Four Nations to be reviewed (possible inclusion of Pacific Islands Team)

[adamkungl]

Fair dinkum, one year where PNG look paltry, because of internal disputes, and we want to pack it in.

A Pacific Islands won't work because PNG, mainly melanesian, will have no historic or cultural ties to feel any emotional bond with Polynesians.

I would back an international side called 'Polynesia', made up of Tongans, Samoans and CI'ers, but not a PI team that also sticks in PNG'ians and Fijians.

Agree...the whole thing reeks of desperation...instead of changing the format they should aim to improve PNG and co

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Short sighted crap.

This team will have no solidarity and no history. There will be no real bond between them. Samoa and Tonga would rather play against each other than with each other.

As Kurt said - one year where PNG look like crap because of internal politics and all of a sudden they want to scrap the whole thing.

And what about Europe? So France and Wales basically get screwed now whilst another Southern Hemisphere "team" gets a run?

It's up to Wales, I guess. They need to put a good show on next year, like France did last year, to show that it is worth it. Then, for the first time, it will be the Southern Hemisphere that needs to get its arse into gear.

 

[roopy]

If the Pacific Islands team recieved the same pay as the other three teams it would mean that guys like Uate could commit for Fiji and the combined PI side and have the same earning potential he would have by committing for Australia.

In fact, the PI team would be easier to make, so a flood of players would commit for the PI sides - which would only be good for the game.

A European side made up of players from France, the Celtic sides, Lebanon, Malta etc would be just as competitive.

Five sides each playing each other once and a final with the top two works for me.

 

[Springs]

If they had a Pacific Islands side, wouldn't players be able to play for them while also committing themselves to Origin and Australia?
Considering it will not be a national side, but rather a side representing heritage like the Maori or the Australian Indigenous.

 

[roopy]

I think a PI side and a European side could be selected each year after a large training camp and a possibles V probables game.

That would allow for promising Island based and local based players to train and play with NRL and ESL players - even if only a few of them make the final side.

 

[roopy]

If they had a Pacific Islands side, wouldn't players be able to play for them while also committing themselves to Origin and Australia?
Considering it will not be a national side, but rather a side representing heritage like the Maori or the Australian Indigenous.

Only if those are the rules used - which would be silly IMO.

It should only be for players who commit for the PI countries in the WC.

 

[Bombay Devils RLFC]

I was watching the Sri Lankan side the other day beat the Australian side easily in a 1 day match. I thought to myself 20 years ago they were the laughing stock of world cricket. Many said they should not be playing against the largest nations. Look at them now - the talent they have is unbelievable for such a small nation. This is what we have to stride for in RL. We will have our knockers but we have to look forward 20 years & the only way to do this is to help these nations get up to speed. I read today in the Fiji times that another 3 clubs are joining the another 8 who have defected to RL. All the FNRL had to do was put on a clinic and they were in. Forget about a PI team other than for exhibition reasons (say v Maori or Indigenous team). To do otherwise will not really develop these potential great international teams of the future.

 

[meltiger]

If the Pacific Islands team recieved the same pay as the other three teams it would mean that guys like Uate could commit for Fiji and the combined PI side and have the same earning potential he would have by committing for Australia.

In fact, the PI team would be easier to make, so a flood of players would commit for the PI sides - which would only be good for the game.

A European side made up of players from France, the Celtic sides, Lebanon, Malta etc would be just as competitive.

Five sides each playing each other once and a final with the top two works for me.

A 5 nations? Not a bad idea.

Fair dinkum, one year where PNG look paltry, because of internal disputes, and we want to pack it in.

A Pacific Islands won't work because PNG, mainly melanesian, will have no historic or cultural ties to feel any emotional bond with Polynesians.

I would back an international side called 'Polynesia', made up of Tongans, Samoans and CI'ers, but not a PI team that also sticks in PNG'ians and Fijians.

Agree. Though this would then I suppose kill the point, as not only would Papua/Fiji get left out in the cold, you'd kill the potential competitiveness as well.

 

[adamkungl]

the more i read about combined PI/European teams the less I like the idea. Have patience people! Don't encourage the watering down if international RL

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

the more i read about combined PI/European teams the less I like the idea. Have patience people! Don't encourage the watering down if international RL

Those are exactly my sentimonies.

 

[Perth Tiger]

the more i read about combined PI/European teams the less I like the idea. Have patience people! Don't encourage the watering down if international RL

Agreed lets give it more than one cycle before scrap the idea.

