New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Matua]

-Five million people is a large rugby market

Just behind Queensland

Even if it’s union dominated league has the money to make the difference

If @Matua is right and only 3 warriors players are in the kiwis then yeh that’s the issue

Not nz losing some players to Samoa and Tonga

And do you guys complain when it’s the all blacks signing Islander talent just to be consistent lol

Of course I'm right - there's a team list that can be checked. Although I suppose they can have credit for Papali'i who was developed into a 1st grader here.

But the Warriors are really shit at providing opportunities for players for the Kiwis. Let's look at the current squad:
- Most of the halves and hookers are Australians (and a Samoan test player). The one NZ half is not really wanted by the coach and is likely on still signed because he's willing to play for less to stay in the country. All three hookers are Australians.
- Our two good props were developed in Oz and one is Aussie anyway.
- CNK was so poorly developed at the Warriors he had to Oz to get a shot. RTS was developed at Easts. Taine was developed in Oz.
- DWZ was developed in Oz, so too the incoming Kahn Pereira.
- Ford and Capewell are journeymen Aussies with poor discipline/handling and defence respectively. Yes, Capewell was better in the past, but that isn't now. Niurkore has turned to shit since coming to the Warriors.
- Of our young blokes, two of them are already playing for the Island teams (and fair enough for Leka, he's born and bred).
- Also, despite having a wealth of young forwards in NZ we've brought over a young Pom.
- Berry is a Kiwi, but he's average at best. Pompey has actually been one of our most improved players but I bet he'd sit behind Berry in the rankings.

So yeah, that's an issue, but it doesn't mean the Origin rules are as well.

Last article is from seven months ago where tonga lost a talented winger to the all blacks

He's a NZer who declared for Tonga as a teenager and realised he actually wants to play for his home country.

 

[Wb1234]

Of course I'm right - there's a team list that can be checked. Although I suppose they can have credit for Papali'i who was developed into a 1st grader here.

But the Warriors are really shit at providing opportunities for players for the Kiwis. Let's look at the current squad:
- Most of the halves and hookers are Australians (and a Samoan test player). The one NZ half is not really wanted by the coach and is likely on still signed because he's willing to play for less to stay in the country. All three hookers are Australians.
- Our two good props were developed in Oz and one is Aussie anyway.
- CNK was so poorly developed at the Warriors he had to Oz to get a shot. RTS was developed at Easts. Taine was developed in Oz.
- DWZ was developed in Oz, so too the incoming Kahn Pereira.
- Ford and Capewell are journeymen Aussies with poor discipline/handling and defence respectively. Yes, Capewell was better in the past, but that isn't now. Niurkore has turned to shit since coming to the Warriors.
- Of our young blokes, two of them are already playing for the Island teams (and fair enough for Leka, he's born and bred).
- Also, despite having a wealth of young forwards in NZ we've brought over a young Pom.
- Berry is a Kiwi, but he's average at best. Pompey has actually been one of our most improved players but I bet he'd sit behind Berry in the rankings.

So yeah, that's an issue, but it doesn't mean the Origin rules are as well.


He's a NZer who declared for Tonga as a teenager and realised he actually wants to play for his home country.

The warriors inability to develop large numbers of top line kiwi players is way more of an issue than nz AND Australia losing players to Samoa and Tonga which has been good for the game

Test match football is going ok Rome wasn’t built in a day

If origin and Tonga / Samoa were on at the same time and the money was the same it would be interesting what people would choose

 

[Matua]

The warriors inability to develop large numbers of top line kiwi players is way more of an issue than nz AND Australia losing players to Samoa and Tonga which has been good for the game

Test match football is going ok Rome wasn’t built in a day

If origin and Tonga / Samoa were on at the same time and the money was the same it would be interesting what people would choose

Comparing Australia's ability to lose a few players to the PIs and NZ's ability is bollocks really. There's way more depth in Aussie league than NZ league. We're playing a retired 6 at half and your third string half on tour, who was a late addition, was probably the best 7 this year throughout the comp.

 

[Wb1234]

Comparing Australia's ability to lose a few players to the PIs and NZ's ability is bollocks really. There's way more depth in Aussie league than NZ league. We're playing a retired 6 at half and your third string half on tour, who was a late addition, was probably the best 7 this year throughout the comp.

Still favourites though lol

Haven’t even looked at the kiwi team tbh but can’t wait for Sunday

Pacific cup without Australia is the best

 

[Matua]

Still favourites though lol

Haven’t even looked at the kiwi team tbh but can’t wait for Sunday

Pacific cup without Australia is the best

Not sure why we're favourites, we didn't make the final last year, and the Samoan team we're up against is much better than the one we last played.

I hope you're right and we smash them, especially the Tongans, but all three have good squads.

Also, I'd rather Aussie be there so we could have games every weekend.

 

[Wb1234]

Not sure why we're favourites, we didn't make the final last year, and the Samoan team we're up against is much better than the one we last played.

I hope you're right and we smash them, especially the Tongans, but all three have good squads.

Also, I'd rather Aussie be there so we could have games every weekend.

 

[Matua]

That's very slight favouritism, and it's gambling so who cares. They're designed to ensure they don't lose money either way, not a realistic sport assessment of the strength of the teams.

But like I said, this is one time I hope I'm 100% wrong and we smash one of them once, and the other twice. Edit: I'd actually like to beat Samoa twice in nice hard fought friendly games, but smash the Tongans.

