Leeds Rhinos v New Zealand - 23rd October

[cb4]

Why is it a dumb idea? I think it is brilliant. I would love to see England take on the Cowboys and co before they play against Australia.

This game will give Kearney a chance to play some guys who won't feature in the main games, and gives Leeds a chance to play some academy players looking to make a step up.

Win win.

 

[Evil Homer]

Why is it a dumb idea? I think it is brilliant. I would love to see England take on the Cowboys and co before they play against Australia.

This game will give Kearney a chance to play some guys who won't feature in the main games, and gives Leeds a chance to play some academy players looking to make a step up.

Win win.

in·ter·na·tion·alˌin(t)ərˈnaSH(&#601n(&#601l/
adjective
adjective: international
1.
existing, occurring, or carried on between two or more nations.

Also lol at the idea of England playing Australia, or anyone playing Australia.

 

[cb4]

Big LOL when New Zealand beat Australia regularly.

Doesn't have to be an international, it is a warm up. Do people think it is a ridiculous idea when the Australian cricket team warm up against county teams?

 

[Harrigan]

all I'm getting out of that is an angry Hull fan jealous that his team didn't get to celebrate their 150th year with a game against NZ.

As for tour games, they're part of our history and heritage. Whether it's the Aussies coming over and playing 10 games or GB struggling against Burleigh, Countries warming up against club sides is no new thing.

 

[Evil Homer]

all I'm getting out of that is an angry Hull fan jealous that his team didn't get to celebrate their 150th year with a game against NZ.

As for tour games, they're part of our history and heritage. Whether it's the Aussies coming over and playing 10 games or GB struggling against Burleigh, Countries warming up against club sides is no new thing.

Yes, they aren't new, they are very old and archaic concepts.

I have no idea why people in RL think "it used to happen" or "it always happens" is a valid defense for things that don't make sense. Even if France are unavailable, there are three perfectly good international teams free and available, and instead NZ are playing a club side in an unconstitutional match that does absolutely nothing for anyone. f**k, let NZ play Serbia or someone, they might win 100-0 but at least it would benefit the Serbs. But no, instead they are playing a club side because it's something that used to happen decades ago when teams had to travel from the southern hemisphere on boats.

 

[Harrigan]

Tours used to be exciting. Full tours, you know, when you got to see your club play the best team in the world. Stop being such an ass and just enjoy the footy on show in the next month or so

 

[Evil Homer]

Tours used to be exciting. Full tours, you know, when you got to see your club play the best team in the world. Stop being such an ass and just enjoy the footy on show in the next month or so

You know what would be even more exciting than 'tours'? A legit international scene! With actual countries playing against each other. Gee, that would really be something.

I'm "being an ass" because I want to see RL progress and develop properly at international level, and not just do the same old shit that sees RU move further and further ahead because people in our sport are too stupid and ignorant to do the right thing.

 

[Matua]

FFS, settle down Evil Homer, you're coming across like a right goose.

It's a warm up match for the Kiwis and a chance for Leeds to give a mix of their old fellas and young guys a match in an 'occasion'.

 

[LeedsStorm]

You know what would be even more exciting than 'tours'? A legit international scene! With actual countries playing against each other. Gee, that would really be something.

I'm "being an ass" because I want to see RL progress and develop properly at international level, and not just do the same old shit that sees RU move further and further ahead because people in our sport are too stupid and ignorant to do the right thing.

You could argue the current treble winners are a bigger draw than any of the other home nations and definitely capable of generating more interest than a side like Serbia.

 

[Evil Homer]

You could argue the current treble winners are a bigger draw than any of the other home nations and definitely capable of generating more interest than a side like Serbia.

Yeah, of course Leeds Rhinos are a bigger draw in Leeds, the one city where RL is about as established as it could possibly be in the UK.

NZ play Leeds in Leeds, meanwhile Scotland and Ireland play each other in front of 500 people like they do every year and nobody gives a shit, and then we all complain and wonder why RU has more money, more exposure and can take our players at will.

 

[LeedsStorm]

Yeah, of course Leeds Rhinos are a bigger draw in Leeds, the one city where RL is about as established as it could possibly be in the UK.

NZ play Leeds in Leeds, meanwhile Scotland and Ireland play each other in front of 500 people like they do every year and nobody gives a shit, and then we all complain and wonder why RU has more money, more exposure and can take our players at will.

So you are saying NZ playing Scotland, in Scotland, a team largely made up of second tier Englishmen and Australians promotes rugby league better than NZ playing the best club in the Northern Hemisphere?

 

[Evil Homer]

So you are saying NZ playing Scotland, in Scotland, a team largely made up of second tier Englishmen and Australians promotes rugby league better than NZ playing the best club in the Northern Hemisphere?

It promotes international rugby league better, yes. Especially as that exact match will be taking place in a major tournament in one year's time.

 

[Harrigan]

It's funny you should mention Union though, because the game we aspire to be like internationally have no problem playing tour games either.

 

[roughyedspud]

They can afford to bring over 40 players to play midweek games...

The NZRL can't afford it

 

[roughyedspud]

So you are saying NZ playing Scotland, in Scotland, a team largely made up of second tier Englishmen and Australians promotes rugby league better than NZ playing the best club in the Northern Hemisphere?

Yes it is...


NZ playing leeds is purely about putting money into the NZRL coffers

NZ playing scotland,wales,ireland etc...is about promoting international RL...

Plain & simple

 

[Harrigan]

They can afford to bring over 40 players to play midweek games...

The NZRL can't afford it

That wasn't his point though. And this isn't like they have 7 other tour games to fit in. They'll likely be playing Leeds in front of 3 times as many people as what will be in Leigh (cue the "exactly my point" posts) in a good hit out and warm up before they play England in the main games.

I'm all for international growth too! I just don't see a problem with this game at all.

 

[Harrigan]

Also, looking at the Warriors message board, a lot seem disappointed that the game isn't being broadcast. They are interested in seeing an "ESL" team play against their national team.

 

[roughyedspud]

Oh i don't mind them playing leeds.....cos i understand the NZRL are skint as f**k....

Money talks and all that

 

[Evil Homer]

It's funny you should mention Union though, because the game we aspire to be like internationally have no problem playing tour games either.

We shouldn't aspire to be like Union, I think their organisation and structures are pretty poor at international level even though clearly they are light years ahead of us. We should aspire to be like soccer, obviously minus the corruption and power struggles but those are the structures that we should look to mimic and adapt.

I'm not surprised that the idea of 'tours' is consistently popular with most of the dinosaurs in RL who still think it's the 1970s, but that really isn't the direction the sport should be moving in.

 

[Harrigan]

Ok, let's talk soccer a second then. How often do the big teams play the minnow nations outside of tournament play? Not very often. They play amongst themselves when it comes to friendless because it does very little for either team to play a decent nation and lose 6 or 7 nil. Also, they are in the position where pretty much every nation on the planet has a national team. Us not so much. Let the ones that do play, have competitive games against each other to raise thier standard to point where one day they could start to play one of the "big 3" and it not be detrimental to he development.

Also, I'm 31, born nowhere near long enough ago to actually remember proper tours. I'm all about progression too, but there's nothing wrong with a top nation playing a top Club team to warm up with. Remember, Leeds beat a USA select team at the start of the year 74-0. What good would it do for the Kiwis to play a team who they could put 100 past in the lead up to a series?