Mid year tests in 2022

[Iamback]

cagain, why not both? There was no good reason not to have mid season tests. They help squads build comradery, they give fans of the international teams and game something other than origin to enjoy and they make Origin less impacting on the NRL season if played on a weekend. If done differently they could also raise much needed funds for the participating nations.
Instead of abandoning them they should have moved to three origin games on a weekend and played MORE mid season tests! You could host a pacific cup mid season then!
Even if just sticking with one it wouldn't need to be random, could play same team each year for a cup and build an annual rivalry game.

Because ESL has breaks for Challenge Cup -
NRL has SOO

The 2 won't get an adequate window for internationals. Better to have everyone involved in meaningful games post the seasons

 

[Perth Red]

Better is to have a great rep weekend like we've just had AND tournaments in Oct/Nov. No need to get rid other than pandering to the stupidity of Ch9.

 

[Gobsmacked]

The more comments I read, the more I like the 7 NATIONS. The whole reason for the rise of Tonga was good performances against the top 3, that's why they got credibility.
There's: Samoa, Tonga, FIJI and France on the rise massively. To some extent PNG.
We need regular opportunities for these nations to test themselves against the best and prove their credibility.
The top three that we see now will be a top 7 in a decade with big rivalries created.

 

[siv]

What do you guys think of a
" 7 nation's "
Played at every seasons end.
Australia, NZ, FIJI, Tonga, Samoa, England and France.
They are the top tier nations who could all have a chance at beating each other on their day.
All play each other once with a top 4 play off elimination.

The nations below them in cooks, png , Ireland, Wales, Scotland could have a comp also with promotion and relegation the following year.
Eg: France finish bottom playing the top finishing png to decide on the 7th side in the 7 nations the following year.
Just an idea.

I would go 6 nations

5 rounds, 3 games every weekend. Plus a final

Buts its in Oct/Nov not mid year

Mid year wuld need to a regional 4 Nation played over 3 SOO werkends

 

[Iamback]

Better is to have a great rep weekend like we've just had AND tournaments in Oct/Nov. No need to get rid other than pandering to the stupidity of Ch9.

It was a weekend put in to give ARLC content.

Coaches couldn't come across.
Nations couldn't do TV deals..

So no you need a rep month if you are going to do mid season. Which you won't get with the structure of the ESL season and NRL

 

[Perth Red]

It was a weekend put in to give ARLC content.

Coaches couldn't come across.
Nations couldn't do TV deals..

So no you need a rep month if you are going to do mid season. Which you won't get with the structure of the ESL season and NRL

So you think nothing mid season is better than the weekend we just had? We will have to agree to disagree lol

 

[Iamback]

So you think nothing mid season is better than the weekend we just had? We will have to agree to disagree lol

Yes. I want to see full strength sides.

I want to see how France has improved. Where England sit compared to the Island sides

None of that is possible from NRL pausing for a week. Better ensuring the season finishes as early as possible to fit 5-6 tests in at the end

 

[Jim from Oz]

I wish the NRL would return to 22 rounds, as it once was, instead of 24 rounds … it would give players more chance to rest and recover and allow more time for rep games

 

[Iamback]

I wish the NRL would return to 22 rounds, as it once was, instead of 24 rounds … it would give players more chance to rest and recover and allow more time for rep games

Still doesn't fix the issue of ESL year going until end of October though

 

[Matua]

It was a weekend put in to give ARLC content.

Coaches couldn't come across.
Nations couldn't do TV deals..

So no you need a rep month if you are going to do mid season. Which you won't get with the structure of the ESL season and NRL

All of those are just planning issues. If you truly favour international league you'd be looking for solutions to make it viable rather than towing the NRL line.

Australia has SoO so why shouldn't other nations players have the chance to play at the same time? The odd couple of players missing out shouldn't lead to throwing the baby out with the bath water.

 

[Iamback]

All of those are just planning issues. If you truly favour international league you'd be looking for solutions to make it viable rather than towing the NRL line.

Australia has SoO so why shouldn't other nations players have the chance to play at the same time? The odd couple of players missing out shouldn't lead to throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Kristan Woolfe is St Helens coach and Tongan coach. Him being unavailable is nothing to do with NRL.

For teams like that to compete and hopefully beat the top 3. They need elite coaches and players all of whom will be employed in ESL or NRL.

Fiji were missing atleast a hooker due ESL commitments - Who knows maybe that gets them a win.

Cook Islands have a very small player pool - The 5 guys they were down would of made the game closer.

