SAMOAN International Dunamis Lui believes more and more players will follow the lead of Fijian sensation Semi Radradra if the game can’t find a way to better re-numerate players who elect to represent developing nations.
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Radradra will make his Test debut for Australia in next weekend’s Trans-Tasman Test at Hunter Stadium after being selected in new coach Mal Meninga’s side for the clash with New Zealand.
While few could argue against his selection on form grounds, Radradra’s selection – that rules him out of representing Fiji at next year’s World Cup – based on residency grounds has attracted widespread criticism with many suggesting it undermines effort’s to grow in the International game.
Radradra is set to pocket up to $160,000 should he maintain is place in the Australian side through to next year’s World Cup with Aussie players pocketing $20,000 per match compared to $1000 on offer for the Pacific Nations.
Radradra’s father Samisoni penned an emotional letter in support of his son’s decision this week, saying he has already sent $180,000 of his football earnings back home to support his family.
Lui is part of a healthy Samoan contingent at the Dragons which includes Tim Lafai, Leeson Ah Mau and the injured Mose Masoe and will be using Sunday’s clash with the Warriors to press his claims for selection in Matt Parrish’s Toa Samoa side that will take on Tonga as part of next weekend’s rep round.
The five-Test International did not begrudge Radradra his decision but said the game needs to offer greater financial incentives for players to represent smaller nations.
“I saw the letter that his old man wrote and after reading that I really respect his decision,” Lui said.
“It’s a personal decision to represent either Australia or any Pacific nation and you’ve got to respect that. For me personally I’d rather just represent my parents heritage.
“It’s not about money but I think it’s a bit unfair that we’re not getting as much as other countries. We’re not even close.
“At the end of the [2014] Four Nations I got a thousand dollars for the whole four weeks and Australia got 50 or 60 [thousand] or something like that.
“At the moment I know that everyone who is playing for Samoa is doing it for pride and doing it for their families.
“It is a little bit unfair that we don’t get paid as much but at the end of the day we just want to represent our country and do the jersey proud.”
Brisbane-born Lui was a junior standout and represented Queensland on numerous occasions as a teenager. He admits he briefly harboured ambitions of representing Queensland.
“The thought was there. Obviously growing up in Queensland you always want to represent Queensland but things change,” Lui said.
“As I got older I realised I wanted to represent Samoa and that was the jersey that meant the most to me.
“I was born [in Brisbane] but my parents and most of my brothers and sisters were born overseas. I’d rather represent my parents heritage and do them proud.”