New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[LightLizard]

 

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South Island / Canterbury players in action. NRL-NSW Cup- Q/L Cup- Super League.

RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.9 - Canterbury Rugby League – Home to the Canterbury Bulls

The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s and Britain’s elite and lower-grade competitions. A host of Canterbury products were in action in the latest round of the NSWRL and QRL competitions, as well as NRL Round 5 and the weekend’s...

canterburyrugbyleague.co.nz

 

[Colk]

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If there is ever a side in South NZ (hopefully) they are going to have come up with something other than red and black.

 

[flippikat]

If there is ever a side in South NZ (hopefully) they are going to have come up with something other than red and black.

I agree there - for two reasons.

Firstly, red & black are very likely to be the Perth Bears colours - so why go for something that's already in the competition when there's plenty of other combinations to choose from?

Secondly - if the team wants to appeal outside of Christchurch/Canterbury province, red & black by themselves (even red, black & white) won't cut it.

I suppose they could add a third colour, just how the Warriors added red & green to Auckland's traditional blue & White... but what third colour?
Grey or white? Nah, not distinctive enough from the Bears & Dragons.
Green? Nah, you're getting close to Souths colours.
Yellow/gold? Nah, then you drift towards the Dolphins & possibly PNG Chiefs too.

Best IMO to pick something that stands out from all the other NRL teams - and that's one aspect where the Kea bid has some potential - if they take the green, brown & orange of a kea, that's remarkably distinctive in the competition.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Nah, then you drift towards the Dolphins & possibly PNG Chiefs too.

The PNG Chiefs should look for a colour scheme distinctive from the Kumuls IMO….they are something new and different.., they also should have a unique color combination too as you are saying about NZ2

 

[flippikat]

The PNG Chiefs should look for a colour scheme distinctive from the Kumuls IMO….they are something new and different.., they also should have a unique color combination too as you are saying about NZ2

Good point - and considering two high profile Chiefs teams (Kansas City in the NFL, Chiefs in Super Rugby) use red and yellow as part of their colour-set, it could be a very necessary branding move for the PNG Chiefs to steer-clear of that. Just in case either of those other two clubs lawyer-up.

 

[LightLizard]

I agree there - for two reasons.

Firstly, red & black are very likely to be the Perth Bears colours - so why go for something that's already in the competition when there's plenty of other combinations to choose from?

Secondly - if the team wants to appeal outside of Christchurch/Canterbury province, red & black by themselves (even red, black & white) won't cut it.

I suppose they could add a third colour, just how the Warriors added red & green to Auckland's traditional blue & White... but what third colour?
Grey or white? Nah, not distinctive enough from the Bears & Dragons.
Green? Nah, you're getting close to Souths colours.
Yellow/gold? Nah, then you drift towards the Dolphins & possibly PNG Chiefs too.

Best IMO to pick something that stands out from all the other NRL teams - and that's one aspect where the Kea bid has some potential - if they take the green, brown & orange of a kea, that's remarkably distinctive in the competition.

 

[LightLizard]

I must be bored.

 

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[flippikat]

 

[marlins2.0]

Red and black are the traditional colours of Canterbury. A predominantly black kit with red trim (ala mid 00s Wahs) could work. White and red as the away kit.

Also, can't be arsed quoting, but Matua is right, All Blacks is the top of the totem pole in NZ as far as brands are concerned. Crusaders in ChCh are also very well supported. That doesn't mean that a South Island NRL team can't coexist. Taking a game or two to Dunedin, making the prices reasonable for students will work as well. Preseason in Nelson and Queenstown, even Greymouth. They'll need to build the fanbase as once the hiss and roar drops off, NZ sports fans can be quite fickle. Now, ChCh may not be as bad as Auckland for that, but if they are 0 and 5, things will turn quite quickly.

 

[Wb1234]

Low crowds and poor quality.

poor defence is leading to basketball ball type score lines.

Don’t think that’s anything nrl can brag about cause our game is nba like now too

 

[Wb1234]

You need to find a room of mirrors and have a hard look at yourself … Im not gunna say most here are not pro league …what do you expect to find on an RL sure ..: but you are the complete opposite…

Honestly I don’t think he’s the opposite

many kiwis are like him given union is their national sport and few are like us where it’s 100 percent league and zero percent union

if we want to be a big sport in nz then it’s going to be with a lot of union fans who watch both sports

at least they are open to watching our sport unlike afl fans who are more zealots

 

[Wb1234]

You might be right. So has Richo been recruited by Ikin? What's the story there? I can't connect the dots. That article is pay walled

Tigers sacked him

he and his son own a consulting company who makes money from doing reports about expansion to the nrl

it’s a money grab

 

[marlins2.0]

Honestly I don’t think he’s the opposite

many kiwis are like him given union is their national sport and few are like us where it’s 100 percent league and zero percent union

if we want to be a big sport in nz then it’s going to be with a lot of union fans who watch both sports

at least they are open to watching our sport unlike afl fans who are more zealots

Most are. I'm a diehard Leaguie, always have been always will be. But I stay uptodate with the rugby, and most leaguies here do, at least peripherally. Most Kiwis get behind most sports. We aren't as 'this or that's as you lot, though definitely enjoy winding the other mob up. Was at a drinks this past weekend playing count the fan during the super rugby. Inevitably the conversation reverted to the international debate. I asked them how much money the international unions make. No answer. Asked them how much individual tests make. No answer. Asked them about tv ratings. No answer. They did say the crowds are bigger, to which I answered 'thank god, or you'd lose that metric aswell'.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Tigers sacked him

he and his son own a consulting company who makes money from doing reports about expansion to the nrl

it’s a money grab

I think he resigned …didn’t want to work with the muppets that sacked the independent board ..

looks like he put together a reasonable footy team in 18 months though … by Tigers standards anyway