New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Mother Nature's Son]

I'm in Newcastle England and despite hope of what the Thunder tried to back in 1999 it's just has not grown on people and even falcons Union seems to be a lost cause.....it's just Newcastle Utd and then Sunderland...and a bit of Cricket in Durham.

Hopefully mate as the NRL starts to realise just what a brand it might be - biggest rugby competition in the world - something which I think dawned on V`landys long before anyone else, we may be able to start to use that brand recognition (and a bit of moolah as well) to give the game a boost in your part of the world.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

I'm in Newcastle England and despite hope of what the Thunder tried to back in 1999 it's just has not grown on people and even falcons Union seems to be a lost cause.....it's just Newcastle Utd and then Sunderland...and a bit of Cricket in Durham.

I remember watching Gateshead Thunder coming down here to play Hemel Stags....spoke to some of the Geordies there and they were really passionate but said same thing...football too dominant to crack

 

[Dark Corner]

I remember watching Gateshead Thunder coming down here to play Hemel Stags....spoke to some of the Geordies there and they were really passionate but said same thing...football too dominant to crack

Aside from Soccer we have always been a backwater for other sports and even stuff like music despite having a good amount of Rugby Union and Cricket clubs.....even Boxing people will watch the big fights but our local pro scene is very poor.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

Aside from Soccer we have always been a backwater for other sports and even stuff like music despite having a good amount of Rugby Union and Cricket clubs.....even Boxing people will watch the big fights but our local pro scene is very poor.

And only one league cup to show for it in 70 years!

 

[Dark Corner]

And only one league cup to show for it in 70 years!

Plus the only other big club is Sunderland, Middlesbough are North Yorkshire, Darlington is no more and Hartlepool is small club going up and down....mind you it was a big Rugby area.

 

[Leighton Rhino]

Plus the only other big club is Sunderland, Middlesbough are North Yorkshire, Darlington is no more and Hartlepool is small club going up and down....mind you it was a big Rugby area.

Ah....the old Middlesbrough question. Plenty of people debate that Yorkshire thing. A mare who is from there insists he is Yorkshire.....not sure many in Yorkshire want to claim it though (having been there a few times I understand why!!)

 

[Wb1234]

On Gateshead thunder their crowds were around the league average at the time

They didn’t get a share / or a full share of the tv deal

Shane Richardson put his house behind the club and almost lost it

Newcastle falcons owners are struggling wirh funding their side and league is way cheaper and would get similar crowds

 

[Wb1234]

 

[BuffaloRules]

Relevance ?

 

[Perth Red]

I wonder how many of the Tonga and Samoa side are eligible for NZ and would flip if they could play origin and play for NZ? I'm more worried about weakening Tonga and Samoa than I am any impact on Kangaroos or Origin.

 

[Wb1234]

I wonder how many of the Tonga and Samoa side are eligible for NZ and would flip if they could play origin and play for NZ? I'm more worried about weakening Tonga and Samoa than I am any impact on Kangaroos or Origin.

Just disband the kangaroos problems solved

The issue about allowing kiwis to play origin is a tough one but the reality is tonga and Samoa are now tier one nations like nz

 

[Gobsmacked]

Just disband the kangaroos problems solved

The issue about allowing kiwis to play origin is a tough one but the reality is tonga and Samoa are now tier one nations like nz

Criteria for Origin doesn't need to change.

Criteria for country of representation doesn't need to change.

These 2 organisations need not be of concern to each other.

ORIGIN SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON INTERNATIONALS.
INTERNATIONALS SHOULD HAVE NO BEARING ON ORIGIN.

This isnt f**king rocket science.

Regarding Haas: if he wishes to play for Samoa, why shouldn't he?
Australia vs England ashes =epic
Samoa, Tonga and NZ in a Tri series = epic

 

[Wb1234]

 

[Gobsmacked]

Lol someone wrote an article for me again.
Called it !

 

[AlwaysGreen]

A player born in Australia of Samoan heritage is possibly going to play for Samoa?

What a massive blow to NZ rugby!!

 

[Jonty]

A player born in Australia of Samoan heritage is possibly going to play for Samoa?

What a massive blow to NZ rugby!!

It could be if we are thinking about the long game.

a strong international RL scene with the likes of Samoa and Tonga regularly beating Australia and New Zealand could see huge crowds for internationals in both New Zealand and Australia but especially New Zealand which is already seeing the warriors and the NRL beating the NPC and super rugby for crowds and tv ratings.

 

[Gobsmacked]

A player born in Australia of Samoan heritage is possibly going to play for Samoa?

What a massive blow to NZ rugby!!

It's just an addition to what we're discussing about Ponga playing for the Kiwis and Origin

 

[Jonty]

It's just an addition to what we're discussing about Ponga playing for the Kiwis and Origin

As well as past players like Brad thorn and karmichael hunt etc.

im sure there’s more examples of past players and even more examples of players today especially ones currently in the Australian junior pathways competitions.

 

[Wb1234]

Nobody wants to play in the ashes

PAC cup going to be lit

 

[Perth Red]

Nobody wants to play in the ashes

PAC cup going to be lit

Lol yeh who'd want to represent their country in front of 60k+ fans at Wembley stadium when you could be playing in front of 25k for some country you've adopted in Sydney lol