New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Matiunz]

That wouldn't work - when you factor population & participation in rugby league, the South Island would be whipping boys.

Maybe.. just MAYBE an "Auckland vs the rest" series could work, as it seems a bit more balanced when we factor in the strength of RL there versus the whole rest of NZ's RL resources.

Yep 100% without being to harsh I’m not sure South Island could even make up a team of NRL quality players at this point? Not sure they could even if that extended to NSW cup players? Not ideal for a rep game.
Auckland vs the rest shifts the needle slightly (could rest of NZ even field an NRL level team?) but it’s still 75odd% in Aucklands favour

 

[Matiunz]

If they don’t play the Samoa v Tonga game at Eden park its going to be a huge missed opportunity

Basically the PI teams are by all accounts Australians and NZers and by allowing the PI players to play origin AND for the PI nations it’s a massive financial incentive.
Aus has multiple quality players in each position and can easily cover for any player that instead plays for a PI nations with like for like replacement in most cases.
NZ definitely lost out with this arrangement 1 we don’t have anywhere near the depth Aus does and any player loss was felt much more and 2 the added financial incentive of playing origin certainly didn’t help the Kiwis cause.

This is why I’m very against the likes of what you suggest playing Samoa v Tonga in NZ- why give essentially NZs competiton for players a platform in our own backyard?

Yes I get having more competitive international sides is a positive but it’s largely gained by weakening Australia’s main competitor whilst having negligible effect on Aus itself.

 

[Wb1234]

Basically the PI teams are by all accounts Australians and NZers and by allowing the PI players to play origin AND for the PI nations it’s a massive financial incentive.
Aus has multiple quality players in each position and can easily cover for any player that instead plays for a PI nations with like for like replacement in most cases.
NZ definitely lost out with this arrangement 1 we don’t have anywhere near the depth Aus does and any player loss was felt much more and 2 the added financial incentive of playing origin certainly didn’t help the Kiwis cause.

This is why I’m very against the likes of what you suggest playing Samoa v Tonga in NZ- why give essentially NZs competiton for players a platform in our own backyard?

Yes I get having more competitive international sides is a positive but it’s largely gained by weakening Australia’s main competitor whilst having negligible effect on Aus itself.

Tonga games at mt smart have bigger crowds than the kiwis get

It is what it is

I think Eden park could sell out

I asked a journo he hinted it’s at commbank which is a fail

 

[Matiunz]

Tonga games at mt smart have bigger crowds than the kiwis get

It is what it is

I think Eden park could sell out

I asked a journo he hinted it’s at commbank which is a fail

Aware Tongans turn up for one offs just don’t think it’s NZs responsibility nor is it in its best interests to give a player pool competitor any platform

 

[Wb1234]

Aware Tongans turn up for one offs just don’t think it’s NZs responsibility nor is it in its best interests to give a player pool competitor any platform

Moana Pacifica were doing that in super rugby

Tonga and Samoa give league some depth.

Nz aus and England is boring

 

[Matiunz]

Moana Pacifica were doing that in super rugby

Tonga and Samoa give league some depth.

Nz aus and England is boring

NZ rugby are the kangaroos in that example where they have the player depth to easily cope.
Better comparison would be if there was a union team in Aus offering the PI heritage Wallabies financial incentives to play for Samoa/Tonga then playing the games on the grounds the Wallabies should be benefitting from, It would severely negatively effect them.

 

[Wb1234]

NZ rugby are the kangaroos in that example where they have the player depth to easily cope.
Better comparison would be if there was a union team in Aus offering the PI heritage Wallabies financial incentives to play for Samoa/Tonga then playing the games on the grounds the Wallabies should be benefitting from, It would severely negatively effect them.

And yet nz smashed Australia two years ago in the final

Nz ain’t short of players just a decent coach

 

[Wb1234]

Second sellout there for the Wellington game


Why don’t warriors use the hill like that

 

[Matiunz]

Second sellout there for the Wellington game


Why don’t warriors use the hill like that

Good crowd but don’t think it was sold out? Plenty of seats visible on TV. Was chatting to a mate who is on the staff of an A-League team and apparently the new franchises get massive salary cap exemptions their first couple of seasons (similar to how the Wanderers hit the ground running) not hugely familiar with players etc but apparently the teams pretty stacked. Be interesting to see if the crowds stay when the team inevitably return to the pack or even once the NRL season starts.
NZ NRL derby certainly a mouth watering prospect though especially in the early clashes.
Pretty sure the Warriors have their members tent/bar at the end of the stadium?

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Second sellout there for the Wellington game


Why don’t warriors use the hill like that

Looks like there’s a couple of hundred people max on the hill. It really needs some terracing built over it to allow it to be properly sold to capacity.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Unlikely under the current mob.

One of the coalition members doesn't actually believe in Government spending, and the other two aren't much kinder.

You would know better rhan me … but haven’t they just started up the Aust Supercar races over there? Assume there is some public money being spent on that … although probably not a lot of Aussies going over …

 

[Dark Corner]

Second sellout there for the Wellington game


Why don’t warriors use the hill like that

On no its him again....has Auckland turned gay.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Hahaha what an impressive hissy fit.

You asked about the make up of a SI team and you don't like the answer so now you're carrying on like a baby, but the demographics just don't work, the majority of players are from the NI and that's not going to change.

The majority of people are from the North Island.. and significantly more Islander/ Maori body types physically suitable to either form of Rugby.
The South Island does incredibly well when everything is taken into consideration and would increase dramatically also with the introduction of a second NZ team effectively creating an additional 15 million dollars of money to be spent on full-time professional players, then there's the obligatory pathways needed to support a team in Juniors, reserves, coaches, trainers, recruitment.
A literal BOOM of immediate opportunities.
Add to that the present of a Rugby team in the biggest Rugby tournament on the planet inspiring local kids to pick up a footy in the tens if not hundreds of thousands.. tourism, sponsors ..

I find it interesting that a Kiwi and a Rugby league fan wouldn't be a staunch advocate for such a thing..
I digress lol
Yes, North Island, there's more players lol