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New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,087
The Canterbury Bulls won last years National Premier League Final . The Christchurch School (St Thomas of Canterbury College) has won the National Schools Premier League for the last two years. So there is talent in the "Grassroots of Canterbury / Christchurch League. And the Bulldogs and the Warriors have already signed a few of those boys up for their development squads. :(
Thank you for your contribution

Good to know what’s really happening at junior level in nz
 

Matua

First Grade
Messages
5,149
As long as there is a healthy Union junior base for the new NZ league team to raid for their own pathways …. I got no problem with what day they play on ..
I said way back in the early days of this thread that leaving players in the rugby systems in NZ is the best thing for league in NZ currently. It does also mean league will lose some players too - Piri Weepu being a prime example.

Still doesn't mean league in NZ shouldn't try and improve the domestic game.
 

BuffaloRules

Coach
Messages
15,525
I said way back in the early days of this thread that leaving players in the rugby systems in NZ is the best thing for league in NZ currently. It does also mean league will lose some players too - Piri Weepu being a prime example.

Still doesn't mean league in NZ shouldn't try and improve the domestic game.

Doubling the opportunities for NRL pathways and Top 30 positions is only a positive for the game in NZ in my view ..

of course they should and would try to improve the domestic game ,,, but I don’t think the growth of the Canterbury Competition will make much difference to their NRL team … they will have the 5 feeder teams playing in the NRL branded competitions like the Warriors have finally started to..
 

LightLizard

Juniors
Messages
8
Um, this is a NZ thread, 1st XV is mostly played Saturdays, league on Sundays.

Also, not sure what you're "just saying" point is - I've been saying since this thread began there's no clear us v them in NZ.

Also, what's up with the new multi? Forget your password?
Hi Matua - I'm from NZ live in ChCh. And have played both Union & Leauge - Many years ago, I played 1st X1 for my school ON A WEDNESDAY - then played for my PREMIER League side on EITHER Sat or SUNDAY at Addington Stadium. My son did exactly the same thing.
I agree with you re the us and them. I posted that exact thing a few posts ago. Over here (NZ) they are totally inter-changeable. Not sure what you mean with the "Multi" comment tho. :)
 

SirPies&Beers

Juniors
Messages
343
Hi Matua - I'm from NZ live in ChCh. And have played both Union & Leauge - Many years ago, I played 1st X1 for my school ON A WEDNESDAY - then played for my PREMIER League side on EITHER Sat or SUNDAY at Addington Stadium. My son did exactly the same thing.
I agree with you re the us and them. I posted that exact thing a few posts ago. Over here (NZ) they are totally inter-changeable. Not sure what you mean with the "Multi" comment tho. :)
finally a poster from south island that actually knows whats going on in region. refreshing, so far we got blokes from sydney and perth who think they know whats best for nz and south is.

interested to understand your view on this whole south is orcas vs kea vs mystery 3rd bid deal and rl vs ru and if rl really is killing ru etc. tell us some stories please, good to read up on local knowledge
 

SpaceMonkey

Immortal
Messages
40,457
It will be highly unlikely to get govt funding for NZ2, it’d be political suicide in the current economic climate.
Can only think of 2 occasions in my lifetime where the government has kicked in significant funding 1 being for Eden park upgrade for RWC2011 and the second being for the America’s cup precinct. Both those occasions were for infrastructure rather than funding. NZ doesn’t fund sports anywhere near the level Aus does.
Eden Park barely even counts too considering that was the budget option after a waterfront stadium couldn’t get over the line (how dumb does that decision seem now)
 

LightLizard

Juniors
Messages
8
finally a poster from south island that actually knows whats going on in region. refreshing, so far we got blokes from sydney and perth who think they know whats best for nz and south is.

interested to understand your view on this whole south is orcas vs kea vs mystery 3rd bid deal and rl vs ru and if rl really is killing ru etc. tell us some stories please, good to read up on local knowledge
hahah thanks for that. Yeah I read some of the posts and think yee gods .. I personally think the state of our "club" league is good. We have 16 clubs in ChCh - The only down side is that we used to play Prem Footy at the Addington League grounds - but after the earthquakes, for some god known reason they sold it to Canterbury Rugby and the Prem League games were getting played at suburban grounds (not great). We also have an awesome sports ground just south of ChCh . Rep games get played here and some Premier games. I would think that if Orcas or Kea get in, their x 5 lower grade sides would play here.
I really have no problem with which one gets the NRL call - HOWEVER - Being a CanTab I would like it to be led by at least a South Islander. Lowe & Chambers are both North Islanders, at least Moffet lives in Canterbury, and North Islanders have the habit of thinking we (South Islanders) don't know how to do things lol - in business or sport.
That is til Razor Robertson came along and won x 7 Super titles IN A ROW. Our relationship is a lot like NSW v QLD in ALL things.
On the grass roots thing... I really don't think it has a lot of say in a potential NRL side.. Most if not all players for the first few years will come from existing "stock" inside the NRL.
And after the JF - HM - NSW cup sides have ben bedded in, that is where the future players will come from.
 