So out of the 3 tests. All 3 losing sides were affected by ESL not having the week off

Not to mention potentially getting to see England play a test

 

[Perth Red]

Kristan Woolfe is St Helens coach and Tongan coach. Him being unavailable is nothing to do with NRL.

For teams like that to compete and hopefully beat the top 3. They need elite coaches and players all of whom will be employed in ESL or NRL.

Fiji were missing atleast a hooker due ESL commitments - Who knows maybe that gets them a win.

Cook Islands have a very small player pool - The 5 guys they were down would of made the game closer.

So out of the 3 tests. All 3 losing sides were affected by ESL not having the week off

Not to mention potentially getting to see England play a test

I think if you asked the players if they'd rather not have played than be missing those people the answer would have been an unequivocal no! Players loved playing in them, fans loved watching them. I know lets can them. So NRL! We are not saying mid season tests instead of end of season tests, we are saying as well as!!

Your argument would be valid if it wasnt for the fact we are quite happy to play NRL games with players stood down for origin duties. What's good for the goose and all that.

 

[Iamback]

I think if you asked the players if they'd rather not have played than be missing those people the answer would have been an unequivocal no! Players loved playing in them, fans loved watching them. I know lets can them. So NRL! We are not saying mid season tests instead of end of season tests, we are saying as well as!!

Your argument would be valid if it wasnt for the fact we are quite happy to play NRL games with players stood down for origin duties. What's good for the goose and all that.

Not so sure about that.

You are telling me the Tongan guys who fought for Woolfe to stay coach. Wouldn't prefer to have him on board at a later date?

You are telling me that NZRL wouldn't of wanted to have control over the location, Do a TV deal and keep the gate?

Would PNG rather host a game or play in Sydney on a random night?

The question isn't a random mid season game or nothing. The question is when is better time to play internationals, The RU model of a window seems best

For the 1000th time. I am happy for mid season games if ESL guys are involved.

Look at the RU tests atm Aust v England in 3 games, NZ v Ireland in the same 3 weekends. Also have SA v France across the same 3 weekends.

You are telling me that model doesn't make more sense

 

[Perth Red]

Not so sure about that.

You are telling me the Tongan guys who fought for Woolfe to stay coach. Wouldn't prefer to have him on board at a later date?

You are telling me that NZRL wouldn't of wanted to have control over the location, Do a TV deal and keep the gate?

Would PNG rather host a game or play in Sydney on a random night?

The question isn't a random mid season game or nothing. The question is when is better time to play internationals, The RU model of a window seems best

For the 1000th time. I am happy for mid season games if ESL guys are involved.

Look at the RU tests atm Aust v England in 3 games, NZ v Ireland in the same 3 weekends. Also have SA v France across the same 3 weekends.

You are telling me that model doesn't make more sense

They might prefer, but his decision to coach on the other side of the world meant he couldn't be there, would the players rather have sat at home than played in front of that crowd and represented their country. Earning another cap? Hell no!

We dont know what the NZRL cut was, they might have financially benefitted, we wont know until next years annual report so your making an assumption on that one. Guess what, if the game hadn't been played we know for sure they wouldn't have benefitted in any way.

I can live with one off games not having everyone available, it still adds value to the international calendar and the game of RL. One off mid season tests are a good entre to the main course in Oct/Nov otherwise its a heck of a long time between courses! Id like to see a Feb World Nines as well but clubs wouldn't allow it sadly.

Ideally we would have Origin on a Sunday every game so we could have 3 tests mid season and the NRL season uncompromised. But ch9 would never allow it. Shame RL doesn't make decisions for the good of RL.

Feb World Nines
June/Jul Mid season test/s
Oct/Nov tours and tournaments

that would be great, Players could actually earn decent numbers of caps in RL which would be a modern day novelty.

 

[Iamback]

They might prefer, but his decision to coach on the other side of the world meant he couldn't be there, would the players rather have sat at home than played in front of that crowd and represented their country. Earning another cap? Hell no!

We dont know what the NZRL cut was, they might have financially benefitted, we wont know until next years annual report so your making an assumption on that one. Guess what, if the game hadn't been played we know for sure they wouldn't have benefitted in any way.

I can live with one off games not having everyone available, it still adds value to the international calendar and the game of RL. One off mid season tests are a good entre to the main course in Oct/Nov otherwise its a heck of a long time between courses! Id like to see a Feb World Nines as well but clubs wouldn't allow it sadly.

