Mal's Plan to Revolutionise International League - 40/40 Matches (Please No)

[Burns]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport...t/news-story/bafaa344592a5292c7701ca44ed1d518

KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga has hatched a bold plan to revolutionise international rugby league in what he says could be the game’s answer to Twenty20 cricket.

High-level talks have already occurred for what Meninga has dubbed “International 40/40”.

The concept would pit Australia against two international sides in two 40-minute matches.

It was tested with success when the Kangaroos travelled to Fiji for the first time to play the host country and PNG in one 80-minute match on Saturday.

Meninga is pushing for the concept to become a regular fixture on the calendar.

“It is a genuine concept which we can take around the world and develop the game,” Meninga said.

“I like to call it a 40/40. It’s our version of the Twenty20.

“It allows us to go and play in different countries around the world and encourage two other countries.

“And you’re only playing 40 minutes of rugby league, which is fantastic.

“It makes it competitive and it doesn’t give us an opportunity to rack up big scores and it keeps both teams in the contest.

“From a trial and warm-up point of view, it’s ideal. It’s a hard contest.”

Meninga wants to take matches to PNG, Samoa and the Cook Islands before potentially exploring other international venues.

He has floated the idea of tinkering with the rules and reducing the number of players on the field.

A potential World Nines tournament has also been in the pipeline for years.

“Maybe we can adjust the rules and use some rules around maybe the 40/40 concept to open up the game a bit more,” Meninga said. “Maybe we can go down to 11 men.

“It’s a genuine concept that can help us expand the game and expose the game to other parts around the world.

“We’re talking about it. There is a genuine desire to look at it for the future as an expansion tour.

“I know the players loved it. It’s a bit different. It’s very exciting for everyone.”

The plus side of the concept is that it keeps tier-two nations from being blown away by the Kangaroos.

Australia beat PNG 20-4 and Fiji 18-0 in their respective matches. Fiji and PNG also played in Suva.

“It makes it really competitive,” Meninga said. “Most teams can hang in there for 40 minutes of footy and they get a lot out of it.

Mal Meninga ladies and gentleman, our lord and saviour of International League.

 

[Pommy]

 

[Diesel]

Sounds f**king rediculous to me, Mal

How about you stop enticing PI's to play Origin instead?

 

[King hit]

Hypocritical how he goes on about spreading the gospel of our game yet he was happy to snub Australian talent and cherry pick Radradra.

 

[Storm13]

Everyone hates it so I'm sure this will get the green light.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

“I like to call it a 40/40. It’s our version of the Twenty20"

There is T20 version in Rugby league, they call it 9's football. This would be more like one day cricket.

 

[deluded pom?]

Wouldn't they still be playing 80 minutes?

 

[DlEHARD]

God, Im watching for the World 9s Cup.

 

[deluded pom?]

That has to be a joke. Doesn't it?

 

[Coastbloke]

Or we could just have proper Tests??

 

[T-Boon]

An international nines tournament with all the NRL & Super League stars playing would be next level amazing.
RL would explode.

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Should be adding more time to matches not less. Take out all the rubbish with the clock stopped when the ball is out of play and have a genuine 80 minute game. The game is tough enough as it is, we don't need to be adding more games, we need to cut them back esp at club level which will allow the rep game to play more actual full games, not this 40/40 fluff.

 

[Stallion]

An international nines tournament with all the NRL & Super League stars playing would be next level amazing.
RL would explode.

Yes. An international nines during NRL preseason would be attractive. The October / November period for test matches with a designated weekend window during NRL season if schedule permits.

 

[T-Boon]

Yes. An international nines during NRL preseason would be attractive. The October / November period for test matches with a designated weekend window during NRL season if schedule permits.

The best thing would be that it is not clear who would win. PNG or Fiji could compete with Australia, England or NZ over 20 minutes.

 

[adamkungl]

Pointless gimmick that will take up valuable calendar space

 

[T-Boon]

Should be adding more time to matches not less. Take out all the rubbish with the clock stopped when the ball is out of play and have a genuine 80 minute game. The game is tough enough as it is, we don't need to be adding more games, we need to cut them back esp at club level which will allow the rep game to play more actual full games, not this 40/40 fluff.

Totally agree.

NRL games should go longer by stopping the clock when ball is out of play. That would add maybe 10 or 15 minutes. More NRL teams (20) playing less games each (20).

With fewer NRL rounds we can add more internationals to the schedule and to grow the game internationally using nines with some tinkering with the rules.

 

[roughyedspud]

After watching the 3 games in Fiji this weekend i half wrote a ranty post about how i hope the Aussies don't try and promote this further as some 20/20 cricket style bullshit...


Fxxk me..

 

[T-Boon]

After watching the 3 games in Fiji this weekend i half wrote a ranty post about how i hope the Aussies don't try and promote this further as some 20/20 cricket style bullshit...

Mal is just thinking outside the square. We should applaud that in RL because the game has a history of not thinking at all.

 

[Jankuloski]

Shows how good the Kangaroos are really.. if they can have a coach this dumb and still win..

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I don't mind the concept, but not to replace full internationals in any way. I would prefer the Australia Prime Minister's XIII played Fiji & PNG in this sort of format with Fiji and PNG rotating hosting rights and a Kiwi PM XIII or NZ Maori team play Tonga and Samoa in the same format with Samoa and Tonga rotating hosting rights.

It would get more international league to the Island nations. Again though, I would only suggest this be the case until we are at a point where it is viable to for the Pac Island nations to host test matches in their own right.