NZ to be docked Tri-Nations points

Londo06 · 31-10-2006, 02:22 AM

New Zealand look likely be stripped of the points they earned in their Tri-Nations win over Great Britain after claims that they fielded an ineligible player.

Rugby league officials will examine the matter after it was revealed Nathan Fien was selected on the basis of his New Zealand-born great-grandmother.

The Australian-born player had claimed eligibility through a Kiwi grandmother.

If Fien is ruled ineligible, a Tri-Nations sub-committee will decide what action to take.

The Rugby Football League said it would be receiving details about the player from the New Zealand Rugby League.

"We will consider the matter further when we receive all the information," said an RFL statement.

Fien, who played for Queensland in State of Origin five years ago, was called into the New Zealand Tri-Nations squad after the withdrawal of David Solomana.

The 27-year-old made his debut as a substitute in the 20-15 defeat to Australia and made his first start in Saturday's 18-14 win over Great Britain.

dusty · 31-10-2006, 02:25 AM

damn knew it was too good to be true.

We play badly, still get a win.

Then we lose it because of dodgy papers.

BrisbaneRabbitohs · 31-10-2006, 02:26 AM

so if he is ineligable, how does it make kh eligable for australia?

Manero · 31-10-2006, 02:38 AM

Fien isnt even that great a player, I wouldnt have included him in my team If I knew hed cause hassles.

Cameron Mitchell · 31-10-2006, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisbaneRabbitohs

so if he is ineligable, how does it make kh eligable for australia?

Mike Hunt - Residency?

Kiwis are stupid, didn't they even check out the details properly before they dumped Fien into the team.

DA DOGGGGGGIEZ RULE 4 LYF · 31-10-2006, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Mitchell

Mike Hunt - Residency?

Kiwis are stupid, didn't they even check out the details properly before they dumped Fien into the team.

defo on the residency one, plus his junior club is here whereis Fien's one is in Australia (his place of birth) and Hunt's is in Australia (the place he claims residency in NOT the place of his birth.)

BrisbaneRabbitohs · 31-10-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DA DOGGGGGGIEZ RULE 4 LYF

defo on the residency one, plus his junior club is here whereis Fien's one is in Australia (his place of birth) and Hunt's is in Australia (the place he claims residency in NOT the place of his birth.)

now i see

We created it! · 31-10-2006, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Corleone

Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in.

He'd better be careful. It's dangerous to be a honest man.

Utseya · 31-10-2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisbaneRabbitohs

so if he is ineligable, how does it make kh eligable for australia?

Hunt played his first senior football in Australia. He is definitely eligible.

space_cowboy · 31-10-2006, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utseya

Hunt played his first senior football in Australia. He is definitely eligible.

Course he is. But Fien isn't. Played for Queensland in like 2000, then found some dodgy passport, gave it to New Zealand and they took it at face value.

Silly Kiwis for not looking into it properly.

Billy Olsen · 31-10-2006, 03:14 AM

This arguements S hit, They question fien about his kiwi heritage, Wheres hunt and all the other kiwis playing for australia aussie heritage? Nowhere cause they have none. Fien supplied his grandmothers birth cerificate whose name is different from his own but they still question it. How many people out there have different names from their grandparents? I'm one.

This is the reason the international game is a joke. The residecy policy in rugby league is a joke. You should be made to play for the country where your heritage, roots, ancestors are from and thats for ALL countries. If you have no blood from that country you should have no right to play for them.

Manero · 31-10-2006, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

This arguements S hit, They question fien about his kiwi heritage, Wheres hunt and all the other kiwis playing for australia aussie heritage? Nowhere cause they have none. Fien supplied his grandmothers birth cerificate whose name is different from his own but they still question it. How many people out there have different names from their grandparents? I'm one.

Well nearly everyone would. There is a 50/50 chance. The GP on your dads side should have same last name, whereas on your Mums, it should differ. Depends with split marrigages etc. or name changes.

I say let Fien play, makes up for people like Thorn who think they can play for two countries.

njm_bulls_champs · 31-10-2006, 03:23 AM

As a Britain fan, I hope that they don't dock NZ off two points just because of one technicality. Britain need to get to the final the hard way.

jos dos · 31-10-2006, 03:29 AM

The law is the law is the law.

Time to put the foot down hard, otherwise people will just carry on breaking the rules.

NRL.com

'But it has since been revealed it was Fien's great-grandmother who was born in New Zealand.'

Therefore he can no longer play for NZ.

About the points, don't know about that one. GB would want to get to the final on merit, not on a technicality. Come on GB show us what you're made of.

