JOEL Moon has revealed he could have his pick of the four home nations to play for at the World Cup after becoming a British citizen.
But the Leeds man will not become the latest controversial call-up as he only wants to play for his native Australia.
Moon would probably make either England, Scotland, Wales or Ireland’s squads for the tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, which starts later this month.
After getting more than 20 of 24 questions right on the test, on subjects ranging from the Tudors to the Romans to the Vikings, as well as recent history, he can call himself British.
Some of the accents heard around his home are definitely English and two of his three children, William and Gigi, were born here.
However, do not expect a sudden change of allegiance from the man expected to play stand-off in tomorrow’s Grand Final, which would have surprised him if you had told the centre at the start of the year he would be doing that, even though he played there when he was a kid.
He said: “I did the test two weeks ago and passed it – I’m officially a British citizen, as is my wife.
“I’m not sure how the whole eligibility thing works regarding citizenship but I wouldn’t play for any other country than Australia.
“Even if I could, it’s just Australia for me.
“And at the start of the year, I never thought I’d be playing in a Grand Final as a number six. To be at Old Trafford is special.
“We went through a lot last year and it wasn’t the best season but you learn from stuff like that.”
Moon’s British citizenship is in stark contrast to the way he moved to Leeds from Salford, when it was put out that he wanted to leave as he was homesick.
Seeing him move 40 miles down the road enraged many Red Devils fans, many of whom remind him of that when he faces his former club.
Now for the first time, he has admitted he had no idea where the suggestion came from as he has never been homesick.
Moon, 29, added: “I know things came out in the Press that I was homesick but I never was, they were just rumours.
“I enjoyed my time at Salford and four of us Aussies at the time – myself, Daniel Holdsworth, Luke Patten and Shannan McPherson.
“I’ll always have a place in my heart for Salford but Leeds is a strong club that knows how everything works. Salford will come good though.
“It’s my sixth year here now and I’m feeling pretty settled. The kids all have English accents and when I’m around them, I say what they do.
“There have been times where I’ve said something in an English accent then had to say it again in an Aussie one.”
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