NZ Herald: Tonga warm up match against New Zealand Māori in October

[Matua]

Isn’t this post grand final and long before the pre season starts? What’s the NRL got to do with it?

They forced NZ to host an Aus v Tonga match (due to cheaper stadium hire) so I guess they have some say in what goes on between grand final and preseason.

 

[thorson1987]

I get the impression that Walco Events wanted the NRL to cover the financial costs?

ding ding ding

 

[miguel de cervantes]

event companies exploiting rugby league: seems to be the latest tendency. with a bit of luck both parties would come to a compromise as there are obvious benefits to running this sort of thing.

 

[roughyedspud]

Well,well,well....what a surprise..

 

[deluded pom?]

Financial support or player release support?

 

[roughyedspud]

They probably wanted the NRL to pay their match appearance fee..

 

[Burns]

They probably wanted the NRL to pay their match appearance fee..

Get the vibe that all the players would play for free to be honest

 

[roughyedspud]

So why isn't the game happening then ?

 

[myrrh ken]

Maybe they agree with the sentiment in here that internationals have to be kept pure.

 

[RedVee]

I wonder if the RLPA had a say in it. Otherwise, yes I agree it’s probably a financial issue.

 

[roughyedspud]

The RLPA have no right to have a say...

Why aren't the NZRL helping out with this fixture?? Surely the NZ Maori come under the umbrella of the NZRL ???

And I know the RLIF & APRLC don't arrange bi lateral games but surely because of the ineptitude of the pacific nations in arranging their own games,then Jeremy Edwards,the new RLIF southern GM,has to step in and knock some heads together??

 

[Pommy]

Maybe they agree with the sentiment in here that internationals have to be kept pure.

It’s a warm up game, England played the combined states prior to the World Cup so what’s the difference?

 

[roughyedspud]

Maybe they agree with the sentiment in here that internationals have to be kept pure.

Kept pure??

It's not happening cos no one will pay them! How pure is that!

 

[Matua]

The RLPA have no right to have a say...

Why aren't the NZRL helping out with this fixture?? Surely the NZ Maori come under the umbrella of the NZRL ???

And I know the RLIF & APRLC don't arrange bi lateral games but surely because of the ineptitude of the pacific nations in arranging their own games,then Jeremy Edwards,the new RLIF southern GM,has to step in and knock some heads together??

WTF? Is NZ expected to organise every international fixture these days? Next we'll have Wales and Scotland wanting to play a game in Dunedin.

 

[roughyedspud]

Shit sorry...they can't even arrange their own NZ games

 

[roughyedspud]

At the end of the day the NZRL have 100+ years of RL administration experience...I'm not saying they underwrite it all..just lend a helping hand to assure these games actually happens!

 

[Matua]

At the end of the day the NZRL have 100+ years of RL administration experience...I'm not saying they underwrite it all..just lend a helping hand to assure these games actually happens!

The NRL are the most experienced and well funded league administrative body in the world and they couldn't organise an Oz v Tonga test match on their own. Why would you expect a nearly part time, financially strapped body, to jump in organise all these matches at extremely late notice?

 

[deluded pom?]

The NRL are the most experienced and well funded league administrative body in the world and they couldn't organise an Oz v Tonga test match on their own. Why would you expect a nearly part time, financially strapped body, to jump in organise all these matches at extremely late notice?

And why should they? If Tonga want to sit at the big boys’ table then they need to learn how things are organised. Just demanding a game and then sitting back while someone else does the spade work isn’t going to work.

 

[Matua]

And why should they? If Tonga want to sit at the big boys’ table then they need to learn how things are organised. Just demanding a game and then sitting back while someone else does the spade work isn’t going to work.

Um, I don't think you're quite following these posts - we're discussing the NZRL, not Tonga.

 

[roughyedspud]

We're talking about both...the NZRL should be passing on their knowledge so Tonga can arrange these games on their own one day