Bring back Northern Tours

[Foreign Legion]

Auckland: Reviving Kangaroos tours to the northern hemisphere is at the top of Mal Meninga’s 2019 wish list.

The historic Tongan Test was a fantastic way to round out this year but, as it stands, there are no Tests locked in for the top-ranked Australians next year.

A Test against New Zealand in Australia at the end of the year is expected, as well as another showdown with the Tongans. Hawaii and New York as destinations will again have support.




AUSTRALIA
Kangaroos match Tonga for pride and passion in historic victory
‘‘This game would have got a great crowd back in Australia, but we all witnessed what happened tonight. It was fabulous. We have to keep going and can’t rest on our laurels and say, ‘How good was that?’. We need to continue to make sure we play more games.’’

The British Lions are expected to tour Down Under at the end of next year, but the international calendar is still being finalised.

The other debate will be which players remain in the green and gold, especially with the likes of Michael Morgan, Greg Inglis, Cameron Munster, James Maloney and Matt Gillett – as well as Kalyn Ponga – all to figure in the selection debates should they maintain their form.

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Tonga coach Kristian Woolf also remains in the dark about their schedule, although a Test against New Zealand has been locked in for June. They have proven they can rumble with the big boys, and it would be extra special if they could retain a gun player like Tevita Pangai Junior, who is also eligible for NSW and Australia and could be swayed by the Origin cash grab.


TONGA
Tongans devise novel way to keep excitable crowd calm: Methodist hymns
‘‘And when you do know it’s coming, you’ve got six or seven weeks in advance, so everything is a rush in terms of planning. The real positive is we’ve got a Test locked in and we’ll be better prepared than we were tonight.’’

Such is the hype around Tonga they are expected to head the fourth group at the 2021 World Cup, which will mean there is no likely clash with the heavyweights like Australia and New Zealand until the finals.

Andrew Fifita showed his passion after the game as he addressed the group, while Kangaroos’ back-rower Felise Kaufusi showed his appreciation for his country of heritage by performing a second Sipi Tau long after full-time.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/sp...ternational-game-meninga-20181020-p50ayj.html

 

[Burns]

GREAT BRITAIN ARE TOURING NEXT YEAR. YOU DON'T NEET TO GO ANYWHERE MAL.

So frustrating. Lock in the schedule already and stop the endless 'policy on the run'.

And does anyone know anything about this???: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/107939304/nzrl-plan-big-to-capitalise-on-kiwis-success

"It was signalled earlier this year that the British Lions would come down under, but it's understood issues over TV contracts may mean they come just to New Zealand.

However, Peters says while they want to host the Lions, for what could be a series or a one-off test, he has to make sure it's financially viable.

"We've still got a lot more work to do on that, but we need to work out the commercial equation for that to make it work for New Zealand," he said.

 

[roughyedspud]

Is he f**king stupid???

GB wanted to tour Australia next year and Australia are touring Britain in 2020..

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Talk is GB to play at least one test against NZ (i dont think it would be financially viable to play 3) then Tonga vs GB and Australia.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Ther term 'Capitalise' on the Kiwi's success describes everything wrong with the international game. We are always looking to jump on bandwagons. If a year-in, year-out structure were in place for all nations, we would be able to automatically capitalise on any nations' golden generation by having them bring home trophies of real, historic (given time) tournaments to their nation. It is quite simple:

Euro Cup - annual with P&R to a Euro Shield
Pacific Cup - annual with P&R to a Pacific Shield
Colonial Cup (North America) - annual P&R tied in with the Pacific system
Copa Latinoamericana (Latin America) - annual P&R tied in with the Colonial Cup
Middle East / Africa Cup - Annual P&R tied in with the Euro system
Six Nations - annual with P&R to Euro & Pacific Cups
9's circuit - annual using players that aren't contracted to NRL or SL build it and it will grow
World Cup - every four years and the only time the above otherwise 'annual' tournaments aren't played

Every nation competes every year, every nation has access to the number 1 team in the world if they earn it, every ambitious nation has a clear pathway to the top of the game. This structure would have seen Tonga (most likely) win the Pacific Cup this year, which would then qualify them for a Six Nations next year - how huge would that be? It would also give their admin, coaching staff and fans a sense that their golden generation is building to something special and not just playing random, poorly organised tests so that the game can 'cash in'. Also, we would know exactly who was playing where and when a full year in advance.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Hawaii and New York as destinations will again have support.

perfect lapsus right there. destinations? ie mal and the kangaroos are looking for an end of season holiday more than anything else.

 

[roughyedspud]

Talk is GB to play at least one test against NZ (i dont think it would be financially viable to play 3) then Tonga vs GB and Australia.

The talk is 1 game v NZ,1 v Tonga,1 v Samoa and 1 or 2 games v district side like Auckland & wellington..

Effing pointless

 

[Burns]

If it ain't announced by December then it isn't happening. How are GB supporters meant to buy airfares etc etc. It's the whole point isn't?

Match against Australia instead of the district Auckland sides would be great - but that TV commercial thing seems to hold it up?

 

[King hit]

But rich coming from Meninga since he and his Super League buddies ended them

 

[Pommy]

Is he f**king stupid???

GB wanted to tour Australia next year and Australia are touring Britain in 2020..

