THE player who triggered the World Cup eligibility debacle, Anthony Tupou, has implored the Rugby League International Federation to ensure Pacific island nations field their strongest possible sides for the credibility of the tournament.

"If we're going to have a strong World Cup we can't have the same three countries [Australia, New Zealand and England] just dominating every game," Tupou told The Sun-Herald. "We don't want too many lopsided results.

"We want Tonga and Samoa and those sorts of teams to be strong.

"If they can have a few blokes who don't make the Australian team we'll have a great tournament. They're not just playing for those countries to get a game. Most of the boys were born in those countries, or have parents from there.

"They can be really strong teams with a few other players thrown in.

"You don't want the World Cup to be about those same three teams all the time. Tonga and Samoa can get a few upsets if they have the players they want. That was part of the reason why I wanted to play for Tonga when I missed out on Australia."

Tupou was training with Tonga last week when Michael Crocker was ruled out of the Australian squad. Tupou received a message from Australian coach Ricky Stuart saying he would be the replacement.

Somewhat sheepishly the Sharks-bound back-rower packed his bags and told Tongan officials he was off to play for Australia.

"When I found out I wasn't in the first Australian team they picked, which I wanted to be all along, I just went down and did a bit of training with Tonga," Tupou said.

"I wanted to play for them if I couldn't play for Australia. But I got the call off my manager and Sticky [Stuart] when I was at training.

"I really wanted to get picked for Australia in the first place. That's the main thing about all this. I'm in the team I wanted to be in. I went back over to the Tongan guys and talked to the Tonga officials and told them I was going back to play for Australia.

"They were OK with that. I spoke with a few of the boys and told them I couldn't play for Tonga any more. It was unfortunate, the way it all happened. But they understood where I was coming from."

World Cup eligibility is turning into a circus. Tonga want to take the RLIF to court after Parramatta duo Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki were forced out of the squad because they played for New Zealand last year.

The Kiwis want neither player for the World Cup, but the RLIF has rejected their applications to play for Tonga. Moimoi was born in Tonga. Tuiaki has Tongan parents.

On the flip side, two former Australian players, Jarryd Hayne and Antonio Kaufusi, both left out of the world champions' squad, have been allowed to represent Fiji and Tonga respectively.

"What's the point of having a World Cup and not letting the players play?" Tuiaki said.

"To make it more competitive and get more people to turn up to watch the games they should let more people play for their country.

"I was looking forward to playing in the World Cup. It's the biggest thing in the sport.

"It's not looking good. There are no regrets playing for New Zealand because that was one of my goals, to play for the Kiwis. This year I've been pretty quiet and I didn't get to play for the Kiwis in the World Cup. It's disappointing but what can you do?"