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Yet another article in the Sun Herald. I am starting to soften my view a tad. If we were to let these teams in, then it can't be at the expense of the original ten. But if it could help make the tournament a bigger success and generate a bigger profit, then maybe I'd consider it. Realistically all that really matters is that the tournament is a success in the eyes of our media. Positive stories will create crowd and corporate interest. Ok, we may get a bit of bad media in the UK if we have an Aussie Aboriginal and a NZ Maori team in the cup, but if the ARL think they can turn this into positive media down under, then maybe it's worth a go.
Furthermore, and one for the conspiracy theorists, is this why we currently are going with a awkward 10 team format? Has the ARL been planning this all along?:shock:
From www.smh.com.au
Indigenous groups join to recover 'debt of history
August 6, 2006
The Australian Aborigines and New Zealand Maori are poised to form an alliance to try to convince the International Rugby League Federation to include them in the 2008 World Cup.
After the exclusive Sun-Herald story last week about the Maori and Aborigines being snubbed, league great and proud Aborigine Arthur Beetson will meet the heads of NZ Maori Rugby League, Kevin and Howie Tamati, in Sydney this week.
Both parties have received support from the rugby league fraternity, and departing Penrith coach John Lang has pledged to do whatever he can to help the teams gain cup entry.
The Tamatis and Beetson hope to formulate a decisive "battle plan".
The Tamatis are scheduled to meet IRLF and Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love on August 18 to discuss a range of subjects, including the participation of both indigenous teams in the cup.
Love told The Sun-Herald last week the IRLF was reluctant to give Aboriginal and Maori teams permission to play because it believes Australia and New Zealand will be represented by their national teams.
If they were allowed to play, the teams would be chosen after national teams were selected.
The Maori said they had every reason to think they would be included because they had competed in the 2000 cup. And they believe it would be symbolic in the code's centenary year for the Aborigines to play. The Tamatis will call on the ARL to repay what they say is "a debt of history".
In the NZ Maori cup proposal that was rejected by the international board early this year, it was suggested a 12-match tour of NSW and Queensland by a Maori representative team in 1908 helped the game take root in Australia.
Despite being betrayed by the promoter, the Maori returned in 1909 and played before huge crowds, which cemented popularity.
"Both the Maori and Aborigines should be there," Beetson said. "The World Cup is being treated as a celebration of rugby league's centenary year and there'll be no better opportunity to acknowledge the contribution to the code by the Aborigines and Maori than this."
Beetson, who is acknowledged as one of the game's greatest players, has asked friends he describes as "people of influence" to support him.
"I've spoken to a few people including [former QRL official] Dick 'Tosser' Turner, and I want to talk to Gorden Tallis," he said. "Gorden is an NRL director and I need him to support this. I also need him to help a few of the heavy hitters in the NRL to make the ARL realise the benefits of letting the Aborigines and Maori play."
Lang has pleaded for the ARL to throw "political correctness" out the window and embrace the concept.
"Rugby league world cups haven't really caught the public's attention in the past," he said. "But having the Aboriginal and Maori teams would help turn it into a festival of football and grab plenty of attention."
Former Panthers enforcer Mark Geyer said he'd love to watch Aboriginal and Maori teams play.
"I don't think I'll be giving up a Saturday night to watch a few of the other teams that will be competing from the developing league nations," he said.
Love has said there would be problems in changing the tournament format because teams were already involved in qualifying matches.
But Beetson said it was simply a matter of increasing the number of teams from 10 to 12.
"What's really the problem?" he asked. "It comes back to whether or not the ARL want to do it."
Furthermore, and one for the conspiracy theorists, is this why we currently are going with a awkward 10 team format? Has the ARL been planning this all along?:shock:
From www.smh.com.au
Indigenous groups join to recover 'debt of history
August 6, 2006
The Australian Aborigines and New Zealand Maori are poised to form an alliance to try to convince the International Rugby League Federation to include them in the 2008 World Cup.
After the exclusive Sun-Herald story last week about the Maori and Aborigines being snubbed, league great and proud Aborigine Arthur Beetson will meet the heads of NZ Maori Rugby League, Kevin and Howie Tamati, in Sydney this week.
Both parties have received support from the rugby league fraternity, and departing Penrith coach John Lang has pledged to do whatever he can to help the teams gain cup entry.
The Tamatis and Beetson hope to formulate a decisive "battle plan".
The Tamatis are scheduled to meet IRLF and Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love on August 18 to discuss a range of subjects, including the participation of both indigenous teams in the cup.
Love told The Sun-Herald last week the IRLF was reluctant to give Aboriginal and Maori teams permission to play because it believes Australia and New Zealand will be represented by their national teams.
If they were allowed to play, the teams would be chosen after national teams were selected.
The Maori said they had every reason to think they would be included because they had competed in the 2000 cup. And they believe it would be symbolic in the code's centenary year for the Aborigines to play. The Tamatis will call on the ARL to repay what they say is "a debt of history".
In the NZ Maori cup proposal that was rejected by the international board early this year, it was suggested a 12-match tour of NSW and Queensland by a Maori representative team in 1908 helped the game take root in Australia.
Despite being betrayed by the promoter, the Maori returned in 1909 and played before huge crowds, which cemented popularity.
"Both the Maori and Aborigines should be there," Beetson said. "The World Cup is being treated as a celebration of rugby league's centenary year and there'll be no better opportunity to acknowledge the contribution to the code by the Aborigines and Maori than this."
Beetson, who is acknowledged as one of the game's greatest players, has asked friends he describes as "people of influence" to support him.
"I've spoken to a few people including [former QRL official] Dick 'Tosser' Turner, and I want to talk to Gorden Tallis," he said. "Gorden is an NRL director and I need him to support this. I also need him to help a few of the heavy hitters in the NRL to make the ARL realise the benefits of letting the Aborigines and Maori play."
Lang has pleaded for the ARL to throw "political correctness" out the window and embrace the concept.
"Rugby league world cups haven't really caught the public's attention in the past," he said. "But having the Aboriginal and Maori teams would help turn it into a festival of football and grab plenty of attention."
Former Panthers enforcer Mark Geyer said he'd love to watch Aboriginal and Maori teams play.
"I don't think I'll be giving up a Saturday night to watch a few of the other teams that will be competing from the developing league nations," he said.
Love has said there would be problems in changing the tournament format because teams were already involved in qualifying matches.
But Beetson said it was simply a matter of increasing the number of teams from 10 to 12.
"What's really the problem?" he asked. "It comes back to whether or not the ARL want to do it."