If you can push past the passionate, even angry opinions about Broncos prop Payne Haas potentially switching allegiances from Australia to Samoa, you will appreciate the tantalising irony about the story popping up ahead of Multicultural Round.
Haas has become symbolic of what our game has become: an Australian-born player eligible to play State of Origin for NSW, which means he’s eligible for Australia, but also eligible to play for Samoa because of his mother.
With Pasifika players accounting for more than half the NRL playing stocks, he is one of numerous players who have allegiances to more than one country.
Forget about the endless debates about Origin and international eligibility: rugby league’s diversity has become its strength. It is something only other codes in this country can dream of having.
Decades ago, Pasifika players were a novelty. Dane Sorensen, of Tongan background, arrived at Sydney airport in 1977 in thongs holding a suitcase and a surfboard.
“I never thought of failure,” he said in a 2009 interview. “I knew I had to succeed because I had nothing else. It was a great opportunity, but I knew it was my destiny; it was the natural thing for me to do.”
Who can forget “The Big O” — the great Olsen Filipaina, who played with Balmain, Easts and Norths between 1980-86 while also representing New Zealand and Western Samoa?
What about Noa Nadruku, the flying Fijian made of granite who pinballed around the field for Canberra?
Now, I’m thinking of Petero Civoniceva, the Broncos, Queensland, and Australian prop who played for his native Fiji later in his career.
Then there’s the Penrith Panthers, whose premiership-winning players are adorned with ula lole leis, which are traditionally made with various wrapped lollies and colourful ribbons to celebrate success and achievement.
Rugby league’s differences has often been its strengths. How good to see a round in which rugby league celebrates them.
And another thing …
Reports of the Panthers’ demise have been greatly exaggerated.
I had to laugh last week when we all decided that the four-time defending premiers looked tired in their loss to South Sydney and this is surely a sign that their dynasty is over.
If any side has every right to look flat — even at this early stage of the season — it’s Penrith.
Premiership-winning coaches will tell you how tough it is to get their side up the following year. Are the players again prepared to do the work that won them the comp?
Not many are capable of it. We never thought we’d see back-to-back premiers again until the Roosters did it in 2018-2019.
A reminder: Penrith have made the past five grand finals and won four — the best we’ve seen since the great St George sides of the 1950s and 1960s.
We tend to overlook greatness when it’s right under our noses, and Penrith have achieved that.
If this is the end, so be it. But while Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo are fit and firing, you can never write them off.
