ANZAC Test axed?

[Burns]

The mid-season Anzac Test between the Kiwis and Kangaroos will be axed when the NRL's new television deal comes into effect in 2018.
A press release from the NRL trumpeting a $A925 deal with free-to-air broadcaster Channel 9 confirms the second State of Origin match will be played on a Sunday, with International Rugby League "given a new priority" and "played in a dedicated window after the NRL Premiership season".
The new State of Origin schedule will see the second match in each series being played on a Sunday night as part of a stand alone weekend of representative football, which will also feature Pacific Nation Tests, the release states.
That could see the Kiwis taking on a Pacific Nation such as Samoa or Tonga instead of the Kangaroos.
The NZRL has not immediately responded to a Herald request for an interview.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11494771

Disappointing. Also find it some what concerning that the NRL is dictating when and how International Test matches are played.
​

 

[docbrown]

It will be played as a regular game a few weeks after the grand final (potentially except in WC years).

They're also looking at making sure there's a regular game against England in Australia as well and 3 match series every couple of years.

 

[Matua]

WTF. Kiwis win one match in about 15 and the Aussies throw their toys out of the cot. ;-)

I hope that the NRL is getting assurance that CH9 will play the league in HD as part of this new deal.

 

[lafai]

Tbh I actually don't mind the ANZAC Test being scrapped heck they didn't even play it on ANZAC Day lol

 

[roughyedspud]

We'll come dowm and play you...i'll just give big nigel a ring..

 

[roughyedspud]

It will be played as a regular game a few weeks after the grand final (potentially except in WC years).

They're also looking at making sure there's a regular game against England in Australia as well and 3 match series every couple of years.

The new international schedual will give room for tours..

World cup
Tours
Federation cup
Tours
World cup

Thats what its gonna look like for the big 3 anyway..as i understand it we're still going persist with euro & pacific cups in "tour years" which will act as qualification comps for the world cup & fed cup,theres scope also for these nations to pick up games against a touring big 3 team..ie

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

A one off test has no place in the regular NRL season. Having a dedicated time for tests at the end of the season is the best option. It allows all footy fans, the players and the media to focus solely on the international game. Great move by the NRL

 

[roughyedspud]

A one off test has no place in the regular NRL season. Having a dedicated time for tests at the end of the season is the best option. It allows all footy fans, the players and the media to focus solely on the international game. Great move by the NRL

Such up ya dickhead lol

The weekend of the 2nd origin game is a test weekend

 

[Matterhorn]

I see it as a negative.

With no tests against Aus until the end of the year - aus selectors can be in the ears of eligible players that haven't played a test for the kiwis yet locking them into the origin system if they play for qld or nsw

 

[roughyedspud]

Theres scope for everyone except australia to play mid season tests...so sod em

 

[docbrown]

The new international schedual will give room for tours..

World cup
Tours
Federation cup
Tours
World cup

Thats what its gonna look like for the big 3 anyway..as i understand it we're still going persist with euro & pacific cups in "tour years" which will act as qualification comps for the world cup & fed cup,theres scope also for these nations to pick up games against a touring big 3 team..ie

I think essentially the idea is to build those Big 3 match ups and close the gap with Origin.

So as Big 3 results get closer and you start seeing those secondaries compete, the next round of negotiations they'll have an amazing international property to sell.

 

[Burns]

Theres scope for everyone except australia to play mid season tests...so sod em

Exactly. Would require Super League to take week off as well though wouldn't it? France and England could come down to play NZ/Samoa/Fiji.

 

[roughyedspud]

Exactly. Would require Super League to take week off as well though wouldn't it? France and England could come down to play NZ/Samoa/Fiji.

Yep...

Though a good number of the england team already play down under so they only have to pick 10-11 players from super league to meet up with them..

1.
2.
3 .jack reed
4.
5.
6. Gareth widdop
7.
8. James graham
9. Josh hodgson
10. George burgess
11.
12.
13.

14.
15. Tom burgess
16. Mike cooper
17. Elliot whitehead
18.

Not too bad...but yeah ideally we'd stop super league for a week so everyone else could play too

 

[Last Week]

Yep...

Though a good number of the england team already play down under so they only have to pick 10-11 players from super league to meet up with them..

1.
2.
3 .jack reed
4.
5.
6. Gareth widdop
7.
8. James graham
9. Josh hodgson
10. George burgess
11.
12.
13.

14.
15. Tom burgess
16. Mike cooper
17. Elliot whitehead
18.

Not too bad...but yeah ideally we'd stop super league for a week so everyone else could play too

Pretty fair to say that by 2022, not all of those will still be playing for England or still playing in Australia.

The mid year test has been maligned for years, it was always going to change. Ideally, test football would become bigger than State of Origin and we'd have a yearly 3 match test series as opposed to State of Origin. But that's no the case.

With the mid year rep weekend, if England want to come down or NZ want to go to England, so be it. I can see issues arising from it and it becoming scrapped quite quickly. The Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and PNG tests will continue down here I'd say in that weekend.

The interesting proposition is what will NZ do if they don't play mid year against England.

 

[roughyedspud]

2022 ?

Comes into effect in 2018

 

[PARRA_FAN]

The problem is after the season, how many of the top players will be available for the test matches, given we've injuries and off season surgery required in the past?

 

[roughyedspud]

The problem is after the season, how many of the top players will be available for the test matches, given we've injuries and off season surgery required in the past?

Thats always been the case though..

 

[DlEHARD]

So we have a neglected fixture that outrates the Bloodyslow fade away into history.

Im disappointed.

 

[Foreign Legion]

Pretty sad... especially when nz needs the money

 

[JoeD]

Pretty sad when the NZRL is not even notified