NZ & Pacific World Cup

[titoelcolombiano]

Pacific World Cup using Australia as a minor host:

Using this world cup's fixtures as a template we could have done:

New Zealand v Samoa - Eden Park (Opening ceremony, double header)
Italy v Ireland - Eden Park (Opening ceremony, double header)

Australia v England - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Lebanon v France - Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Tonga v Scotland - Teufaiva Sports Stadium, Tonga
Fiji v USA - ANZ Stadium, Fiji
PNG v Wales - National Stadium, PNG

Australia v France - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Double Header)
Italy v USA - (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Double Header)
New Zealand v Scotland - Christchurch
Tonga v Samoa - Hamilton
Lebanon v England - Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Fiji v Wales - ANZ Stadium, Fiji
PNG v Ireland - National Stadium, PNG

Australia v Lebanon - New Paramatta Stadium (obviously assuming this world cup is in the future) (Double header)
Wales v Ireland - New Paramatta Stadium (Double Header)
Samoa v Scotland - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
England v France - Dunedin
New Zealand v Tonga - Hamilton
PNG v USA - National Stadium, PNG
Fiji v Italy - ANZ Stadium, Fiji

Quarter Finals:

PNG National Stadium
Christchurch
Hamilton
New Parramatta Stadium

Semi Finals
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wellington

Final
Eden Park, Auckland

 

[Stallion]

Pacific World Cup using Australia as a minor host:

Using this world cup's fixtures as a template we could have done:

New Zealand v Samoa - Eden Park (Opening ceremony, double header)
Italy v Ireland - Eden Park (Opening ceremony, double header)

Australia v England - Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Lebanon v France - Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Tonga v Scotland - Teufaiva Sports Stadium, Tonga
Fiji v USA - ANZ Stadium, Fiji
PNG v Wales - National Stadium, PNG

Australia v France - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Double Header)
Italy v USA - (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Double Header)
New Zealand v Scotland - Christchurch
Tonga v Samoa - Hamilton
Lebanon v England - Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Fiji v Wales - ANZ Stadium, Fiji
PNG v Ireland - National Stadium, PNG

Australia v Lebanon - New Paramatta Stadium (obviously assuming this world cup is in the future) (Double header)
Wales v Ireland - New Paramatta Stadium (Double Header)
Samoa v Scotland - Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
England v France - Dunedin
New Zealand v Tonga - Hamilton
PNG v USA - National Stadium, PNG
Fiji v Italy - ANZ Stadium, Fiji

Quarter Finals:

PNG National Stadium
Christchurch
Hamilton
New Parramatta Stadium

Semi Finals
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wellington

Final
Eden Park, Auckland

Australia v England at SFS or Suncorp stadium Brisbane would be wise. The rest seem ok. Id have Australia v kiwis in Melbourne if that was a fixture.

 

[magpie_man]

A big 3-game series beside Origin (giving it time to build over a few week) would be huge. Of even just a 4 nations including PNG and NZ over the Origin period.

Whatever happens though, i think this WC has proved Rep Football is the future of RL.

That is what I'd like to see.
Have it coincide with SOO, as you said, and it could become a Polynesian Origin Series of sorts with New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands competing, playing each other once over a 3 week series.
Start-off with playing the entire series in New Zealand but eventually take fixtures to the islands.

 

[Stallion]

That is what I'd like to see.
Have it coincide with SOO, as you said, and it could become a Polynesian Origin Series of sorts with New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands competing, playing each other once over a 3 week series.
Start-off with playing the entire series in New Zealand but eventually take fixtures to the islands.

Throw in Cook islands and PNG and its a good hit out for nations taking up this great game.

 

[siv]

Ive lived here for a year and the one thing i can say for sure; give Chinese people a gimmick and it will be the greatest thing ever to them.

If the government here backed it (and had it in their national newspaper) a RLWC would be enormous, even if the locals didnt know what they were watching...

Have the Hong Kong guys help setup a team over the border and even better - they would have a local team to follow

But like South Africa it would showcase the sport in a new market

But this and India are two markets we should find ways to break into

With 2 billion people we should be able to find 26 people who can a bit of contact sport

 

[parrawentyfan]

Reckon Fiji and PNG would be a great pairing for an annual tri series too.

 

[Pedge1971]

I'd like to see this for the next Southern hemisphere cup. Australia's had the last 2 and South Africa just isn't an option while RL remains unrecognised by their government.

Id be more focused though than your suggestion - cut out PNG and Hawaii.

Pools A and B and half of C in NZ.
Other half of Pool C (Fiji 3 games) in Fiji
Pool D (Tonga and Samoa) 3 games each in Tonga and Samoa.
1 QF in each.
1 Semi in Fiji, 1 in NZ
final in NZ.

After what I have seen in PNG, they def deserve a pool there. Question is where would you play the big Pac Island nations games. There or NZ after what we saw in Hamilton?

 

[parrawentyfan]

We aren't going to see proper domestic growth in these places unless they get some regular and high profile home matches. These don't necessarily have to be world cup matches but should at least be regular. There is only so much that a local Tongan or Samoan or Fijian can follow their team if they never play at home.

Same can be said for the European teams like Italy, Malta and Lebanon etc

 

[roughyedspud]

That's why 'A'/ resident teams are important..we need that development pathway from domestic leagues to "A"/resident teams to full fledged test sides....that's why the PNG hunters and this Fiji nsw side is important as fxxk...it provides the pathway.

 

[parrawentyfan]

That's why 'A'/ resident teams are important..we need that development pathway from domestic leagues to "A"/resident teams to full fledged test sides....that's why the PNG hunters and this Fiji nsw side is important as fxxk...it provides the pathway.

It's a pity that union acted in relation to Fiji while we sat on our hands thinking about it.

Also - if (that's a big if) NZ ever gets a viable domestic comp again in line with NSW and QLD cup, it would be perfect to include a Samoa and Tonga team. Actually - hope the NZ union comp doesn't try that...