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Go_The_Doggies
02-11-06, 03:27 PM
02 November 2006

BREAKING NEWS - 5.55pm
The Kiwis have been stripped of their two Tri-Nations competition points and their hooker, Nathan Fien, banned for the rest of tournament by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

The RLIF executive committee today ruled Australian-born Fien was ineligible and the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) breached international rules by playing him against the Kangaroos and Great Britain last month.

Fien has already left the Kiwis camp and was reportedly heading to Queensland today.

After a six-hour process that began this morning with a RLIF telephone hookup between Australia's Colin Love (chairman), the NZRL's Selwyn Bennett, Great Britain's Richard Lewis and National Rugby League chief executive David Gallop, Love announced the Kiwis had been stripped of the two points from their 18-14 win over Great Britain last Saturday.

It means they are back to zero, but their two points haven't gone to Great Britain who are also yet to open their account.

The for and against points from last Saturday's match has also been expunged for both teams.

The Kiwis can still defend their title in the November 25 final if they beat Great Britain in Wellington on November 11 and Great Britain lose both their matches against the Kangaroos.

The saga began this week when Bennett, the NZRL chairman, revealed the birth certificate Fien produced to confirm his eligibility was for his Wanganui-born great-grandmother, not grandmother as Bennett previously stated.

The rules state a player can claim eligibility through his parents or "any of his grandparents".

The NZRL's defence, prepared by their lawyer, centred around what they felt was ambiguous wording of the grandparents rule, and the fact there was no punishment outlines for a rule breach.

Love said it was clear the NZRL knew that Fien was ineligible on October 19, but included him in the Kiwis team.

Go_The_Doggies
02-11-06, 03:30 PM
Bugger.

I'm angry, but not going to get all upset over it. Hopefully this teaches Sel Bennett and the NZRL don't **** up like this again, but in the end atm the whole game of International Rugby League and this whole who you can play for is abit frigged up atm, imo.

I'm still confident we can make the final.

Grimmace
02-11-06, 03:30 PM
What the they shouldntve been docked points IMO they shouldve been fined and banned Fien thats as far as it shouldve gone.
To dock them of points is a bit harsh and heres hoping they finally change the rules.

Go_The_Doggies
02-11-06, 03:39 PM
What the they shouldntve been docked points IMO they shouldve been fined and banned Fien thats as far as it shouldve gone.
To dock them of points is a bit harsh and heres hoping they finally change the rules.
Yeah I feel the same way, and I sort of feel sorry for Nathan Fien, like hearing him on the radio sport this morning an interview that had before he made his Kiwis debut, he's hardout wanting to be a Kiwi :?) , and asked if he would play for Australia if he was picked, he said he would "tell Ricky Stuart where to shove it" :?) ...but then I think how he knew that it was his Great Grandmother, not his Grandmother. Oh ffs I don't know :(

I'm just glad all this granny-gate stuff is over. :)

Meh
02-11-06, 03:46 PM
Great. a decision i dont agree with is a decision none the less and we can get back to tri nations football. i feel sorry for fien...better luck next year i suppose :?)

BrisbaneBroncosRule
02-11-06, 04:21 PM
stupid decision, the points should have stayed with them.

Steelers
02-11-06, 04:22 PM
Well there goes any integrity that this tournament had. I won't bother watching any of the remaining games. It has turned into a farce. The governing bodies of Rugby League are the reason that International Rugby League is a disgrace at the moment.

Queenslander
02-11-06, 05:01 PM
Nathan Fien is more of a New Zealander; than Karmichael Hunt is Australian.

This is an absolute joke, whatever happened to trying to promote the international game...........

This decision (like the decision earlier this year to remove points from the NZ Warriors) destroys the inroads the Rugby League was having in NZ.

Steve
02-11-06, 05:25 PM
The kiwis will beat the poms, and we'll beat them in both games (well, with Ricky coaching, that's not quite a given), so it makes little difference.

Even playing for a country through residency is a bit dodgy to me.
A change from that is what gave us State of Origin, and made the interstate rivalry competitive.

Let Hunt, Mason, and whoever else born in NZ play for NZ.

Still, you reap what you sew. They broke the rules. They knew they were doing it at the time. Punishment is a risk when you cheat, no point complaining when you get caught. (Didn't work for the drug mules either!)