Utseya · 31-10-2006, 03:36 AM

Quote:

This arguements S hit, They question fien about his kiwi heritage, Wheres hunt and all the other kiwis playing for australia aussie heritage? Nowhere cause they have none. Fien supplied his grandmothers birth cerificate whose name is different from his own but they still question it. How many people out there have different names from their grandparents? I'm one.

They aren't questioning whether he is related... they have simply since proven that it is his great grandmother rather than his grandmother..

Sheepman · 31-10-2006, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utseya

They aren't questioning whether he is related... they have simply since proven that it is his great grandmother rather than his grandmother..

They will probably introduce a great grandparent rule to support this case lol.

Billy Olsen · 31-10-2006, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manero

Well nearly everyone would. There is a 50/50 chance. The GP on your dads side should have same last name, whereas on your Mums, it should differ. Depends with split marrigages etc. or name changes.

My point exactly

Billy Olsen · 31-10-2006, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utseya

They aren't questioning whether he is related... they have simply since proven that it is his great grandmother rather than his grandmother..

Whats the difference? Its still a grandparent of his.

Sheepman · 31-10-2006, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

Whats the difference? Its still a grandparent of his.

Its one more generation though. Its his parent's grandparent not his.

Billy Olsen · 31-10-2006, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepman

Its one more generation though. Its his parent's grandparent not his.

How is it not his grandparent though? He has more right to play for NZ through his one grandparent, then K.hunt has to play for OZ through residency. Like I said before the residency rule is a joke.

Sheepman · 31-10-2006, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

How is it not his grandparent though? He has more right to play for NZ through his one grandparent, then K.hunt has to play for OZ through residency. Like I said before the residency rule is a joke.

The grandparent rule is a joke as well. If someone has lived in Australia all their life, even if thhis parents had both lived in Australia all their life, it wouldn't matter. If one of his grandparent's was was born in NZ then he would have the right to play for NZ, and vice versa. IMO residency seems more reasonable than grandparent. I know lots of people who wouldn't want to represent the country they were born in if they live in another country.

Manero · 31-10-2006, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

How is it not his grandparent though? He has more right to play for NZ through his one grandparent, then K.hunt has to play for OZ through residency. Like I said before the residency rule is a joke.

But its like his dad's, dad's mum, or something like that. He would be lucky to have ever even met her. She would be 106 if she was still alive. I personally think residency and heritage need re looking at.

I think you should be able to play for the country you first play footy at. (Over the age of 13). Else you play for the country you are born at. As to do with heritiage, it cant go past your first grand parents.

Billy Olsen · 31-10-2006, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheepman[B

]The grandparent rule is a joke as well. If someone has lived in Australia all their life, even if thhis parents had both lived in Australia all their life, it wouldn't matter. If one of his grandparent's was was born in NZ then he would have the right to play for NZ, and vice versa[/b]. IMO residency seems more reasonable than grandparent.

I know lots of people who wouldn't want to represent the country they were born in if they live in another country.

And IMO its that persons right to play for NZ, Thats where their ancestors, and heritage are from. IMO that gives you more right to play for a country then having played your first game somewhere. You mustn't know many kiwis then

Playing against australia in any sport is what kiwis are born and bred to do, its not just your normal rivalry, your bred to hate australia in sport. So when you see someone turn their back on their country, it cuts deep. Anyway like I said whats done is done I just hope he is hurt in every game he plays against us

edit: I GTG start again at 6 and I just finished a 18 hour shift

We created it! · 31-10-2006, 08:35 AM

grandparents is the furthest you can go back.

otherwise GB could claim half the Australian side through those criminals sent to Australia.

Ten pound poms fine, but grandparent is where the line should be drawn.

Fien no longer eligible for the Kiwis

greatbritain13 · 31-10-2006, 08:56 AM

Should the result be overturned, don't know. GB are showing the right signals by not demanding the points deducted. We will get there through grit and determination or not at all.

HarlequinsRL · 31-10-2006, 09:00 AM

AAP.

The New Zealand rugby league team has threatened to pull out of the Tri-Nations if it is docked points because of Australian-born Nathan Fien's ineligibility to pull on a black jumper.

Fien played his second Test for the Kiwis in an 18-14 win over Great Britain in Christchurch on Saturday night, after it understood his grandmother was born in New Zealand.

International rugby league rules state a player can qualify for a country if any one of his grandparents was born there.

But it has since been revealed it was Fien's great-grandmother who was born in New Zealand, and as such, he is likely to be booted from the competition.

International Federation Boss Colin Love says the Kiwis may have to show cause why they should not lose the points.

"If we lose our points then Great Britain needn't bother showing up to Wellington (on Saturday) week because we certainly won't be there," NZRL executive chairman Selwyn Bennett told the Daily Telegraph.

