Jamie Pandaram and Brad Walter | April 30, 2008
CITY Origin star Feleti Mateo has been told to formally swap his
allegiances from Tonga to Australia within the next week or he will
not be considered for NSW selection this season.
After being chosen on the bench for Friday night's annual clash
with Country, the Parramatta utility has been given until the next
International Federation board meeting in Sydney on May 8 to
declare his loyalty to Australia in writing after helping Tonga
qualify for the end-of-season World Cup.
Matt Utai yesterday submitted an application to the RLIF to
change his allegiances from New Zealand to Samoa and his Bulldogs
teammates Reni Maitua and Willie Tonga are understood to be
considering similar action - although both still have Origin
aspirations.
Maitua and Tonga can wait until the end of the season as they
have already represented Australia but Mateo will be forced to make
a decision now as he does not qualify for the Kangaroos.
"This situation has arisen because Feleti Mateo has represented
Tonga at Test level but he has since expressed a desire to be
considered for NSW, and to play State of Origin you must be
available for Australian selection," NSWRL general manager Geoff
Carr said.
"We have contacted his club to check that is what he wants to do
and on that basis he was chosen for the City-Country match as the
next meeting of the International Federation wasn't scheduled until
May 8 and we felt it would be unfair to jeopardise his Origin
chances because of that.
"But Feleti can't then decide to wait and see if he is picked
for NSW, he has to make an application before the May 8 meeting or
he won't be considered for selection. That's fine if that's what he
decides to do, he can then play for Tonga at the World Cup."
Mateo was pleased to learn his City selection wouldn't preclude
him from playing for Tonga but said his goal was to represent NSW
and Australia.
"I would prefer Australia, and Origin. But if I don't get picked
it would still be an honour to play for Tonga," he said. "It has
been a long ride for Tonga trying to get into the World Cup, and
they're finally there. If I can't play it would be disappointing,
but then again if I play for Australia it would be a great
achievement."
The debate over whether to allow players from other nations to
compete in Origin is not new, but in this case the line is blurred
because the eligibility laws run in World Cup cycles, meaning that
after this year's tournament player representations are wiped
clean.
So Mateo can't play for NSW and then Tonga this year, but if he
chooses not to switch allegiances to Australia this season he would
still be eligible for Origin in 2009 and beyond.
"I didn't think I'd be doing this last year, making a team like
[City]," Mateo said. "It's always good to hear people saying stuff
like that, but the key is being humble. You can't forget where you
come from and who is behind you, and letting your head get too big.
That's the most important thing and that's what I like to pride
myself on, being humble. I let my footy do the talking."
The tug-of-war over Mateo has prompted Tonga coach Jim Dymock,
who wants the Eels star as his five-eighth in the World Cup if he
fails to make the Kangaroos side, to last night call for exceptions
to be made in the game's centenary year.
"Come on, we're celebrating 100 years," Dymock said. "The fans
want to see the best players in the World Cup, people want to see
NRL players playing. Playing for Australia, New Zealand, or
England, we don't want to take that away. Players should still
strive for that - what we're asking is that players who don't make
those sides be allowed to play for Tonga or Samoa.
"Everyone wants to see a good competition. At the end of the
day, we're going to give teams a fright."
feleti is a d!ck....so is jim dymock