2024 Crowd Watch

[yakstorm]

Even just a tri series with them would be epic

It honestly would be the perfect thing to pair with Origin if we ever went back to rep weekends.

The problem is it's the type of tournament that some players would pick over Origin as well, which would be the NRLs fear.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

With England coming over next year, we should keep the Pacific Championships in tact for continuity and England play the team with the bye each week or just join the comp as an invitational side and tweak the format slightly:

Pool A
New Zealand
Samoa
Tonga
Fiji

Pool B
Australia
England
PNG
Cook Islands

Pool winners meet in the final.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Broadcasters will definitely want something for end of season, and I think there will be Tests no matter what, but the question will be what format they take. NZ will have to have at least 2 Tests for the NRL & NZRL to satisfy their deal with SkyNZ and the Aus Government will put money up for Tess in PNG at least, so there would be something.

Hopefully the Pacific Championship takes place. NZ, Samoa & Tonga tri-series would be amazing and easily get 3x 20K+ crowds.

I reckon you could sell-out Commbank, sell-out Mt Smart and pull 30k to Suncorp for a Tonga v Samoa three test series

 

[Wb1234]

It honestly would be the perfect thing to pair with Origin if we ever went back to rep weekends.

The problem is it's the type of tournament that some players would pick over Origin as well, which would be the NRLs fear.

The ideal scenario is keep the number of games the same

Just stop for four weeks and play origin on consecutive weeks together with pacific cup minus Australia

This would help player welfare hugely and improve both the nrl and origin

 

[warriors 95]

England could’ve been included in an expanded pacific cup

They been pining for an ashes type tour for 30 years

For 3 years straight they have devalued the pacific cup

Without Australia the games could be based in nz png and Fiji

Nz v Tonga
Nz v Samoa
Tonga v Samoa

Would be epic clashes

Even just a tri series with them would be epic

NZ v tonga Hamilton

NZ v Samoa Christchurch

tonga v Samoa Auckland(mt smart)

final Auckland(mt smart)

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

NZ v tonga Hamilton

NZ v Samoa Christchurch

tonga v Samoa Auckland(mt smart)

final Auckland(mt smart)

I agree mate, keep it in NZ, great series across the country and will give it a chance to get more media coverage if it is all in NZ, especially with our attempts to grow the game there.

 

[Iamback]

The last Tonga v Samoa game held in the southern hemisphere was a sellout of 17,802 at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in 2018.

Prior to that the crowds were:
18,156 - Hamilton 2017 RLWC
15,225 - Parramatta 2016
12,336 - Gold Coast 2015
10,143 - Penrith 2013
11,308 - Parramatta 2010

Only other game Tonga has played at Campbelltown was 2017 versus Fiji were the crowd was 18,271.

Correct.

It would sell out CommBank, and get very close at Allianz

 

[Iamback]

It honestly would be the perfect thing to pair with Origin if we ever went back to rep weekends.

The problem is it's the type of tournament that some players would pick over Origin as well, which would be the NRLs fear.

The issue was the ESL not stopping, You need full strength squads to have buy in

 

[warriors 95]

I agree mate, keep it in NZ, great series across the country and will give it a chance to get more media coverage if it is all in NZ, especially with our attempts to grow the game there.

Play to your advantage with large Tongan and Samoan communities in New Zealand and the growing support for the game in Christchurch.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

Play to your advantage with large Tongan and Samoan communities in New Zealand and the growing support for the game in Christchurch.

Exactly mate, we have a 3 Test series against the Poms over here and everybody is happy, what a spread of international League.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Problem is that the Pacific sides don't hold the same star (drawing) power or competitiveness when played simultaneously with Origin.

To'o
Chrichton
Luai
Leniu
Fotueka
Nanai
Sua
Kafusi
Taulagi
Fifita
Haas (if recent rumours are true)

all potentially missing because of Origin.

 

[warriors 95]

Exactly mate, we have a 3 Test series against the Poms over here and everybody is happy, what a spread of international League.

3 test series in Australia?

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

3 test series in Australia?

I assume that what the Poms are coming here for.

 

[Coastbloke]

3 test series in Australia?

Next year..

 

[warriors 95]

I assume that what the Poms are coming here for.

I’d heard about it but wasn’t sure if it was confirmed.

hope they play a mid-week game or 2 against Australia A in perth and maybe a select 13 Queensland cup side.

tests should be held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in that order.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

I’d heard about it but wasn’t sure if it was confirmed.

hope they play a mid-week game or 2 against Australia A in perth and maybe a select 13 Queensland cup side.

tests should be held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in that order.

Yeah they`re coming, (most of the good ones are here already anyway...that`s a dig to fire up any Poms on here.)
Talk of mid-week games and such reminds me of the days when the Pommy team would work their way down the coast playing regional teams.
The first Test, that`s a tricky one, big pommy ex-pat crowd in WA, and if they`re the next team in, that`d be tempting. Melbourne, great stadium, and would get a good crowd. Tough choice.
Anyway better get inside to watch the match, hope the weather`s good over there in Kiwi land.

 

[Coastbloke]

Yeah they`re coming, (most of the good ones are here already anyway...that`s a dig to fire up any Poms on here.)
Talk of mid-week games and such reminds me of the days when the Pommy team would work their way down the coast playing regional teams.
The first Test, that`s a tricky one, big pommy ex-pat crowd in WA, and if they`re the next team in, that`d be tempting. Melbourne, great stadium, and would get a good crowd. Tough choice.
Anyway better get inside to watch the match, hope the weather`s good over there in Kiwi land.

My guess (not it any order) would be Suncorp, Allianz or Combank, probably the latter and AAMI…No warmups. No regional/state/country rep teams etc..In and out. 3 weeks..’

 

[warriors 95]

My guess (not it any order) would be Suncorp, Allianz or Combank, probably the latter and AAMI…No warmups. No regional/state/country rep teams etc..In and out. 3 weeks..’

Has to be Allianz for me.

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

My guess (not it any order) would be Suncorp, Allianz or Combank, probably the latter and AAMI…No warmups. No regional/state/country rep teams etc..In and out. 3 weeks..’

Nah, Commbank too small, (hopefully) deserves better than that. Got to go, I`m half cut in the barn and better get inside. See you on the other side. LOL.

 

[warriors 95]

Next year..

Awesome news.

we(England) will have a pretty decent side with a lot of well known to Aussie fans NRL players and a few as of yet unknown young talent who I predict will be chased by a few NRL clubs by the end of the test series.