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Chambers on song as Storm Looks to US

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MR KNIGHT

Juniors
Messages
133
From what I was told some of the Knights guys have been working on this for a while with David Niu.

It is amazing to think that the best Rugby League team of this generation coming to play an international in the US is in any way negative!
 
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Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
Great news that Melbourne are getting involved, but I'm not a fan at all of full international sides playing against club sides. Surely it would be better for the Storm to play a US domestic/AMNRL President's side rather than damaging the credibility of the Tomahawks brand when they inevitably win? I guess that way Niu could justify picking his 'loyal' mates for the game too.
 
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DaBears

Juniors
Messages
35
Evil Homer said:
Great news that Melbourne are getting involved, but I'm not a fan at all of full international sides playing against club sides. Surely it would be better for the Storm to play a US domestic/AMNRL President's side rather than damaging the credibility of the Tomahawks brand when they inevitably win? I guess that way Niu could justify picking his 'loyal' mates for the game too.
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Australia def. USA 36–24 (December 1, 2004) Respectable score IMO... I don't think the T'Hawks are at risk of damaging their brand....Especially on this board :sarcasm:
 
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Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
DaBears said:
Australia def. USA 36–24 (December 1, 2004) Respectable score IMO... I don't think the T'Hawks are at risk of damaging their brand....Especially on this board :sarcasm:
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So if a bunch of New Yorkers turn up for the first time and see their national team being flogged by an Australian club side, you think they are going to leave with a positive impression of RL? Even if they put up a valiant effort like they did against the Kangaroos in 2004, there's not really any glory since they would still be beaten by a club side. Bill it as a President's 13, it could still include the exact same players but that would preserve the image of the international game for people who may have never seen RL before.

Of course this is dependent on Niu actually making an effort to market this game positively and not using it as a chance to catch up with his Aussie mates and deal with more 'names', but that's a different story.
 
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gyallop

Juniors
Messages
551
There would be no disgrace in being beaten by the Storm, have you seen them this year? I doubt the Poms would get within 10 points of them and the Kiwis would struggle ( and if the Aussies click Friday night that may be a debacle!!). Storm will be on a holiday like the Aussies were in 04 and the USA boys will be pumped so for NYers who know zero about RL I think they will see what they think is an exciting new game.

From the media in Australia the game is Craig Bellamy's baby so cant see why Niu is a villian.....I dont care who can claim credit but surely the worlds best footy team coming to the USA ( and no NRL club ever has) with the worlds best player in Billy Slater can only be good for the game there?
 
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gyallop

Juniors
Messages
551
quick update the story in the Sydney Morning Herald ( VIP not a Melbourne paper) has the Storm/USA story the 3rd most read story today even though it is a story from y;day!!
 
G

gyallop

Juniors
Messages
551
another story today in a "gossip" column
STORM LOOK TO AMERICA
Storm officials have announced an end-of-season match against the US Tomahawks on October 13 but might postpone the fixture until a week later because Kangaroos stars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk do not want to miss the trip. The NRL premiership favourites agreed to the match, which clashes with the October 14 Australia-New Zealand Test, after coach Craig Bellamy and operations manager Frank Ponissi met with US officials during an off-season trip to New York. ''On our arrival back to Melbourne, I proposed the idea to a few of our senior players. They were … extremely keen to make it happen,'' Ponissi said. ''Without any doubt, both the USA and New York has an aura about them, and this excites both the players and the coaching staff.''


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ts-in-doubt-20120419-1xa10.html#ixzz1sXz83KMe
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
gyallop said:
There would be no disgrace in being beaten by the Storm, have you seen them this year? I doubt the Poms would get within 10 points of them and the Kiwis would struggle ( and if the Aussies click Friday night that may be a debacle!!). Storm will be on a holiday like the Aussies were in 04 and the USA boys will be pumped so for NYers who know zero about RL I think they will see what they think is an exciting new game.
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I just think the impact would be more if the team was a rep side rather than the full national team. The fact that other national teams might struggle is irrelevant to people who don't know anything about RL. I feel like there's nothing to lose and everything to gain from billing it as a rep side.
From the media in Australia the game is Craig Bellamy's baby so cant see why Niu is a villian.....I dont care who can claim credit but surely the worlds best footy team coming to the USA ( and no NRL club ever has) with the worlds best player in Billy Slater can only be good for the game there?
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Agreed. I just hope the AMNRL have the best intentions at heart so that they can maximize this opportunity.
 
M

MR KNIGHT

Juniors
Messages
133
This is a huge deal. Anyone who knows Rugby League knows this.

Imagine the well wishers and backslapping if the USARL had pulled this off. I think the AMNRL and Knights deserve congratulations for this. It is obvious alot of people cant give credit where it is due.

And by the way, I don't see Niu or the Knights self congratulating or big noting themselves. The guys I have spoken too are too concerned with getting it done.
 
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DINGb@T

Juniors
Messages
834
Wow. Awesome news. Don't know if the game itself will be of benefit to the home team - they're going to spend a lot of time watching Billy run past or away from them - but the promotional opportunities and the ability to just hang out with other players should benefit the Tomahawks no end.

It would really be a good opportunity to get top line gridiron players out to the game as well for the 'cultural exchange' value. Raise the profile of the sport in America.

Although, a grand final winning Storm team playing amateurs does sound a bit scary. However it will prepare them for the more physical games they're going to get in the WC.

Do we have any idea which stadium it's going to be played at yet?
 
B

Bombay Devils RLFC

Juniors
Messages
226
Evil Homer said:
I just think the impact would be more if the team was a rep side rather than the full national team. The fact that other national teams might struggle is irrelevant to people who don't know anything about RL. I feel like there's nothing to lose and everything to gain from billing it as a rep side.
Agreed. I just hope the AMNRL have the best intentions at heart so that they can maximize this opportunity.
Click to expand...

Unless you have the national side you may not get the press locally compared to a Presidents 13. Either way if the Yanks can get to see Billy Slater in full flight it will not matter so much about the score but the spectacle that can be produced. US sports fans are use to a slow moving game in Gridiron so anything has to be better than this.
 
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gyallop

Juniors
Messages
551
might be a tough day in the office for the Tomahawks but I cant recall any boxer getting better fighting bums but I have seen plenty get better fighting better fighters!!..better for them to play the best and get belted to prepare for the World Cup than to worry about the effect on a few hundred spectators.........mouthguards in and go hard boys....and no boasts in the media in Australia by anyone but whoever pulled it off great work!
 
alien

alien

Referee
Messages
20,279
awesome! i hope its televised in australia. they should just make the game on the sunday october 21 so the best storm players are available! didnt south sydney rabbitohs play a trial/exhibition game in america??? or was that against an american club side???
 
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