The only way other international teams will ever be competitive with the big three is by playing the big three and a lot of time.

Cricket provides a good example. Sri Lanka were sh*t for about 30 years but are now one of the best sides in the world.

Unfortunately it will take a least a generation before PNG, France or any others are capable of beating Aus but it will be worth it in the long run if we stick to it

 

[samoajoe1979]

I'd like to see the four nations become five nations with Aus, Eng and NZ plus the European Cup winner and the Pacific Cup winner. This way the winners of the European and Pacific cups get to play against the big guns every year instead of every 2 years. By having these minor nations play more games against the big 3, it should help them develop quicker.

 

[jim_57]

Those are exactly my sentimonies.

I'm not tottaly against the idea simply because they are quite small nations, kind of like west indies in cricket I think it could work as a once a year rep game. I've said it a few times before but after the WC I'd go with a full re-structure of the international game and intorduce an end of year five nations, and mid year pacific cup and one tri series for each hemisphere. Origin period would go to stand alone weekends and we could make a real weekend of footy with internationals.

Week 1
Origin 1
NZ V PNG (midyear tri series also including Australia)
PC - Samoa (3) V USA (6)
PC - Tonga (4) V Cook Is. (5)
Fiji V ???
Wales V England (SL Split round pt1)

Week 2
Origin 2
NZ Roots
PC - PNG (1) V Tonga (4)
PC - Fiji (2) V Samoa (3)
France V Wales (Crusaders V Catalans organised for another weekend)

Week 3
Origin 3
NZ V PI
England V France (Split SL round pt2)

 

[hutch]

just p*ss off love and let someone control our sport who believes in it! or how about you actually start developing the sport in some of these countries to get them up to speed. what has the rlif actually ever done to spread the sport in pacific countries?

 

[hutch]

I'm not tottaly against the idea simply because they are quite small nations, kind of like west indies in cricket I think it could work as a once a year rep game. I've said it a few times before but after the WC I'd go with a full re-structure of the international game and intorduce an end of year five nations, and mid year pacific cup and one tri series for each hemisphere. Origin period would go to stand alone weekends and we could make a real weekend of footy with internationals.

Week 1
Origin 1
NZ V PNG (midyear tri series also including Australia)
PC - Samoa (3) V USA (6)
PC - Tonga (4) V Cook Is. (5)
Fiji V ???
Wales V England (SL Split round pt1)

Week 2
Origin 2
NZ Roots
PC - PNG (1) V Tonga (4)
PC - Fiji (2) V Samoa (3)
France V Wales (Crusaders V Catalans organised for another weekend)

Week 3
Origin 3
NZ V PI
England V France (Split SL round pt2)

that could definately work, we shold have at least 3 stand alone rep weekends every single year to allow all nations the chance to develop their national teams.

the only other time i was thinking a nz v pac islands series could work is if the ashes series was ever revived.
year 1 - world cup
year 2 - 4 nations (south hemisphere)
year 3 - ashes, kiwis v pac islands
year 4 - 4 nations ( north hemisphere)

pacific cups, euro cups, nz origin, aus origin to all be held mid year.

there are a heap of different tournaments that could be implemented to improve international rugby league around the world, we just need a schedule and structure!

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

I think that if we're looking at a 5N then we have to shut down Club games on Origin weekends and play the Pac and Euro Cups in conjunction with them. Either play FPP or have a Friday night game later in the year with the top two ranked teams from each Cup to decide who goes on to the 5N at the end of the year.

England would play an Aus-NZ Barbarians team whilst France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland played the Euro Cup. New Zealand would have to figure out what the hell they were gonna do while the Pac Cup was on.

 

[samoajoe1979]

Just came across this video (link below) interview with Billy Slater and his thoughts on the Four Nations concept as well his thoughts on a combined Pacific Islands Team. He seemed in favour of expanding the Four Nations but didn't think a combined PI team would work. He starts talking about it at the 1:30 mark.

http://www.rlfournations.com/default.aspx?s=video&vid=6437

 

[jbl31649]

Didnt Union try a combined Pacific team a few years back?

Im not convinced such a concept would work in League either given the rivalry between the nations. Would feel much like a Barbarians/All Star side with no national pride to play for.

We would be better off going back to a tri nations with a lower teer international comp running as undercards fielding PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Australia B, NZ B/Cook Islands. Would be more competitive and allow the minnows to get more exposure

I like this suggestion of a barbarian side, but it is hard to get cohesion in these sides. PNG needed to play in and aussie comp like QLD cup.