~Wild Child~
02-11-06, 05:56 PM
Politics getting involved with sport again :ok: The Kiwis should not have lost competition points over this. Brings the whole competition down a couple of levels.

Grimmace
02-11-06, 06:10 PM
Kiwis punished on black day
By Steve Jancetic
November 02, 2006 NEW Zealand was stripped of its Tri-Nations points today, and Nathan Fien was banned from taking any further part in the series, on a day dubbed as one of darkest in the history of international rugby league.

The Rugby League International Federation (RILF) handed down its findings following a marathon day of talks between Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain officials via a three-way phone hook-up.

The hearing revealed the New Zealand Rugby League was aware two days before Fien made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne on October 21 that his great-grandmother, not his grandmother - as had been previously represented - was born in New Zealand.

The NZRL today stood by its claim that it took the wording of the competition's constitution, which refers to a player's grandparents, as meaning either a grandparent or great grandparent.

"The game is based on trust between the nations and we've acted accordingly and we acted in relation to the representations that were made," Australian Rugby League chairman and chairman of the Tri-Nations sub-committee Colin Love said today.

"Now obviously different interpretations have been placed on the rules subsequently by others and we're told they acted in good faith.

"But it was never communicated to us that it was Fien's great-grandmother and not his grandmother who was born in New Zealand.

"So far as this rule is concerned regarding eligibility - I've got no doubt in my mind what grandparent means, and I don't think too many other people have either."

Asked if he could remember a darker day for the sport internationally, Love, a long-time rugby league administrator said: "I don't think so, not since I've been involved."

Love refused to speculate on claims that NZRL chairman Selwyn Bennett should stand down in light of the whole mess.

Love also said the Tri-Nations sub-committee had not been made aware of claims that Fien had presented New Zealand officials with four different birth certificates - his own, his father's, his grandmother's and great-grandmother's - and he distanced himself from claims the Kiwis had deliberately tried to get away with breaking the rules.

"I don't know whether it's (a matter of being) deceived because we're told that it was an honest mistake that this information wasn't communicated to us, but we're certainly disappointed," Love said.

Love said the committee had considered throwing New Zealand out of the tournament but he believed the punishment delivered better fitted the crime.

As well as losing the two competition points, the for and against records from New Zealand's 18-14 win over Great Britain in Christchurch have been expunged for purposes of the tournament table.

"I think it's a pretty dramatic option to expel a team from the competition," he said.

"You've got a team of players that busted their collective gut to win that match.

"To have the points taken away from them is pretty dramatic."

The Kiwis are now last on points differential, setting up a pivotal clash against the Lions in Wellington on Saturday week.

The winner of that match is likely to join Australia in the November 25 final.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble said the Lions wanted to qualify for the final of their own accord and not rely on getting in via default.

"As a group of rugby league players we have six points to play for and we want to do it our own way," Noble said.

The NZRL said it accepted the sub-committee's finding and also cleared Fien of any breach, while also confirming they would not challenge the decision.

Mt Isa-born Fien is believed to be on his way back to Townsville after leaving the New Zealand camp today.

Fien, who has just completed his second year with New Zealand Warriors, will qualify to play for the Kiwis under residency rules next October.

AAP

jenny
02-11-06, 06:15 PM
What the they shouldntve been docked points IMO they shouldve been fined and banned Fien thats as far as it shouldve gone.
To dock them of points is a bit harsh and heres hoping they finally change the rules.
Yes i agree, if he was born in Mt Isa..How did he get to play for the Kiwis anyway? Thats should be thouroughly checked...I feel sorry for NZ!! What about the Players that busted a gut! Fien should have been banned and fined...But i dont thinks its right for the team to lose their points!

patrick
02-11-06, 06:16 PM
I am so surprised at the decision to strip points and ban Fien...NOT.

I think the stripping of points took it too far, the Tri-Nations seems cheaper now. Banning Fien from playing was fair enough.

Grimmace
02-11-06, 06:16 PM
Love said the committee had considered throwing New Zealand out of the tournament but he believed the punishment delivered better fitted the crime.


