Origin - Polynesia vs Melanesia

[magpie_man]

dunno if this has been considered before, but how would a polynesia vs melanesia origin series coinciding with the annual nsw vs qld origin go?
effectively it would be:

polynesia
new zealand maori
samoa
tonga
cook islands

vs

melansia
fiji
papua new guinea

 

[bender]

dunno if this has been considered before, but how would a polynesia vs melanesia origin series coinciding with the annual nsw vs qld origin go?
effectively it would be:

polynesia
new zealand maori
samoa
tonga
cook islands

vs

melansia
fiji
papua new guinea

There is no doubt that origin is the most successful rep game in rugby league history. And the idea of splitting a bigger area into two sides has some merit, but the success would depend on the public taking to the game and it could easily end up being a nothing thing, but it is a possibility.

An origin weekend could theoretically feature:

Qld Vs NSW; NZ north island vs NZ South Island, Polynesia vs Melanesia, England vs Celtic; France vs Mediterranean. I think a test match schedule would be better, but i can see how such a concept might work to an extent.

 

[nadera78]

Why don't we just go the whole hog and organise a Honkies v Darkies game?:roll:

 

[Angry_eel]

Polynesia will be way too strong.

 

[XIII]

if your gonna include maori's then aussie torres strait islanders like sailor and thaiday get to play 4 melanesia.

 

[kuwaiti kev]

Polynesia will be way too strong.

true after all Samoa and Tonga dominated the recent Pacific Cup.... hang on no they didn't!!!

 

[bender]

true after all Samoa and Tonga dominated the recent Pacific Cup.... hang on no they didn't!!!

Ironically, i see it like the early days of origin. Polynesia have a wealth of NRL laden talent and are red hot favourites each year, but Melanesia with truly local PNG and Fijian talent rise to the occassion each year and score upsets year after year.

 

[roopy]

The Pacific cup is the way to go.

 

[kuwaiti kev]

The Pacific cup is the way to go.

I agree totally, I can't see any reason to create these made up sides like Pacific Islands etc, it'll never work.

Lets just have country versus country and do it properly.

Nothing can compete with origin so why bother trying to imagine it could. The NRL clubs would never agree to more of their players being missing in the origin period anyway, imagine the Bunnies and Warriors missing their origin reps (not many lol) plus Tongan, Samoan, Cook Island, Maori, NZ and Fijian reps....... they wouldn't have 17 to play.

 

[playdaball]

Why don't we just go the whole hog and organise a Honkies v Darkies game?:roll:

Wasn't that long ago in Auckland that they had a Maori vs Pakeha game.

 

[hutch]

would much prefer that we concentrated on internationals, and allow them to be played when australia play our origin. other countries deserve their chance to play rep footy just as we do.

however, if we did have a polynesia v melanesia game, there would be a few conditions. the players involved MUST be committed to a polynesian or melanesian country in test rugby league, none of this hayne playing for fiji or melanesia after he misses out on australia for example. i wouldnt include maori players as i would hope that nz would have their own origin series running at the same time.

for the record, melanesia would win convincingly with their png influence. add in a few fijians such as uate and naqaima, it would be a towel up.

 

[magpie_man]

for the record, melanesia would win convincingly with their png influence. add in a few fijians such as uate and naqaima, it would be a towel up.

which is why nz maori would have to be included in "polynesia" imo.
enforce a minimum quota of 2 players from each country in the team so that "polynesia" isn't just the kiwis minus nathan fien.
theoretically, i think this concept could be successful. where australian television audiences wouldn't be particularly interested in watching a bunch of nsw cuppers running around for the cook islands against tonga, the cream of pacific talent combating for two strong, passionate tribes could capture the general public's imagination.

 

[kuwaiti kev]

where australian television audiences wouldn't be particularly interested in watching a bunch of nsw cuppers running around for the cook islands against tonga, the cream of pacific talent combating for two strong, passionate tribes could capture the general public's imagination.

I disagree, it doesn't matter how you brand it the general Australian public won't be interested they are far too wrapt up in Origin and the NRL to consider anything else worthy.

However nation versus nation draws on National Pride and anyone with any heritage to the nations involved will be interested. These are proud pacific island nations who enjoy beating each other on the sports field, a mish mash of islands thrown together won't raise the same sort of passion.

 

[hutch]

which is why nz maori would have to be included in "polynesia" imo.
enforce a minimum quota of 2 players from each country in the team so that "polynesia" isn't just the kiwis minus nathan fien.
theoretically, i think this concept could be successful. where australian television audiences wouldn't be particularly interested in watching a bunch of nsw cuppers running around for the cook islands against tonga, the cream of pacific talent combating for two strong, passionate tribes could capture the general public's imagination.

if the pacific cup was played during a mid season break when australia has their origin and nz have their kiwi roots game, i could see it taking off and drawing a fair amount of attention.

even then, i couldnt care less if australian tv audiences are interested or not, if it ignites the islands every year then we are doing something positive. i know the money is in aussie tv, but spreading the game and making rugby league the sport of choice in all pacific countries is more important than making a small amount of money from tv.