Mid year tests in 2022

[Iamback]

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.


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.

St Helens played on 23rd June. 24th our time.
The NZ v Tonga match was on 25th of June. He would have to be 2 places in once for it to be viable. The Same reason that only one ESL player came out the clubs often come 1st in sport as they pay the bills.

What players do England use? As above the ESL had games that same weekend which is going to be the issue if NRL only pauses the competition. Both comps need to do it

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Masterton District Council has received approval for $5.34m funding from the Government’s emergency works fund, for recovery work following Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. This money is earmarked for repair of slips and drop-outs on Blairlogie Langdale Road, Langdale Road, Masterton...

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NZRL CEO Greg Peters says this has been a long time coming.

"What a great feeling to finally have our Ferns and Kiwis back on the park, and even better at home. To celebrate Matariki weekend with an international Test double header that unites our fans and communities in celebration is special."

Peters adds, "We have been working with the NRL for some time now to produce an international weekend on both sides of the Tasman during the origin window. June 25 will also see Samoa play Cook Islands and PNG face Fiji in Campbelltown before Ampol State of Origin the following day.

Well there are 3 Stadiums that hold more why not one of them? Or at the very least a 3 test series sells 60k tickets, which would be a good little windfall even if they split the profits with Tonga.

 

[Gobsmacked]

I can see both side of this an there's no easy solution. SL season is too long. Im sure we can all agree on that.
Hopefully international RL rises above NRL and SL and then the priority will shift but it's a slow uphill battle.

 

[Matua]

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!

Last year the Tongan rugby team toured without their coach and this week the All Blacks have been without their coach.

Woolf probably had input via Zoom at some stage anyway.

St Helens played on 23rd June. 24th our time.
The NZ v Tonga match was on 25th of June. He would have to be 2 places in once for it to be viable. The Same reason that only one ESL player came out the clubs often come 1st in sport as they pay the bills.

What players do England use? As above the ESL had games that same weekend which is going to be the issue if NRL only pauses the competition. Both comps need to do it

$5.34m funding received for Cyclone Gabrielle road repairs - VOXY

Masterton District Council has received approval for $5.34m funding from the Government’s emergency works fund, for recovery work following Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. This money is earmarked for repair of slips and drop-outs on Blairlogie Langdale Road, Langdale Road, Masterton...

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NZRL CEO Greg Peters says this has been a long time coming.

"What a great feeling to finally have our Ferns and Kiwis back on the park, and even better at home. To celebrate Matariki weekend with an international Test double header that unites our fans and communities in celebration is special."

Peters adds, "We have been working with the NRL for some time now to produce an international weekend on both sides of the Tasman during the origin window. June 25 will also see Samoa play Cook Islands and PNG face Fiji in Campbelltown before Ampol State of Origin the following day.

Well there are 3 Stadiums that hold more why not one of them? Or at the very least a 3 test series sells 60k tickets, which would be a good little windfall even if they split the profits with Tonga.

Huh, that link does not support your claim at all. Nowhere does it suggest NZ didn't get the gate from that match.

Also, that is the home ground of league in NZ, the only other option is Eden Park. Where is this 3rd stadium you're thinking of? Plus, playing at Eden Park would probably see the ticket prices rise as it's a more expensive ground to use. They would have balanced any extra crowd against the additional cost.

It was hard enough finding the space for this one game, and you've been trolling it this entire thread, and now you think they should try for a 3 test series?

Did you also note the quote from Woolf in that article - he rates the match very highly.

England don't have to play that weekend if they don't want to, they can play at a time which suits them and any opposition they can find.

 

[Perth Red]

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.

Tests dont have to be all in the same place! Its ok for England, France, Wales etc to play tests mid season at home lol End of season is for tours and tournaments where teams will travel.

So basically you think getting rid of rare international games because a handful of players cant travel, one coach couldnt get here and NZRL may or may not have earnt some money out of it is justified? Fair enough, each to their own! Personally I feel that any opportunity to play tests is worthwhile and strengthens the international game.

