Mal Meninga torn on selecting Semi Radradra for the Kangaroos
PART of Mal Meninga doesn’t want to select barnstorming Parramatta winger Semi Radradra for the Kangaroos.
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IF Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was being selfish he’d happily select barnstorming Parramatta winger Semi Radradra.
But part of him doesn’t want to because he knows picking the Fijian native will only weaken the global game.
Radradra, born and raised in Suva in Fiji, has officially applied to represent Australia after fulfilling his three-year residency requirement.
New Zealand and Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall has called on officials to block Radradra from playing for Australia, while Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith also raised concerns over the Parramatta flyer abandoning Fiji.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Meninga was equally torn on the subject of selecting the electrifying Eel.
“Selfishly I’d want someone of Semi’s ability in the Australian side, but if I put my unselfish hat on from an international rugby league point of view you want people playing for their home countries,” Meninga said.
“I’m an advocate of that and I want to see the international game prosper. It’s a fine line, but from a person who loves the game I’d like to see the game improve around the world as opposed to being selfish.”
The Eels star has excelled in the opening four rounds with two tries and a mammoth 536 running metres.
As impressive as Radradra has been to start the season, Meninga admits there are currently a number of players ahead of him in the pecking order.
“Darius Boyd, Brett Morris and even Daniel Tupou have played for Australia before on that left wing,” he said.
“There is plenty of competition there for Semi, but that’s not to say he won’t get selected in front of all those guys. It’s just a matter of him being consistent and he can only get in the Australian team by sheer performance. But Semi certainly sits alongside the best wingers playing in the competition at the moment.”
Kangaroos players receive up to $50,000 to represent their nation, while smaller countries like Fiji receive little if any compensation and Meninga wants the Rugby League International Federation to step in and make changes.
“The players from the smaller nations need more incentive to play for their country,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s the Australian Rugby League’s position to keep on propping teams up and we’ve got to keep creating opportunities for the rest of the rugby league playing nations.”
The Kangaroos will be without fullback Billy Slater (shoulder) when they take on the Kiwis in the Anzac Test in Newcastle on May 6.
Meninga has options to replace Slater and hasn’t ruled out selecting a Test bolter like Tigers No. 1 James Tedesco.
“There have been a lot of impressive players and James is one of them, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
Originally published as Mal Meninga torn on selecting Semi Radradra for the Kangaroos
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