On form, Solomone Kata should be close to the first centre picked in the Kiwis Four Nations squad.
On principle, he shouldn't be there at all.
Kata was one of the few shining lights for the Warriors this season - a constant threat with ball in hand, energetic, eager to get involved and one of the most improved defenders in the NRL.
He's been named in the Kiwis Four Nations train-on squad and if I was Stephen Kearney, I'd probably be picking him too. Kearney's job is to win test matches, he wants the best players available.
My problem's not with the Kiwis, it's with the weak eligibility rules that continue to hold the international game back.
Solomone Kata is Tongan. He was born in Tonga, only came to New Zealand in 2011 on a rugby scholarship. He's played for Tonga as recently as four months ago.
In no conversation I've ever had with Solomone Kata has he ever identified himself as a Kiwi. He considers himself Tongan, and he's very proud of it. He's a Tongan in New Zealand, not a Tongan New Zealander.
As is the way with international league's murky eligibility rules, he's far from the only player to be jumping between nationalities. In the NZ train-on squad to date, David Fusitu'a, Tui Lolohea, Manu Ma'u (all Tonga), Sam Lisone, Isaac Liu, Tim Simona and Martin Taupau (all Samoa) have all played for the code's 'minnow' pacific island teams.
Kata playing for Tonga at the Pacific Nations Cup in May this year (Getty file)
But there's a key difference. Each and every one of them was born in New Zealand.
They identify as New Zealanders. It helps grow the game for them to be available for the so called second tier nations. That aspect should not change.
Movement the other way cannot - and will not - aid the international game.
This is no different than Semi Radradra playing for Australia, despite being clearly Fijian - he doesn't even fit eligibility rules to play State of Origin. New Zealanders (and Aussies) mocked the Kangaroos for the selection. Tell me what's different?
The same way Australians Brent Webb and Nathan Fien (eventually) were allowed to play for the Kiwis via residency, the lack of backbone from the international administrators makes a mockery of the game and it's long overdue some rules that actually help the Island nations.
I want to see Samoa, Tonga and Fiji beat the likes of the Kangaroos, the Kiwis and England. It would be amazing for test footy.
They will never do that if they don't have their best born and bred talent playing against them, for teams that have more player depth than them already.
The big three nations won't be able to complain if the residency rule is removed from internatonal league. As long as it's fair and equal, each have the talent pools to stay competitive. It's time for The Rugby League International Federation to grow a set, and clear this up.
Clearly, Kata won't play for the Kiwis unless he wants to. And if the rules allow it, I can't blame the guy, just like I don't blame James Tamou for choosing to play for Australia. They're not breaking any rules, it's up to them what they do. I totally respect that.
But did Solomone Kata ever lie awake at night dreaming of wearing the black jersey? If not, then the answer on who he should play for is pretty clear.
Newshub.