 

[Perth Red]

England don't have to play that weekend if they don't want to, they can play at a time which suits them and any opposition they can find.

Which they have done, despite his protestations SL paused for a week last month so England could play v all stars and France and Wales played each other.

 

[Matua]

Which they have done, despite his protestations SL paused for a week last month so England could play v all stars and France and Wales played each other.

Sheesh, that was almost close enough to the Pacific weekend. They could have timed it for then and all of his troubles would have floated away.

 

[Iamback]

I can see both side of this an there's no easy solution. SL season is too long. Im sure we can all agree on that.
Hopefully international RL rises above NRL and SL and then the priority will shift but it's a slow uphill battle.

That should be the end goal.

Mid season break in both comps for say June. You could fit 3 tests in there even allowing for travel. It solves the logistical issues the mid season tests had

Have a month at the end of the year for similar.

IRL can promote Tonga and Possibly Samoa to Tier 1 as a 1st step.
Make it a requirement all tier 1 teams need x amount of games in a 12 month period that will put pressure on getting the games on.

The flow on will be players missing club games which will pressure the comps into not having games on when tests run

 

[Perth Red]

Ideally NRL would be aiming for 20 clubs and a 20 round season. Mid season rep break and longer pre season. But doubt it will happen in my lifetime.

 

[Iamback]

Huh, that link does not support your claim at all. Nowhere does it suggest NZ didn't get the gate from that match.

Also, that is the home ground of league in NZ, the only other option is Eden Park. Where is this 3rd stadium you're thinking of? Plus, playing at Eden Park would probably see the ticket prices rise as it's a more expensive ground to use. They would have balanced any extra crowd against the additional cost.

It was hard enough finding the space for this one game, and you've been trolling it this entire thread, and now you think they should try for a 3 test series?

Did you also note the quote from Woolf in that article - he rates the match very highly.

England don't have to play that weekend if they don't want to, they can play at a time which suits them and any opposition they can find.

Wellington is the 3rd one.

Tonga beat Australia at Eden Park last test match they played. Surely NZ v Tonga would sell more?

I have been anti the half assed way it was done this year. I am not anti a mid season break.

Having it across several weeks allows a best of 3 series. where both countries can host a game
Maybe you can do pool matches of a Pacific Cup. Do the finals post season.
Sell TV rights controlled by IRL instead of the NRL.

Ashes series Aust v England. those sort of stuff you can put in which is better than NRL needing content so putting on games that suit them.

There are 2 professional RL comps in the world. If RU can align their test seasons than surely RL can too

 

[LeagueXIII]

RL can but is controlled by NRL and Broadcasters in Australia unlike the other sports who are ruled by world wide body.

 

[Perth Red]

RL can but is controlled by NRL and Broadcasters in Australia unlike the other sports who are ruled by world wide body.

and there in lies the biggest problem, RL is built on self interest. I mean what little we had has just been shut down by Ch9 for no good reason! The idea the IRl could dictate to the NRl is laughable, they couldn't even demand they attend a RLWC!

 

[Iamback]

and there in lies the biggest problem, RL is built on self interest. I mean what little we had has just been shut down by Ch9 for no good reason! The idea the IRl could dictate to the NRl is laughable, they couldn't even demand they attend a RLWC!

If RL is built on self Interest then all the other countries would fight the no mid year random tests. The fact they don't means they see the bigger picture.

 

[LeagueXIII]

If RL is built on self Interest then all the other countries would fight the no mid year random tests. The fact they don't means they see the bigger picture.

You dont think self interest comes first in RL?

 

[Iamback]

You dont think self interest comes first in RL?

no money is number 1. Self interest is a close 2nd

That is the reason neither the SL or NRL seasons will get shortened.

Less games is less broadcast money, corporate dollars and gate takings. The flow on is a smaller salary cap and less to the players. Given most players could switch to RU player numbers drop.