You make it sound like a certainty, plenty of potential games for Mal to prattle on about before then Doha, Delhi maybe Olympus Mons even.

 

[Springs09]

With all the talk from the Australian coach and players, how much does the RLPA actually act in the interest of the players? All the Australian players have said how much they wanted to play against Tonga, despite this year being the determined 'year off' for Australian players. Australian players always talk about how the Four Nations and World Cup tours are some of the best things they have ever done. Who exactly are the players that are demanding this year off?

I remember Thurston complaining in 2014 about having a 4 Nations the year after the World Cup, but the other Australian players seem like they can't get enough of it. Is it the Rugby League Player's Association or is it the NRL Clubs Association?

The Lions Tour schedule and Ashes Series should be locked in now, as well as the Pacific Championship containing at least NZ, Tonga, Samoa, PNG and Fiji, hopefully Cook Islands as well.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

The talk is 1 game v NZ,1 v Tonga,1 v Samoa and 1 or 2 games v district side like Auckland & wellington..

Effing pointless

Wellington? That will be 150-200 point win easily

 

[deluded pom?]

With all the talk from the Australian coach and players, how much does the RLPA actually act in the interest of the players? All the Australian players have said how much they wanted to play against Tonga, despite this year being the determined 'year off' for Australian players. Australian players always talk about how the Four Nations and World Cup tours are some of the best things they have ever done. Who exactly are the players that are demanding this year off?

I remember Thurston complaining in 2014 about having a 4 Nations the year after the World Cup, but the other Australian players seem like they can't get enough of it. Is it the Rugby League Player's Association or is it the NRL Clubs Association?

That one always amazes me too. Organise the games. If players don’t want to participate then thank them for their service and move on to the next player in line. Nobody is forcing them to play for their country. It’s an honour and a privilege few get to experience. I can’t see how this is anything to do with the RLPA other than the conditions their members would be playing under. It’s extra games the players aren’t contracted to play in but the majority will want to play in them.

 

[siv]

RLPA seem to be dictating international RL player payments

Aussies get something like $50k

Which is about right for Aussie SOO NRL players

NRL pays the kiwis when they play Australia.

But for all other internationals payments are nowhere near this. In fact players would be lucky get $2k

With no one creating schedules and selling the international RL TV product or giving it away like the NRL has done - its difficult to grow the pie to pay players

We wont ever get away from a post season injury or surgery requirement

But can work better with scheduling and the TV broadcasting

With a dedicated RL channel on fox all of the RLWC2021 qualufiers should being shown. Even if they are only a simple youtube full game replay. Sick of the Fox scheduling post season

 

[deluded pom?]

I don’t get why SoO payments are so high. I understand that it generates a huge amount of money but IMO a large percentage of the profits should be used to bring the future players through. I really don’t see why SoO players should get more than a player pulling on a Kangaroos shirt. If SoO is the draw for the players we are told it is then surely they’d still play even on reduced money. Wouldn’t they?

 

[deal.with.it]

Isn’t the RLPA boss employed by the NRL? I feel like I read that...

 

[Springs09]

I don’t get why SoO payments are so high. I understand that it generates a huge amount of money but IMO a large percentage of the profits should be used to bring the future players through. I really don’t see why SoO players should get more than a player pulling on a Kangaroos shirt. If SoO is the draw for the players we are told it is then surely they’d still play even on reduced money. Wouldn’t they?

The jersey itself should be the incentive. If there are any players out there that wouldn't play Origin if not for the money then they shouldn't be playing.

There'd be tens of thousands of players wishing they could play Origin, and a lot more kids dreaming of it when they grow up. I doubt if any of them got the opportunity they'd care about money.

The money and benefits these players get could easily go to areas of the game that need it, or reduced ticket prices so we can ease the burden on the fans and start gaining bigger crowds.

I paid $10k in 2013 just to go watch the World Cup. Imagine the trip being fully paid for while getting to actually play in the games - and getting tens of thousands of dollars on top of it!

 

[Last Week]

You can't expect players or anyone for that matter, to play for less just because there's others who would do it for less. That's just delusional.

The kangaroos (and kiwis when playing Aus) match payments are paid for by the NRL/ARLC. Just because other nations can't pay their players anywhere near it doesn't mean that Australian players should give up what they're owed.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I can't understand how games with passion like Tonga-Aus exist and can't be made to turn a decent profit so everyone gets a decent amount of coin. If they can't do that then there is absolutely no hope for anyone.

 

[Springs09]

You can't expect players or anyone for that matter, to play for less just because there's others who would do it for less. That's just delusional.

The kangaroos (and kiwis when playing Aus) match payments are paid for by the NRL/ARLC. Just because other nations can't pay their players anywhere near it doesn't mean that Australian players should give up what they're owed.

It wouldn't be playing for less, it would be playing for what they used to. This tens of thousands of dollars for playing one game thing is only a recent thing.

And f**k off, they aren't owed anything. Nobody is owed money for the privilege of playing for your country. And it's not about other countries not being able to pay their players, it's about why we are spending millions in match payments for one game when the money could be better spent growing the game elsewhere and when (as shown by the Australia v Tonga match) players are quite happy to play for much less when given the opportunity to play in meaningful games.