IF that would to happen id seriously be laughing and disgusted at the IRLF because itd be the biggest and dumbest joke they can pull at all.

Go_The_Doggies
02-11-06, 07:17 PM
I really can't help but feel sorry for Fien, he was hardout and still is hardout wanting to be a Kiwi. On the news they showed the Kiwis in a huddle, and Fien walking around talking on his phone, don't know if that was from today though.

BTW, Webby has returned to Cairns, something about a family tragedy. Eek hope everythings ok!!!, he'll be back in Kiwis camp for the Wellington game.

Also if we were to get kicked out over this..I would be emailing hardout to Sel Bennett, I ought to now tbh, but meh.

Social Loafer
02-11-06, 08:03 PM
Farce, Farce, Farce....

Colin Love is a muppet, the bloke couldn't find porn in Fhyswick . If someone like him can get such a high power job there is hope for all..

But until he goes, the game will never do anything significant at the international level..

Dragons
02-11-06, 08:03 PM
So how come Hunt and co can play for Australia?

Social Loafer
02-11-06, 08:06 PM
Like Tonnie Carrol playing for Qld, then NZ, then QLD then Australia again...

Then theres Hunt... Who actually rejected offers to play for NZ..

jenny
02-11-06, 08:09 PM
Like Tonnie Carrol playing for Qld, then NZ, then QLD then Australia again...

Then theres Hunt... Who actually rejected offers to play for NZ..
Schifty...i dont get it...if your born here, how can they play for another country?
If they're are born in another country, how can they play for us?

BrisbaneBroncosRule
02-11-06, 08:23 PM
Well there goes any integrity that this tournament had. I won't bother watching any of the remaining games. It has turned into a farce. The governing bodies of Rugby League are the reason that International Rugby League is a disgrace at the moment.

Im going down the same path as you mate, stuff the rest of the tournament.

Coaster
02-11-06, 08:33 PM
What a joke

Thats pathetic.

Great job revitalising international League.

How many young Kiwis will play League after a full season of wiping out the Warriors and now the Test side.

Disgusting garbage from idiots with there finger far from the pulse of this game.

jenny
02-11-06, 08:39 PM
Schifty...i dont get it...if your born here, how can they play for another country?
If they're are born in another country, how can they play for us?
Coaster can you answer this for me please...i dont get why this is so!

Social Loafer
02-11-06, 08:53 PM
Coaster can you answer this for me please...i dont get why this is so!

Double Standards...

How can they let Hunt play for Australia? In Hunt's case he was asked to play for NZ but turned them down.. IMO this is a lot worse then Fien playing for NZ.. At least he didn't reject a call up from a different country..

Hunt was born in NZ and was asked to play for them, he rejected the call.. IMO

Anyway, at the end of the day it is about promoting the game through positive channels. This just brings negative attention to the game and makes people think International League is a laughing stock..

they should have letter tournament go on then review the rules after the completion.. This way they could iron out any problems in the off season instead of disrupting the current series..

jenny
02-11-06, 08:56 PM
Double Standards...

How can they let Hunt play for Australia? In Hunt's case he was asked to play for NZ but turned them down.. IMO this is a lot worse then Fien playing for NZ.. At least he didn't reject a call up from a different country..

Hunt was born in NZ and was asked to play for them, he rejected the call.. IMO

Anyway, at the end of the day it is about promoting the game through positive channels. This just brings negative attention to the game and makes people think International League is a laughing stock..

they should have letter tournament go on then review the rules after the completion.. This way they could iron out any problems in the off season instead of disrupting the current series..
GOTCHA! But how did Fien (born in Mt Isa) get to play for NZ? I feel sorry for the Kiwis on this one!

Coaster
02-11-06, 09:02 PM
"where u are from" is a term that doesn't belong in league atm

Otherwise the kiwis wouldn't have half there side, because they are actually born on pacific Islands, or in the case of Pritchard and cayless ect in Australia.

I have no doubt that Fien is an Aussie and the kiwis have tried to play a card for the recruitment of hunt and others, but the fans don't deserve to be punished for the stupidity of there officials twice in a season.

Lets Get this right, right now

They should use this pathetic blunder from everyone involved to create a Under 15 data base, that should have the following.

