Rugby league's got it twisted. Close minded and short sighted.

Dreaming small, easy achievements.

How can we celebrate a 'seismic' shift in international rugby league when the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals feature six of eight teams, from the same pocket of Earth?

You can't say your gang runs the city when you only own two streets.

You can't say you've traveled the world if you have only been to Australia.

This RLWC was specifically designed for the status-quo to remain. 

South Pacific/Oceania teams strolled into quarter-final qualification. 

England, ain't nothing new there and the only funk comes from Lebanon.

Changes and growth is taking place, for sure. To celebrate this growth as though it's far greater than what it is, shows a lack of ambition. 

A close minded nature that has held rugby league back.

When I think of international rugby league, I think of Asia, Africa and the Americas. 

These seeds have been planted and rugby league is present in various countries around the world.

Recent events only show how strong rugby league is in this specific corner of the globe.

Sure, pat yourselves on the back that rugby league is closing the gap on rugby union. 

Aim higher. 

Dream of the day when eight RLWC quarter-final spots go to nations from all corners of Earth.

Embrace that vision because that's what I'm here for. 

Where I'm from, rugby league has always been popular and where I'm from, most of the folks are Samoan and Tongan. Union and league co-exist, so if sights of Tongans or Samoans loving rugby league is new to you; wake up. 

Wake up to the fact that when the Rugby Union World Cup was in Aotearoa, South Auckland's streets looked exactly how they look now. 

That is to say that it doesn't matter so much what sport is responsible for the occasion, when their nation is put up in lights, they celebrate. Something kiwis don't understand because we're the big fish in this Polynesian pond, put us up against Australia or on a world stage though...

I know that rugby league's takeover of the Pacific Islands is underway, I see the future and I see rugby league pouring resource into the Pacific Islands while rugby union does nothing. While Samoa Rugby Union goes bankrupt, while Aotearoa neglects the Pacific Islands, while Europe exploits the Pacific Islands. No one on Earth is more adamant of this future than me. 

What we are seeing is not an example of this though.

This isn't about rugby league, it's about the pride of a nation.

As a rugby league artist, I can't celebrate rugby league's growth knowing that this is more about people coming together to feel immense pride in their nation, than rugby league being the reason.

That is arrogant of rugby league to think that rugby league is the reason. 

This isn't a boost for Tongan rugby league fans, it's a boost for Tonga. A boost for the moral and spirit of a nation, which could come in any variety of sports.

It's just annoying, ya know?

Dream of the day that Tonga face Jamaica in a RLWC.

Or a Russia vs Samoa friendly, in Moscow.

We are seeing the positive vibes of rugby league right now and the only message I want to leave you with a message of truly embracing an international game. 

What we have now is cool, but there's a lot of fluff in people's opinions. A lot of bullshit.
RLWC is a festival of rugby league, a celebration of rugby league and I'm bloody excited for knockout footy. 

I have to keep it real though because we are looking at a quarter-final stage where six of the eight teams come from one small pocket of Earth. And those six teams didn't have to do much to make the quarter-finals, they waltzed on in.

There is nothing global about that.

Before you talk your shit about how great international rugby league is, ponder what global actually means.

And then note this moment down, remember the 2017 RLWC.

Seeds of global growth have been planted and we now move into a period where we will see if people really want to embrace that growth. 

Oh and please understand that those seeds have been planted by people around the world who do so purely out of love for rugby league. 

The NRL, Australia and Aotearoa are only taking care of their backyards and there's nothing wrong with that as the strength of rugby league in Oceania is a direct result of that.

The NRL, Australia and Aotearoa ain't doing jack to help rugby league on a global scale. 

This is the next step. Tour the world, take teams to Africa and show them a pathway. 

Take an Emerging 'Roos team to tour Canada and USA. 

Take an Aotearoa Maori team to tour South America.

Send the Junior Kangaroos on a European tour stopping in multiple countries to play their national team.

Build from this point and take Tonga on a European tour, get a Samoa 'B' team playing games in Asia.

Opportunities are there for the taking. 

Peace and love 27.