Four Nations 2023

[Ideas Man Stephen]

I think we will find Tonga will keep themselves here rather than head off to England. Surely the NRL will make them an offer too good to refuse, which doesn’t include flying half way around the world for the second year in a row.

It’s a real shame the players union hold so much power over the NRL and any minimum break the players must have between their last game of footy and pre-season. It really softens the ability to run a great Pacific 6 nations tournament here.

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

Would be cool to have a European Four Nations consisting of England, France, Ireland and Scotland, winner takes on the winner of Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga's four nations.



Are you saying Australia, NZ, Samoa and Tonga should be touring France, Ireland, Serbia and Wales to play those respective nations? I'd genuinely say that all four of the bigger nations would crush Serbia 100+ to 0 whilst France, Ireland and Wales would lose 50+.

If you mean they play one another in those countries that could be a good thing.

what would be cool about England putting 60 points on all those teams in front of 5000 people?

Yeah, Serbia would be demolished. It’s fanciful to even mention them in the same sentence. It’s almost the exact same story for Wales.

As for the likes of Ireland and Scotland, the only way they could ever have a hint of competitiveness outside a WC event, would be if they toured down under, because I don’t see the Irish or Scottish federations paying their NRL based heritage players anything near enough to have them fly back for a series in the NH.

 

[Clarkent]

I think we will find Tonga will keep themselves here rather than head off to England. Surely the NRL will make them an offer too good to refuse, which doesn’t include flying half way around the world for the second year in a row.

It’s a real shame the players union hold so much power over the NRL and any minimum break the players must have between their last game of footy and pre-season. It really softens the ability to run a great Pacific 6 nations tournament here.

I agree. No way Tonga passes up a chance to play in the four nations and compete against 3 top teams. And not only that, but play in front of their fans. The fans deserve to see Samoa ve Tonga match on front of a packed stadium

 

[titoelcolombiano]

The NZRL officials need to get in the ear of Kalyn Ponga and make a serious play for him.

Guy is never going to get the kangaroos fullback gig and he’s too good of a player to be sitting out international RL.

Interesting point. He is an injury risk as we've seen the last few seasons. But you are right about the Kangaroos, he's probably never making the squad with Turbo, Latrell and Teddy around. He may even struggle to make the QLD side moving forward with the emergence of Walsh.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Stupid rules for a stupid contest.

surley Samoa and Tonga are classed as tier 1 nations today?

That's the discussion going on at the moment at the IRL. If they tweak the rules and make Tonga and Samoa tier 1 nations (which they probably will), the NRL will most likely pivot and open Origin up to anyone who is eligible regardless of their international side.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I agree. But that's up to the aussies not IRL. And the aussies will never run a comp where it'll make the top competition better.

NZ Warriors, PNG Hunters, Kaiviti Silktails, selecting players for Origin knowing they'll choose to represent a different nation, funding the previously annual Pacific Tests, funding the post season internationals in the SH outside of a World Cup.

Australia does heaps for the international game. Could they do more? Yes

 

[Clarkent]

NZ Warriors, PNG Hunters, Kaiviti Silktails, selecting players for Origin knowing they'll choose to represent a different nation, funding the previously annual Pacific Tests, funding the post season internationals in the SH outside of a World Cup.

Australia does heaps for the international game. Could they do more? Yes

They do more, but they don't do the most important of them all.. bloody actually playing a test match once every year would be nice. They haven't played England in 7 years, that alone is a joke to the international game

 

[titoelcolombiano]

They do more, but they don't do the most important of them all.. bloody actually playing a test match once every year would be nice. They haven't played England in 7 years, that alone is a joke to the international game

I agree, the lack of respect that the ARLC show towards the Kangaroos jersey is disgraceful. With the commercial connections they have, the Kangaroos should be one of the pre-eminent brands of Australian sport.

There is enough quality competition around from NZ, England, Tonga, Samoa and there are ever improving nations like PNG, Fiji and France to give them a solid four-game a year (min) schedule every year.

 

[Clarkent]

Interesting point. He is an injury risk as we've seen the last few seasons. But you are right about the Kangaroos, he's probably never making the squad with Turbo, Latrell and Teddy around. He may even struggle to make the QLD side moving forward with the emergence of Walsh.

Ponga won't be eligible for the Kiwis squad ever, correct me if I'm wrong but he played for the kangaroos at the 9s tournament? That will rule him out completely

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Ponga won't be eligible for the Kiwis squad ever, correct me if I'm wrong but he played for the kangaroos at the 9s tournament? That will rule him out completely

Not sure mate if 9's counts as a full senior international. I'd have to check

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

That's the discussion going on at the moment at the IRL. If they tweak the rules and make Tonga and Samoa tier 1 nations (which they probably will), the NRL will most likely pivot and open Origin up to anyone who is eligible regardless of their international side.

i think it is very unlikely IRL will make any other nations “Tier 1”. Certainly not any that have such minimal grassroots activity as Tonga and Samoa.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

i think it is very unlikely IRL will make any other nations “Tier 1”. Certainly not any that have such minimal grassroots activity as Tonga and Samoa.

I absolutely don't think they should be for the reasons you point out. PNG, Fiji, France and even Wales should be in front of them in the line in terms of domestic activity. However I'm going off recent comments by IRL Chairman Troy Grant about having a look at the rules around what constitutes a tier 1 nation.

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

Turns out Tonga are proceeding with the England tour.

A great result which is also a positive step in dismantling the NRLs stranglehold over the international game.

 

[Perth Red]

So with tonga heading north will we end up with a tri nations? Or will png or fiji be invited to join a 4 nations?

personally Id bring both of them in and have a 5 nations with 4 pool games and a final between the tops 2 teams.

 

[Ideas Man Stephen]

So with tonga heading north will we end up with a tri nations? Or will png or fiji be invited to join a 4 nations?

personally Id bring both of them in and have a 5 nations with 4 pool games and a final between the tops 2 teams.

If you’re gonna have five teams, then you may as well have six to avoid one team having a week off each round.

In either case, that’s a six week event. Won’t happen.

 

[Coastbloke]

So with tonga heading north will we end up with a tri nations? Or will png or fiji be invited to join a 4 nations?

personally Id bring both of them in and have a 5 nations with 4 pool games and a final between the tops 2 teams.

Apparently the gossip is that there will be 2 x Tri Nations. Australia, NZ and Samoa in Oz/NZ and Fiji, PNG and Cooks in Fiji/PNG.

 

[Brian potter]

Apparently the gossip is that there will be 2 x Tri Nations. Australia, NZ and Samoa in Oz/NZ and Fiji, PNG and Cooks in Fiji/PNG.

That’s the best option.

 

[Last Week]

Apparently the gossip is that there will be 2 x Tri Nations. Australia, NZ and Samoa in Oz/NZ and Fiji, PNG and Cooks in Fiji/PNG.

2 matches per nation. Ugh. How mediocre.

 

[Perth Red]

2 matches per nation. Ugh. How mediocre.

Yeh two games a year isn’t an international calendar!

 

[Last Week]

The players, specifically the RLPA and NRL players, are to blame here.

They say they care about the international game, but not at the expense of their pockets or their time off.

They were more than happy to agree to a 22% increase to the salary cap, an extended season whilst maintaining their 8 weeks off a year. Their 'care' for the international game didn't factor in then.