofa-Solomona and switch Clark for Kini on the bench. And maybe Timoko for Tago and Mulitalo for Taulagi but both combos equally damaging.

[@DaMuss-e2w]

Matt Timoko Samoan? I thought he was of NZ and Cook Island Maori Descent?

[@ejsmith9194]

@DaMuss-e2w he's got Samoan blood too I believe.

[@Lesssvav]

Samoa would be the best team in the world hands down

[@freelancerconverse4413]

How many of f them were born and learnt their trade in the islandes?

[@TheLeaguie]

A handful of them were born on the islands, and very few stayed there for too long. But their parents are from there. For example, my Dad is from a country I’ve never been to, but I proudly say I’m half from there

[@JRPete]

0:57 OK. 😉 ✌ Kaylan✌ Ponga

[@TheLeaguie]

🤐😂

[@alfuracrust498]

Busts and hits always come from kumuls...

[@Blacky238]

NZ Maori: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthurs 3. Dane Gagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Will Warbrick 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Royce Hunt 9. Brandon Smith 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Briton Nikora 12. Jordan Riki 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Leo Thompson 16. Xavier Willison 17. Dylan Walker Thoughts????

[@TheLeaguie]

I’m very happy with the side, but yeah personally I wouldn’t have them play against national teams. Huge fan of the Indigenous v Māori all stars game though!

[@RichardYaking]

Papua New Guinea is the reckoned team ATM beating Fiji 22-10. Fiji consists of mainly NRL players whilst PNG with SL and Hostplus and DeBelin, Allick and Dan Russel. Don't write them of as yet.

[@TheLeaguie]

For sure! The Kumuls win against Fiji bati was super impressive. I’m absolutely going for PNG in these pacific championships

[@carpetsnake83]

This gives us 7 teams for the pacific cup I think an 8th team is needed I propose USA If we are trying to promote the game there with the vagas round why not also promote it by putting them in the pacific cup

[@TheLeaguie]

It’s a tough one because they wouldn’t be competitive. There’s a couple of NRL players eligible for them (Ronaldo Mulitalo, Royce Hunt) but nothing meaningful. The way to reduce that gap is by playing those fixtures… but I also don’t think the Americans would get behind a team that loses so massively

[@Samizouza]

Because NRL somehow gets in the way all the time whenever it comes to growing the international game itself.

[@3Z6I9R]

What would be more exciting to Americans? Roosters vs Broncos? Or Fiji Vs PNG? Or Tonga Vs Samoa?? Easyyy answer. 😂

[@TheLeaguie]

I mean yeah I definitely think Tonga v Samoa. That means something tangible to them. Sydney v Brisbane is something they’d know. But we only have so many of those teams with marketable place names

[@notevenJc]

For Samoa I’d start Sua over Isaiah in the SR and go Nelson over May on the bench as he is a more proven player and more reps under his belt.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah that’s very fair. I picked May because he was voted the best impact player in the comp by the RLPA. But Nelson is absolutely a good shout too

[@Matt.E9480]

In depth research young man 🤜🤛 this would be my Australian team. 1. Ponga 2. Fox 3. Mitchell 4. Turbo 5. Edwards 6. Munster 7. Cleary 8. Collins 9. Grant 10. Carrigan 11. Martin 12. Crichton 13. Yeo 14. Murray 15. Cotter 16. Barnett 17. Hunt

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah big fan of that team. And crucially, it’s still the best side in Rugby League. The Kangaroos’ supremacy wouldn’t even be threatened that much by changing the teams in this way

[@SpanishHero-w5i]

Manu samoa

[@shame8191]

Suli consistently makes mistakes too 😂 id probs leave him out and stick with staggs and maybe go Fainu or Lolohea @ 5/8. Tupou still deserves to be in there over DWZ. I dont understand the Clarke selection 🤯

[@TheLeaguie]

I was definitely tempted to go Fainu at 5/8. In a year or two I think that’ll be the best way forward for sure. When you say Clarke, do you mean Erin Clark for Samoa?

[@toanz4869]

Tapine is full Maori

[@seta.sar2008]

1:37 “state of origin standard” . That just shows u where the game is and will probably never grow bc of sog. he couldve said kangaroos standard or england but didnt bc origin is more appealing.

