Cook Islands RL express disappointment at denial of 2018 Pacific Test

[roughyedspud]

Eng v France in Sth of France, or even better a triple series with Lebanon would be better.
Pacific cup should always be the top 4 PI nations surely?

Aus should be playing NZ in NZ every year

adam how does PNG playing Lebanon in Sydney help the game in either country?

Lebanon playing in Sydney will earn the Lebanese RL more money to spend domestically in Lebanon...same goes for tonga & Samoa playing in NZ

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It doesn't, it's a short sighted grab for cash from the Sydney Lebanese community but the Einsteins didn't even play it at a stadium big enough to fully capitalise on the Tongan, Samoan and Lebanese community support.

Send Lebanon to play in Lebanon to help build the game's profile on the back of their world cup campaign, and leave the Pacific Tests to Pacific nations.

 

[latingringo101]

The nations who play games overseas should aim to have at least one home match per year and reward the domestic efforts of the people and players at home

 

[adamkungl]

adam how does PNG playing Lebanon in Sydney help the game in either country?

Yeah bit of an oversight there.
It might make more money in Sydney than PNG though.

 

[siv]

Even with Lebanon playing

We should still play

Cooks v Niue
Vanuatu v Solomon Is

 

[adamkungl]

Every single nation with professional players should be getting a game in this Rep Weekend. No excuses.

 

[adamkungl]

That said, Cook Islands have "expressed disappointment".
Have they actually put forward a proposal for a game? Ok, they thought they were playing PNG but now have been told they aren't.
Are they actually doing anything to rectify the situation?
A number of nations around their level should be looking for opposition.
Italy, USA, Malta, Greece, Philippines... All ranked well above them, unjustly so according to many.

The NRL has some responsibilities towards international game but organising games for other nations isn't one of them.

 

[roughyedspud]

That's always the case pal...countries whinge and moan but the never propose or plan anything...

I badger countries all the time on twitter...the welshRL tweeted the other week about it being 110 years since the very first RL international between Wales & kiwi all golds...I tweeted them back about arranging a game against the tour kiwis at the end of the year to celebrate......and nothing..

 

[Pommy]

The French situation might change when Catalans don't source the majority of the players.

England should play Ireland in a full strength test, as I've said earlier, in Denver. NZ or Ireland makes no difference to American audiences.

Back on topic - it's labelled (this year at least) a Pacific "Invitational" not a Pacific Cup. I have no problem with the Pacific island nations playing non-Pacific ones. They do need to play teams other than each other, over-repetition is one of International RLs biggest flaws. However not staging a game for Cook Islands is a huge fail, as is playing it as a double or triple header in Campbeltown when Tonga could draw a huge crowd in NZ.

The rep weekend would look a lot better as something like this for Pacific nations:

Double header:
Cook Islands v USA or Philippines as curtain raiser for
Fiji v NZ @ Rotorua

Tonga v Samoa @ Mt Smart

PNG v Lebanon @ Campbeltown

A proper Pacific Cup should be staged in November in cycle years 1 and 3.

Depends if the organisers are trying to piggy back off the all black brand.

 

[Perth Red]

Lebanon playing in Sydney will earn the Lebanese RL more money to spend domestically in Lebanon...same goes for tonga & Samoa playing in NZ

Does it? Or does the money go to the players?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Does it? Or does the money go to the players?

Profits, if any, will go to the NRL - they are the organiser and funder of the tournament so the Lebanese RL will see nothing and the players will be lucky to get more than a minimal daily allowance and accommodation also.

 

[Force]

That said, Cook Islands have "expressed disappointment".
Have they actually put forward a proposal for a game? Ok, they thought they were playing PNG but now have been told they aren't.
Are they actually doing anything to rectify the situation?
A number of nations around their level should be looking for opposition.
Italy, USA, Malta, Greece, Philippines... All ranked well above them, unjustly so according to many.

The NRL has some responsibilities towards international game but organising games for other nations isn't one of them.

They were looking at playing Fiji but since the NZ v Eng game fell through, NZ will most probably play Fiji instead and the Cooks left out yet again. Money would be the main problem with these smaller Nations. At least the Pacific Tests had financial backing from the NRL, tests outside this wont.

 

[latingringo101]

They were looking at playing Fiji but since the NZ v Eng game fell through, NZ will most probably play Fiji instead and the Cooks left out yet again. Money would be the main problem with these smaller Nations. At least the Pacific Tests had financial backing from the NRL, tests outside this wont.

They use to be left out for years and ironically played Lebanon on the same weekend.

I reckon it'd be cool if they played against Niue before the PNG/LEBANON match. Make it a quadriple header.

Niue vs Cooks
Lebanon vs PNG
Samoa vs Tonga
NZ vs Fiji

 

[paulmac]

I hope the Cook Islands play in the ENWC just to remind the RLIF that they are the best team outside of the 14 nations that played at the RLWC.Their ranking is a joke & don’t deserve the shoddy treatment they are getting.

 

[adamkungl]

Again, what's to stop them organising their own game?
The RLIF and NRL have done their job by providing an international rep weekend. Their professional players should be available, for the most part. Yes there would be some usual club reluctance.

Do they think they're above playing anyone except Fiji or PNG? Or do they only play when the NRL schedules the game for them?
Their ranking is deserved, because they don't play, while the teams above them do.

 

[siv]

Sorry I agree ranking is not deserved

There is no accurate cross region ranking system

More European countries doesnt mean they are better

Tyrany of distance and the NRL effects these fringe asia-pacific nations

Why dont we try and guess the result of a Serbia v Cooks Is based upon recent results of teams they lost to who qualified for the RLWC

 

[Force]

They ca

I hope the Cook Islands play in the ENWC just to remind the RLIF that they are the best team outside of the 14 nations that played at the RLWC.Their ranking is a joke & don’t deserve the shoddy treatment they are getting.

They cant play in the Emerging Nations Comp because they are a Full Member Nation.

 

[Force]

Again, what's to stop them organising their own game?
The RLIF and NRL have done their job by providing an international rep weekend. Their professional players should be available, for the most part. Yes there would be some usual club reluctance.

Do they think they're above playing anyone except Fiji or PNG? Or do they only play when the NRL schedules the game for them?
Their ranking is deserved, because they don't play, while the teams above them do.

I remember when they organised a game against Lebanon two years ago but many of their players were blocked by their clubs because it fell outside of what the NRL deemed a test match so clubs werent obliged to release them.

 

[roughyedspud]

It's a officially recognized RLIF test weekend...

All games are tests!

And to Adams point about countries organising their own games...absolutely! What's stopping Tonga & Samoa saying thanks but no thanks to the NRL and arranging a game,in conjunction with the NZRL/APRLC, in Auckland..

Tonga v Samoa in Auckland,25-30k fans,match sponsor & TV revenue is worth a couple or three million dollars easy! It pays for itself!

 

[roughyedspud]

Does it? Or does the money go to the players?

Some should go to the players but not all....