 

[Wb1234]

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Dynamic young Kiwi back-rower Saumaki Saumaki has come to terms with the club - and New Zealand rugby union isn't happy.

Saumaki, who starred for the strong Crusaders club in the under 20s this year, was tipped as a future All Black but was lured to the Bunnies after the club received glowing reports about him from their Kiwi scouts.

"All the mail we got on him was outstanding and we thought he was worth a go," Souths chief executive Blake Solly told Wide World of Sports.

"He played for New Zealand Schoolboys in rugby and you have to be pretty good to do that."

Saumaki will make the switch from union to rugby league, per sources.

He played for Crusaders U20 this year and was eligible to return for a push for the New Zealand U20s in 2026.

A damaging prospect, he was a member of the Crusaders Rugby Academy in 2025 and is a graduate of the famed Nelson College.

NZRU School Boy. Must have something.

 

[Matiunz]

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Last article is from seven months ago where tonga lost a talented winger to the all blacks

Literally the 3rd sentence states he was born and raised in NZ.

 

[jolly boys outing]

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The Rabbitohs are still copping flak over the disastrous signing of Englishman Lewis Dodd last season, but they could make amends with one of the gains of the year for 2026.


Lewis Dodd sits on the bench against the Sharks. (NRL Photos)
Dynamic young Kiwi back-rower Saumaki Saumaki has come to terms with the club - and New Zealand rugby union isn't happy.

Saumaki, who starred for the strong Crusaders club in the under 20s this year, was tipped as a future All Black but was lured to the Bunnies after the club received glowing reports about him from their Kiwi scouts.

"All the mail we got on him was outstanding and we thought he was worth a go," Souths chief executive Blake Solly told Wide World of Sports.

"He played for New Zealand Schoolboys in rugby and you have to be pretty good to do that."

Saumaki will make the switch from union to rugby league, per sources.

He played for Crusaders U20 this year and was eligible to return for a push for the New Zealand U20s in 2026.

A damaging prospect, he was a member of the Crusaders Rugby Academy in 2025 and is a graduate of the famed Nelson College.

NZRU School Boy. Must have something.

So good they named him twice.

 

[Matiunz]

The All Blacks don't sign players, but all players are centrally contracted to the National union, who's most powerful brand is The All Blacks.

There maybe a handful of overseas players who don't qualify for NZ yet on residency grounds - most do as they came out for schooling, or followed theory parents out after they came in on working visas and obtained residency. Pro tip - this is a major reason why the NRL has such a large PI player pool now!

There are a smaller handful who dont qualify at all. But the majority do, even if they have chosen to represent Samoa, Tonga, Fiji etc. So in a sense the All Blacks do sign players...just not all get to play for the team.

And then you have the 'sabbatical' rule...which is NZ Rugby's attempt to have its cake and eat it too. That toothpaste definitely ain't going back in the tune!

Yeah NZRU centrally contracts but that is also for super level right through to NPC rather than the national team.
Sabbaticals are a way to curb players wanting to cash in and so far it’s worked relatively well keeping players but once ABs let players play overseas it will be the death of them.

People often pull the ‘All Blacks poach players from the islands’ but it’s the reverse, NZ born raised and developed players make up 80% + of the PI union teams

 

[Matiunz]

Wrong thread but this is a bit of a faux pas from Marky Mark

 

[Matiunz]

NRL news 2025 | The Mole exclusive, Lachlan Galvin and Roger Fabri; Lewis Dodd replacement, Blake Solly comments


BUNNIES MAKE RUGBY RAID TO REPLACE DODD

The Rabbitohs are still copping flak over the disastrous signing of Englishman Lewis Dodd last season, but they could make amends with one of the gains of the year for 2026.


Lewis Dodd sits on the bench against the Sharks. (NRL Photos)
Dynamic young Kiwi back-rower Saumaki Saumaki has come to terms with the club - and New Zealand rugby union isn't happy.

Saumaki, who starred for the strong Crusaders club in the under 20s this year, was tipped as a future All Black but was lured to the Bunnies after the club received glowing reports about him from their Kiwi scouts.

"All the mail we got on him was outstanding and we thought he was worth a go," Souths chief executive Blake Solly told Wide World of Sports.

"He played for New Zealand Schoolboys in rugby and you have to be pretty good to do that."

Saumaki will make the switch from union to rugby league, per sources.

He played for Crusaders U20 this year and was eligible to return for a push for the New Zealand U20s in 2026.

A damaging prospect, he was a member of the Crusaders Rugby Academy in 2025 and is a graduate of the famed Nelson College.

NZRU School Boy. Must have something.

Few are rating him as the better/more league ready prospect than Inch

 

[jolly boys outing]

Few are rating him as the better/more league ready prospect than Inch

Doesn’t he already play or come from a junior RL background?

 

[Wb1234]

Few are rating him as the better/more league ready prospect than Inch

Whose inch lol

 

[Matiunz]

Whose inch lol

One of his union team mates that the Warriors just signed that’s come with a bit of hype

 

[Matiunz]

Wrong thread but this is a bit of a faux pas from Marky Mark

View attachment 107136

It’d be funnier if that was his Fijian passport lol

 

[jolly boys outing]

Whose inch lol

There’s a joke in there somewhere.

 

[Wb1234]

TikTok - Make Your Day

lol no complaints here hey

 

[Matiunz]

TikTok - Make Your Day

lol no complaints here hey

What complaints would there be?