[@TheLeaguie]

Well no, I chose my words very carefully because I don’t think that side is Kangaroos standard. Also, ‘Origin standard’ is the common phrase used to indicate something in rugby league being at the elite level. I agree that it’s upside down that we consider a state game to be superior to an international game. But I stand by that choice of words

[@nikoramclean9078]

The pacific nations need rugby league development in their countries for the game to grow but not all pacific nations will allow that due to money corruption and any other situation that doesnt allow that to happen thats why tonga or samoe cant be a teir 1 nation on the world stage hence why certain pacific players jump from country to country and rugby league is predominantly and aussie game its a form of rugby union turned to have more entertainment

[@TheLeaguie]

I’d agree with everything except that last sentence - just because it’s not quite historically accurate. League and Union split into two because league wanted to be professional, and Union didn’t. So one isn’t really a version of the other.

[@nikoramclean9078]

@TheLeaguie sorry mate but union is a way more professional sport than league coz it has way more history than league coz it was invented in the mid 19th century in a town called rugby in England and league was invented in Sydney in1908 roughly you gotta remember that league is a game formed from union.. league was invented to have a faster past and a more entertained version of union just like table tennis to court tennis

[@TheLeaguie]

@@nikoramclean9078 I'm sorry mate but that simply isn't historically accurate at all. Rugby League was born in 1895 in Huddersfield. It was the same sport as Union until they met in 1895 and split up because some people wanted the sport to be professional, and others didn't. The professionals became Rugby League, the non-professionals became Rugby Union. It wasn't over rule changes for entertainment purposes.

[@nikoramclean9078]

@TheLeaguie union was invented in 1823 and est in 1845 and league was invented in 1895 and union is more professional at this day and age hence why the rugby world stage is more competitive than the league world stage

[@nikoramclean9078]

And the lower tier countries in league have no development but union does coz union is idolised at more a professional level and if you win those lower tier countries on the international stage than you've obviously won the professional battle

[@l.p.f685]

Bro the pronunciation take blockas job. Junior bowlow instead of Barlow

[@TheLeaguie]

I’d love to see Blocka have a go at pronouncing Rua Ngatikaura 🫡

[@MrBoboiscool]

Australians seem to be captured by the american sports model, loving sports that are very insular and are not internationally popular outside niche markets, and having no real interest in being such instead focusing on dominating their national market. Substitute baseball and the NFL for rugby league and Aussie rules. The NRL is very much the NFL, no other league including the super league has compatible quality, but they aren’t interested in growth, just domination of the national market. Of sports with more international footprints only cricket is somewhat surviving in Australia, soccer has died a slow death, rugby union doing something very similar. Pacific nations outside Fiji are ripe for the picking considering the lack of support in union, UK should be far stronger considering the mess of their domestic union teams financially, union also showed that giving smaller nations more show in world cups leads to massive booms in popularity, japan now a proper unit, Portugal, Georgia also showing real growth in union, but league has instead shrank its teams for world cups.

[@TheLeaguie]

Yeah don’t even get me started on the decision to shrink the World Cup… I made a three video series on just that decision alone. Definitely agree on the potential of the Super League - but there is a cultural issue there of fans simply being conservative when it comes to what they want the league to become. They’re pretty happy as is - and that’s a mindset I don’t understand

[@Samizouza]

Sad piss poor truth, the NRL has always been a hindrance for this very reason and very myopic.

[@bux5367]

International rugby league is dead..The RLWC team got reduce to 10..Better watch RWC

[@TheLeaguie]

Given that we’re literally about to enter a month of high-quality international rugby league fixtures… I’m not sure how you can argue that.

[@dietermeyer3531]

@@TheLeaguie It's interesting that League has its International window with union. The Autumn Nations is definitely gonna dwarf the viewership compared to league Internationals, it's not even comparable. Don't think League will ever be as strong as Union Internationally, since Union is growing in Europe and Americas

[@TheLeaguie]

@@dietermeyer3531 On a global scale, that's definitely true. Although I'd argue Union's viewership would dwarf League's irrespective of whether they take place at the same time. The League international window takes place at the best time for Australia, where the lion's share of the viewership is. And here, what Union does isn't really of any concern to League.

[@BlaiseTulem]

Did Fiji win? How stupid you put PNG under Fiji

[@TheLeaguie]

Not stupid, and also not necessarily wrong either. Fiji are stronger on paper than PNG, which is what makes the Kumuls win the other night even more impressive 💚

[@vipermarn]

Dumb analysis..

[@TheLeaguie]

Devastating insult from someone with a car profile picture 💚

[@vipermarn]

It's dumb and you heard me!

[@TheLeaguie]

@@vipermarn Yeah sound reasoning tbf

[@Samizouza]

​@@TheLeaguieApparently he didn't even get the concept of your video 😂