First I didn’t say you said 'throw the game' I’m saying it’s not a nothing test.
Point 1 - It will do the Kiwis (who have not played for a month) a chance to dust off the cobwebs
Point 2 – New Zealand as World Champs have a duty to play such games against smaller playing nations
Point 3 – It gives people a chance to watch the Kiwis play, when most of the time big tests against Aussie and England would be played in the main centers Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. People of Rotorua can go and watch some world class players.
Point 4 – We play full strength, so we aren’t like touring French rugby teams and fluffing about All black teams. The best Kiwis team will get bigger crowds.
Point 5 – Weakened line up just don’t help, there could be the small possibility of getting beaten. In 1995 the Kiwis beat Tonga by one point; they nearly lost because they took them lightly.
Point 6 – NZRL should have thought about a Kiwis ‘A’, Junior Kiwis or Maori team for development. I said it once I’ll say it again; you should never blood a heap of young players at the same time when there is no need too. Many of them will get their chance and some will even go on tour. The Kiwis don’t have to panic like they use to in bringing in new players because a lot of the players they have now are all still young Harrison, Marshall, Luke, Blair and Inu to name a few have many years in the Kiwis jersey.
Point 7 – Most current players are still inexperienced at international level, a lot of the established players have only played a half-a-dozen games. Many of them still have room for development.
Point 8 – Back in the day the Kiwis would play heaps of different nations, club sides in Aussie, England and France when on tour. Playing side like Tonga, Samoa, PNG, and France is all part of Rugby League. Now I would see your point if they were playing Japan, Italy or South Africa as they are all minor League playing nations.
Point 9 – How boring would it be if we just played Aussie and England, Aussie and England, Aussie and England. I’ve been to a few games when they have played Tonga and other smaller nations as a kid I didn’t care about the score or who the Kiwis played I was just happy to see my favorite players playing. ‘Someone think of the kids’
Point 10 – Your Ozbash….I’m not going to agree with you.
Point 11 – We play Tonga fir the same reason the Aussie Prime ministers 13 played PNG, for the same reason France is in the four nations. To make an effort, promoting and developing the game. I would rather see Tonga get smashed then to say ‘we will never play Tonga or any smaller nation AGAIN’.
Point 12 – For the future I would like to see a double header maybe Aussie v NZ with a full strength Samoa v Maori team as the curtain raisers.