1. A declaration of your Country

2. Proof of either your or Parent or Guardians birth in that Country.

This is Signed and sealed at the start of your Under 15 season, This would be the perfect age, when players have decided if this will be there future or not. And still be relatively free of outside influences

Hoppy2007Dragons
02-11-06, 09:03 PM
funny, fien will be eligible to play next yeat through the residency rule.


absoulute joke this is.

jenny
02-11-06, 09:04 PM
"where u are from" is a term that doesn't belong in league atm

Otherwise the kiwis wouldn't have half there side, because they are actually born on pacific Islands, or in the case of Pritchard and cayless ect in Australia.

I have no doubt that Fien is an Aussie and the kiwis have tried to play a card for the recruitment of hunt and others, but the fans don't deserve to be punished for the stupidity of there officials twice in a season.

Lets Get this right, right now

They should use this pathetic blunder from everyone involved to create a Under 15 data base, that should have the following.

1. A declaration of your Country

2. Proof of either your or Parent or Guardians birth in that Country.

This is Signed and sealed at the start of your Under 15 season, This would be the perfect age, when players have decided if this will be there future or not. And still be relatively free of outside influences
Thats a winner!

DIEHARD
02-11-06, 10:58 PM
"where u are from" is a term that doesn't belong in league atm

Otherwise the kiwis wouldn't have half there side, because they are actually born on pacific Islands, or in the case of Pritchard and cayless ect in Australia.

I have no doubt that Fien is an Aussie and the kiwis have tried to play a card for the recruitment of hunt and others, but the fans don't deserve to be punished for the stupidity of there officials twice in a season.

Lets Get this right, right now

They should use this pathetic blunder from everyone involved to create a Under 15 data base, that should have the following.

1. A declaration of your Country

2. Proof of either your or Parent or Guardians birth in that Country.

This is Signed and sealed at the start of your Under 15 season, This would be the perfect age, when players have decided if this will be there future or not. And still be relatively free of outside influences

Great post Coaster, I fully agree. We need players to declare when they are younger. Either 16 or 18. Not when they have Origin carrots waving underneth their noses.

~lee~
03-11-06, 03:25 AM
they should have letter tournament go on then review the rules after the completion.. This way they could iron out any problems in the off season instead of disrupting the current series..




Its good they sorted it out now (should have been earlier). If they had done what you've suggested and then NZ went on to win the tournament there would be uproar and the whole series would have been in worse shape then it already is.

SuperCliffy#01
03-11-06, 12:28 PM
As far as i am concerned the IRL has made the right choice, how can a third generation Australian and has played representative League for QLD be considered to be eligible for NZ, New Zealand cheated nothing more and nothing less, i would say if Nathan Fien wants to play for New Zealand when he moves to new Zealand and after some years as a permanent resident and after he become a New Zealand citizen then and only then should he be considered to play for New Zealand, if he does that then i have no problem.

Rules are brought in to protect the integrity of what ever competion you participate in, if teams such as New Zealand start breaking such rules and they go unpunnished then rule mean nothing, and the interity of the sport in general becomes a laughing stock with no credibilty, is that what you want, i certainly don't, no one should be above the rules including New Zealand.cya. :mad:

jenny
03-11-06, 12:31 PM
As far as i am concerned the IRL has made the right choice, how can a third generation Australian and has played representative League for QLD be considered to be eligible for NZ, New Zealand cheated nothing more and nothing less, i would say if Nathan Fien wants to play for New Zealand when he moves to new Zealand and after some years as a permanent resident and after he become a New Zealand citizen then and only then should he be considered to play for New Zealand, if he does that then i have no problem.

Rules are brought in to protect the integrity of what ever competion you participate in, if teams such as New Zealand start breaking such rules and they go unpunnished then rule mean nothing, and the interity of the sport in general becomes a laughing stock with no credibilty, is that what you want, i certainly don't, no one should be above the rules including New Zealand.cya. :mad:
Yep, he shouldnt have been there in the first place! but i feel for the Players...Its not their job to ask for Proof of birth! They have lost their points because of the Superiors! I also think its a JOKE, when Adrian Morley who is under suspension, can Play in the Tri Nations!! He should be OUT! until he has seved his time! They should look at that one also!IMO!

