26 Oct 2017

Pacific Nations call for league pay equity

10:13 am on 26 October 2017

Pacific rugby league nations say it's time their players get paid the same as those representing Australia, New Zealand and England.

The lead-in to the World Cup has been dominated by some high profile names forgoing the chance to play for the Kiwis and Kangaroos, instead choosing to represent their Pacific heritage.

Jarryd Hayne is embraced by Fiji fans during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

Jarryd Hayne also represented Fiji at the 2008 World Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish believes this will be the most competitive World Cup yet but said the Rugby League International Federation needs to take the lead in addressing the financial disparity between the haves and have-nots.

"They need to have some spine and make sure that every team in the tournament gets the same amount of money, then we will see a much evener contest," he said.

"At the moment when you've got three teams getting $20,000 a game and the rest of us getting pittance it's very unfair and very uneven but if you pay everyone the same amount of money then let the players choose who they want to play for I can tell you then it will be a lot different story".

Samoa rugby league coach Matt Parish.

Samoa rugby league coach Matt Parish. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

"The thing about our team is they don't play for money because they don't get any and that's the whole thing and it's admirable but why should they get none when other teams are getting more.

"It's just such an uneven playing field at the moment and I think it's grossly unfair and until someone does something about it it's going to continue to do that".

Tonga have been the talk of the last few weeks, since Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita opted to switch allegiance from New Zealand and Australia at the 11th hour, and were quickly joined by the likes of Manu Ma'u, Sio Siua Taukieaho and David Fusitu'a.

But coach Kristian Woolf argued that the playing ground remained far from even.

"It's something that has to be looked at and there has to be some sort of move or change there, that's for sure, to improve things," he said.

"Where that comes from I don't know because I'm not sure what pool is available there - the NRL fund Australia and New Zealand, I'm not sure what sort of pool is available there - or whether the International Rugby League (Federation) needs to take up some of the slack."

Tonga captain Sika Manu and head coach Kristian Woolf.

Tonga captain Sika Manu and head coach Kristian Woolf. Photo: NRLPhotos

"It's certainly something that needs to be looked at and there's obviously been a fair bit made of the fact some guys chose to play for us, as opposed to some of the bigger nations.

"The sacrifice that those guys have made is enormous - something that most people just wouldn't do, to be frank, and I think if there was a lot more even ground there then you'd see a lot more of those decisions made," reflected Woolf.

"While for some people that would be controversial - and some people certainly found negatives in it - I think for the good of the international game we want competitive teams and we want the best talent to be spread around those nations, as opposed to all playing for one or two.

"That's how I think we help to grow the game and that can only be positive for the game".