Matiunz

Juniors
Messages
852
hahah thanks for that. Yeah I read some of the posts and think yee gods .. I personally think the state of our "club" league is good. We have 16 clubs in ChCh - The only down side is that we used to play Prem Footy at the Addington League grounds - but after the earthquakes, for some god known reason they sold it to Canterbury Rugby and the Prem League games were getting played at suburban grounds (not great). We also have an awesome sports ground just south of ChCh . Rep games get played here and some Premier games. I would think that if Orcas or Kea get in, their x 5 lower grade sides would play here.
I really have no problem with which one gets the NRL call - HOWEVER - Being a CanTab I would like it to be led by at least a South Islander. Lowe & Chambers are both North Islanders, at least Moffet lives in Canterbury, and North Islanders have the habit of thinking we (South Islanders) don't know how to do things lol - in business or sport.
That is til Razor Robertson came along and won x 7 Super titles IN A ROW. Our relationship is a lot like NSW v QLD in ALL things.
On the grass roots thing... I really don't think it has a lot of say in a potential NRL side.. Most if not all players for the first few years will come from existing "stock" inside the NRL.
And after the JF - HM - NSW cup sides have ben bedded in, that is where the future players will come from.
Good to see the Cantabrian chip is still well and truely on your shoulder ;)
Canterbury club scene would be 2nd to Auckland particularly after Wellingtons scene has nosedived, has any of the surrounding provinces club scene improved? Obviously West coast is a traditional stronghold albeit with a tiny populatio but the likes of Tasman,Southland and Otago have anything of note?
Reason I ask is I fear Canterbury is too small to essentially go it alone and compete with what NSW/Qld have to work with- is it that famous one eyed view that believes the locals are up to it? Also curious if you have any experience with the league scene in Aus? It was certainly an eye opener when I first saw it and quickly explained many of the Warriors historical struggles
 

LightLizard

Juniors
Messages
8
Good to see the Cantabrian chip is still well and truely on your shoulder ;)
Canterbury club scene would be 2nd to Auckland particularly after Wellingtons scene has nosedived, has any of the surrounding provinces club scene improved? Obviously West coast is a traditional stronghold albeit with a tiny populatio but the likes of Tasman,Southland and Otago have anything of note?
Reason I ask is I fear Canterbury is too small to essentially go it alone and compete with what NSW/Qld have to work with- is it that famous one eyed view that believes the locals are up to it? Also curious if you have any experience with the league scene in Aus? It was certainly an eye opener when I first saw it and quickly explained many of the Warriors historical struggles
haha you will never get rid of the chips on shoulders down here - I have in-laws that were "normal" from here that moved to Jaffaland and became people we couldn't recognize... lol. Yep The Greymouth Greyhounds are going quite well. In fact they travel to ChCh and play their Prems & "B's" here. And if I remember rightly, an Otago team just won some national tournament - Tasman - not sure about.
My ex son-inlaw and his brother both came up thru ChCh league scene. Both became Junior warriors - both became Junior Kiwis. Went to Aus. couldn't crack the Sydney hive, went to Newcastle trailed for their NSW team - couldn't crack that !! ended up spending 10 years playing bush footy for Cessnock and surrounds. I think at least back in early 2000s Kiwis found it hugely difficult to break into the NRL systems.. :( sad because there was at that time a huge amount of great talent that went "Bush" and vanished.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
34,087
haha you will never get rid of the chips on shoulders down here - I have in-laws that were "normal" from here that moved to Jaffaland and became people we couldn't recognize... lol. Yep The Greymouth Greyhounds are going quite well. In fact they travel to ChCh and play their Prems & "B's" here. And if I remember rightly, an Otago team just won some national tournament - Tasman - not sure about.
My ex son-inlaw and his brother both came up thru ChCh league scene. Both became Junior warriors - both became Junior Kiwis. Went to Aus. couldn't crack the Sydney hive, went to Newcastle trailed for their NSW team - couldn't crack that !! ended up spending 10 years playing bush footy for Cessnock and surrounds. I think at least back in early 2000s Kiwis found it hugely difficult to break into the NRL systems.. :( sad because there was at that time a huge amount of great talent that went "Bush" and vanished.
What’s your opinion of a proposed Christchurch team playing some games in Wellington as the orcas seem to want to be doing

I think it should be solely focused on the South Island
 

LightLizard

Juniors
Messages
8
Good to see the Cantabrian chip is still well and truely on your shoulder ;)
Canterbury club scene would be 2nd to Auckland particularly after Wellingtons scene has nosedived, has any of the surrounding provinces club scene improved? Obviously West coast is a traditional stronghold albeit with a tiny populatio but the likes of Tasman,Southland and Otago have anything of note?
Reason I ask is I fear Canterbury is too small to essentially go it alone and compete with what NSW/Qld have to work with- is it that famous one eyed view that believes the locals are up to it? Also curious if you have any experience with the league scene in Aus? It was certainly an eye opener when I first saw it and quickly explained many of the Warriors historical struggles
I think we could hold our own. As we saw this year with the Warriors putting a Harold Mathews team in for the first time ever..
The Warriors have become the first team in the history of the UNE Harold Matthews Cup to claim the premiership in their maiden year after defeating the Western Suburbs Magpies 34-16 at CommBank Stadium today.27 Apr 2024
And if I remember correctly, that team was 100% Kiwi born and trained. So no reason we (South Island) can't do the same..
 

LightLizard

Juniors
Messages
8
What’s your opinion of a proposed Christchurch team playing some games in Wellington as the orcas seem to want to be doing

I think it should be solely focused on the South Island
As I understand it, They have said publicly, that games (Trails & Pre-season) could / would be played in Dunedin - Nelson but no one seems to be pushing for Wellington games.
Like you, I think Christchurch needs to be its main focus. Otherwise we could end up like The Travelling Wilburys - oopps I mean Wests-Tigers and have no recognized "home".
 

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