It is fine if IRL can pay the players enough. Aust and NZ possibly can but someone like Tonga couldn't afford to pay the 30 odd players. That would be needed to play a 10 match international season.

ESL lost another quality player in Grace to RU so it is already happening.

So given that 5-6 weeks of test footy is the most you will get. Which brings back to what is best for IRL as a whole to play the games

 

[Perth Red]

If RL is built on self Interest then all the other countries would fight the no mid year random tests. The fact they don't means they see the bigger picture.

Or they don’t want to rock the boat with the org that funds them?

 

[Iamback]

Or they don’t want to rock the boat with the org that funds them?

As I said earlier. How many countries are in a position right now to pay players a decent amount?

To play more tests you need to pay players more as they get less from their clubs. The Islander boom in the NRL is great for getting test RL to where it should be.

It will take time though. Get some income to these countries should be the 1st step which atm is working around the ESL and NRL.

It can work if they are given the chance to source their own funding. Gate receipts, TV deals all of that. Should go to them and hopefully we get that going forward

 

[siv]

If you watched the France v Wales test match

There was no one there

Things have to change somehow

 

[Perth Red]

If you watched the France v Wales test match

There was no one there

Things have to change somehow

Played in a town of 48k against a third tier side, unsurprising crowd was low

 

[Iamback]

If you watched the France v Wales test match

There was no one there

Things have to change somehow

Lebanon v Malta was the same

Somehow need to get money for these nations

 

[Perth Red]

With less than 100 days until the World Cup kicks off in England, rugby league's international game finds itself at a crossroads.

A fortnight ago the Pacific Test weekend was played in Sydney and Auckland for the final time, becoming collateral damage in the NRL's new TV deal with the Nine Network from 2023 onwards.
The new contract mandates that State of Origin II returns to a Wednesday night slot.
"I really believe it (the Pacific Test weekend) is a massive event," Tonga prop Andrew Fifita told AAP.
"For me it should have more importance than State of Origin, playing for your country is the pinnacle in every other sport."

Supercoach Wayne Bennett called the move "crazy" and he's not alone in expressing surprise given the three men's Tests had an accumulative Australian TV audience of more than one million.
"I thought it was a great week for all the nations," said Kiwis halfback Jahrome Hughes.
"We had a sellout for the Tonga game and it was surprising they've scrapped the weekend. Hopefully they have got bigger and better things planned."

The NRL say they want end-of-season tournaments and tours back on the calendar to fill the content void of rugby league from the grand final in October through to mid-November.
"This is something that the (Australian Rugby League) commission believes in and thinks is important to grow the international game," said NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo.
With international fixtures now consigned to the end of season there will undoubtedly be concerns over player availability and welfare.

The removal of the mid-season Tests protects the NRL's golden goose - Origin - when almost half of those playing for NSW and Queensland qualify for Pacific nations.
Part of the plans devised by the NRL and the International Rugby League will likely lead to New Zealand and Australia touring France and the UK in 2023 and 2024 prior to the French hosting the World Cup in 2025.
Whichever of the two sides stays in the southern hemisphere each year will play in a tournament with the other Pacific nations. It comes at a time when the political picture in the region has never been more uncertain.

"We know how important the game is to the people of PNG and we've seen the emergence of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa and Cook Islands," Abdo said.
"There's a real sense I think of rugby league becoming a sport that resonates across all of the Pacific region."

The difficulty for whoever runs those games - be it the IRL and NRL - will be trying to monetise fixtures which have traditionally been given away for free in previous broadcast deals.
Outside of the World Cup, Tests between New Zealand and Australia are tied up in broadcast deals in both countries, but in most other territories everything else is up for grabs.
The IRL are yet to finalise an Australian broadcast partner for this year's World Cup with less than 100 days to go.

NRL plots new path for international game

With less than 100 days until the World Cup kicks off in England, rugby league's international game finds itself at a crossroads.

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