Ideally we would have Origin on a Sunday every game so we could have 3 tests mid season and the NRL season uncompromised. But ch9 would never allow it. Shame RL doesn't make decisions for the good of RL.

Feb World Nines
June/Jul Mid season test/s
Oct/Nov tours and tournaments

that would be great, Players could actually earn decent numbers of caps in RL which would be a modern day novelty.

Again though you are carrying on like this is the only time to play tests

And that schedule you have just posted would see the Tongan coach who is very successful missing a vast majority of the tests. It only works with no ESL as well.

 

[Perth Red]

Again though you are carrying on like this is the only time to play tests

And that schedule you have just posted would see the Tongan coach who is very successful missing a vast majority of the tests. It only works with no ESL as well.

nope, quite the opposite, I want to see mid season tests AND end of season tests. There is no advantage to ONLY playing tests at end of season, all it does is reduce the amount of International RL we get to support.

Maybe Tonga need to consider if employing a coach on the other side of the world with commitments that mean he cant actually coach the team is a good idea??

 

[Iamback]

nope, quite the opposite, I want to see mid season tests AND end of season tests. There is no advantage to ONLY playing tests at end of season, all it does is reduce the amount of International RL we get to support.

Maybe Tonga need to consider if employing a coach on the other side of the world with commitments that mean he cant actually coach the team is a good idea??

So England and France can't play in world 9's or Mid season tests?

Those sides need an elite coach. An elite coach will be in a club setup somewhere another reason that proposal is just madness

 

[Perth Red]

So England and France can't play in world 9's or Mid season tests?

Those sides need an elite coach. An elite coach will be in a club setup somewhere another reason that proposal is just madness

They could play in world nines, and if they want to pause Sl to play mid season tests there's nothing stopping them. Wales have just played France, England just played all stars havent they?

Yeh but choosing an elite coach on the other side of the world might not be the best answer. Like Bennett coaching England, was dumb.

Doing away with international games because A coach cant make it, now that is madness!

 

[Iamback]

They could play in world nines, and if they want to pause Sl to play mid season tests there's nothing stopping them. Wales have just played France, England just played all stars havent they?

Yeh but choosing an elite coach on the other side of the world might not be the best answer. Like Bennett coaching England, was dumb.

Doing away with international games because A coach cant make it, now that is madness!

They stop their comp for Challenge Cup and given the financials, It wouldn't be viable for them to shorten it. So you would have their season run later which pushes into the End of season window - So either way you are weakening tests somewhere.

Coaches change clubs all the time. Woolf coached Tonga 1st so have him not take a head coach job or quit Tonga.

Again selective reading

No England
Games having to be hosted in Aust
NZRL not being able to sell TV rights or choose the location

Tonga - No coach
PNG - No Rhys Martin, MacDonald or possibly Albert ( if he makes the top 17)
Fiji - No Lovodua ( Could of used a spine player ), Korbin Sims, Ben Nakubuwai
Cook Islands - Peyroux, Takairangi, Ford ( Another spine player out), Napa, Tetevano, Kenny Edwards. A team who lost by 30 had half their starting side missing.

 

[Matua]

Kristan Woolfe is St Helens coach and Tongan coach. Him being unavailable is nothing to do with NRL.

For teams like that to compete and hopefully beat the top 3. They need elite coaches and players all of whom will be employed in ESL or NRL.

Fiji were missing atleast a hooker due ESL commitments - Who knows maybe that gets them a win.

Cook Islands have a very small player pool - The 5 guys they were down would of made the game closer.

So out of the 3 tests. All 3 losing sides were affected by ESL not having the week off

Not to mention potentially getting to see England play a test

Who said anything about Woolf being unavailable and the NRL? You're echoing comments from the NRL as some of your reasonings on why you don't want international league played outside of the times you want.

As @Perth Red notes the players just want to play, they don't care that the teams are slightly weakened, and the fans don't care either. I didn't expect that the best Kuki's team would play on the weekend and they wouldn't have won even if those players were available. All of the sides involved had weakened teams. Like it or not but the majority of players in these teams actually play in Oz.

What has England got to do with this? If they want to play a test then they can organise one.

You are telling me that NZRL wouldn't of wanted to have control over the location, Do a TV deal and keep the gate?

Do you have any evidence of this claim you keep repeating? The only articles I can find about is the NZRL proposing the game back in March and saying it will be played in Auckland - what location do you think the game was played at? If the NRL had made that decision then they likely would have played in Sydney with the other teams.