SuperCliffy#01
03-11-06, 12:52 PM
Yep, he shouldnt have been there in the first place! but i feel for the Players...Its not their job to ask for Proof of birth! They have lost their points because of the Superiors! I also think its a JOKE, when Adrian Morley who is under suspension, can Play in the Tri Nations!! He should be OUT! until he has seved his time! They should look at that one also!IMO!

Yes the sad thing was that the players were robbed, but the guilty parties were Fien and the Selection Board, Fien knew he was inelligible and queeried it, and the Selection Board knew he was inelligible and tried to cover it up, but they were found out, the sad fact that New Zealand were robbed by their own people.cya. :noidea:

Go_The_Doggies
03-11-06, 01:10 PM
GOTCHA! But how did Fien (born in Mt Isa) get to play for NZ? I feel sorry for the Kiwis on this one!
Because, i understand he calls his great grandmother "nan" so he said his nan was born over here, which when people say nan you think "grandmother" straight away. Australia wanted to see the birth certificate of his "nan", so they sent it to the ARL, and the ARL approved it, therefore he played. Also Bluey asked him alot of questions and stuff before he chose him, but Fien approached the Kiwis tbh, its not like he was made to play for us.

Gosh i really feel sorry for him :(, especially as it has come out now that the NZRL knew there could be a problem on the 19th, before he made his debut!!!

~lee~
04-11-06, 04:20 AM
I also think its a JOKE, when Adrian Morley who is under suspension, can Play in the Tri Nations!! He should be OUT! until he has seved his time! They should look at that one also!IMO!


How is he under suspension? It ended the last game of the regular season for the Roosters.

jenny
04-11-06, 06:50 AM
How is he under suspension? It ended the last game of the regular season for the Roosters.
OH ok! i thought he still was under suspension!
Anyway he's a filthy player!

Go_The_Doggies
04-11-06, 09:31 AM
Morley only got 6 weeks (if i remember correctly), if he had got the full 10, he would have missed a Tri Nations game. (i think).

~lee~
04-11-06, 10:12 AM
OH ok! i thought he still was under suspension!
Anyway he's a filthy player!


haha yeah he is but atleast he provides most of the talking points :]

jenny
04-11-06, 10:35 AM
Morley only got 6 weeks (if i remember correctly), if he had got the full 10, he would have missed a Tri Nations game. (i think).
I tkink one of the mods posted that, International games dont count Kimmy!
If thats right....I think thats wrong! :nope:

Go_The_Doggies
04-11-06, 10:52 AM
I tkink one of the mods posted that, International games dont count Kimmy!
If thats right....I think thats wrong! :nope:
I'm positive they count, because Kiwis always seem to get suspended around the ANZAC test time lol. :mad:

jenny
04-11-06, 10:58 AM
I'm positive they count, because Kiwis always seem to get suspended around the ANZAC test time lol. :mad:
Oh ok! i am probably wrong! ;)
LOL! suspensions around ANZAC DAY!
You gonna have to have a talk to them arn't you?? ;)

Go_The_Doggies
04-11-06, 11:00 AM
Oh ok! i am probably wrong! ;)
LOL! suspensions around ANZAC DAY!
You gonna have to have a talk to them arn't you?? ;)
They're either suspended or injured. :(
Like this year with Ruben, he was injured, was trying his hardest all week to try and get right for the game, poor guy :(. And then when the boys did the Haka, he was so sad, he couldnt look, he had to turn away :') ..made me quite sad :(

jenny
04-11-06, 11:01 AM
They're either suspended or injured. :(
Like this year with Ruben, he was injured, was trying his hardest all week to try and get right for the game, poor guy :(. And then when the boys did the Haka, he was so sad, he couldnt look, he had to turn away :') ..made me quite sad :(
He'll be fine KIM! Back, bigger and better than Ever, handle it! :lol!:

Poida
04-11-06, 11:03 AM
They're either suspended or injured. :(
Like this year with Ruben, he was injured, was trying his hardest all week to try and get right for the game, poor guy :(. And then when the boys did the Haka, he was so sad, he couldnt look, he had to turn away :') ..made me quite sad :(
in that test i was amazed to see benji playing that.
itd been like 5-6 weeks prior that he popped his shoulder against north queensland