Utseya · 31-10-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

How is it not his grandparent though? He has more right to play for NZ through his one grandparent, then K.hunt has to play for OZ through residency. Like I said before the residency rule is a joke.

Hunt isn't playing for Australia through residency. He's playing for Australia through the "first senior rugby league" rule which, along with place of birth, are the ONLY rules used for Origin eligibility. No residency, no grandparents, no "heritage".

Utseya · 31-10-2006, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manero

But its like his dad's, dad's mum, or something like that. He would be lucky to have ever even met her. She would be 106 if she was still alive. I personally think residency and heritage need re looking at.

I think you should be able to play for the country you first play footy at. (Over the age of 13). Else you play for the country you are born at. As to do with heritiage, it cant go past your first grand parents.

Like the Origin rules! (except it's 17). Nice and simple, easy to follow, and can be enforced.

DA DOGGGGGGIEZ RULE 4 LYF · 31-10-2006, 11:24 AM

if Fien is eligible for New Zealand, I'm eligible for England even though my great grandmother was born here, she had a british passport

. *checks family tree for other descendents for in other countries*

shinobi · 31-10-2006, 11:45 AM

Good they deserve to lose the points. Fien shouldnt have been in the team.

Doggiesfan · 31-10-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Olsen

Whats the difference? Its still a grandparent of his.

You're 1/8th of your grandmother. You're 1/16th of you're great grandmother. I think you have to be at least 1/8th that nationality to be eligible if you're not using residency. Fien can't use residency, though. Hasn't been there long enough.

Roaddogg · 31-10-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utseya

Hunt isn't playing for Australia through residency. He's playing for Australia through the "first senior rugby league" rule which, along with place of birth, are the ONLY rules used for Origin eligibility. No residency, no grandparents, no "heritage".

that just proves his point even more though
imo, where you played your first game shouldnt come into
what if a guy gos to aus from nz plays a year of footy over there, then comes back to nz?
aus could claim him through that rule, which proves that it is the most flawed rule in the existance of sport

CrazyMatt · 31-10-2006, 02:19 PM

Good, they are starting crack down on it. I remember that Russia got kicked out of the 03 Rugby World Cup after they fielded an illegal player in their WC Qualifing win over Georgia. Because Russia got disqualifed Georgia were in the Cup.

warrior4life · 31-10-2006, 02:57 PM

According to Selwyn Pierce the constitution said “if the player is not born in the country, either the players parents or grandparent(s) must be of the country’s descent.” (Note the s on the end of grandparent, this could mean great-grand parents). Well that’s what they are going to argue any way, I heard it on radio.

Btw, even though this would be disappointing I think that GB should be handed the two points.

Warriors now the Kiwis!

warrior4life · 31-10-2006, 02:59 PM

Can someone please tell me how Nathan Fien was allowed to play the first two tests and then he gets pulled up. Why wasn’t he found out before we started the tri-nations?

speirz · 31-10-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrior4life

Can someone please tell me how Nathan Fien was allowed to play the first two tests and then he gets pulled up. Why wasn’t he found out before we started the tri-nations?

In the article the ARL said they had no way to prove otherwise, but then the Sydney Morning Herald did or something through acquiring the birth certificate.

Kiwifosure · 31-10-2006, 03:15 PM

Because the clowns moan when we win and dont give to s when we lose. IF GB won they wouldn't give 2 sh i t s , nither would Aussie but no.

warrior4life · 31-10-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speirz

In the article the ARL said they had no way to prove otherwise, but then the Sydney Morning Herald did or something through acquiring the birth certificate.

I now officially hate the Sydney Morning Herald!

KING · 31-10-2006, 03:17 PM

I am by no stretch of the imagination a Kiwi fan, but this whole saga is utter bull dust!!! How is it that Nathan Fien is drawing such controversy and criticism when a Polynesian player in Karmichael Hunt escapes it! Karmichael Hunt is of Rarotongan and Maori origin and was born in New Zealand yet he is eligible to play for Australia. Then you have an Australian in Nathan Fien copping all this crap because of eligibility?? It needs to be addressed. Anybody who cannot prove a link to that country cannot represent it!! BOTTOM LINE. Call it the Hunt Rule or the Fien precedent anything! Just make it stick!!!

KING · 31-10-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinobi

Good they deserve to lose the points. Fien shouldnt have been in the team.

Yeah lets show the world that International Rugby League is not a 'farce' by stripping New Zealand of the points and giving it to the lesser team on the night!! Yeah that sounds like a great idea. I hope that if this action is taken, the Kiwis pull out of the Tri Series. I don't care about the repurcussions but if these beauracrats want to make such a big fuss about one player yet overlook other players then why wouldn't you want to take your ball and go home?