New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Gobsmacked]

calm down princess

Just... fffs

 

[titoelcolombiano]

At the time the report showed a 10 year decline pattern (2103>) so it wasnt 'just' the covid effect. Good to see it has reversed and the game is now growing over there for the first time in a long time.

Disingenuous, all contact sports has shown a decline in participation. RL has bucked the trend post COVID for a few reasons

 

[Jonty]

Seems rumours of Union's demise in NZ were greatly exaggerated.

I don’t think anyone said that the AB’s were irrelevant but instead said that the domestic NPC&super rugby competitions were struggling and fast losing appeal.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

Could be a case where splitting games might be a go

Hold most games for the Coastal side in Porirua, with a game at Otaki or Levin (VERY accessible via the State Highway 1 now (Transmission Gully/Coastal expressway)

Hold most games for the Valley side in Lower Hutt (Hutt Rec or Fraser Park), with the odd game in Wainuiomata.

I hesitate to suggest games at Sky Stadium, because it's a pricey proposition (the Wellington Lions NPC rugby union team are moving games away from there!)... BUT if such a competition takes off, it could make sense to hold a derby match there.

When the Batercard Cup started in 2000 we had the Pumas and Wainui had the Lions. It covered the region pretty well. Unfortunately it didn't last.

Transmission Gully cuts through my childhood farm which kind of ruins my childhood a lil bit, but I'm happy it's made life easier for people back home.

 

[Canard]

I don’t think anyone said that the AB’s were irrelevant but instead said that the domestic NPC&super rugby competitions were struggling and fast losing appeal.

From what I can tell, aside from a brief period in the 2000s, club rugby has never really been a major drawcard in Australia or New Zealand.

It’s the internationals that capture the public’s attention.

That’s why claims like “League is taking over in NZ” seem a bit delusional when they completely overlook the enduring presence and influence of the All Blacks.


I’m probably extra sensitive to this because I now live in an AFL-dominated state, where I constantly hear similar claims. So when I hear the same kind of talk coming from League supporters, it tends to rub me the wrong way.

 

[Matua]

Are you drunk ?

Oh yay, deflecting from Gob, some things never change.

 

[Gobsmacked]

From what I can tell, aside from a brief period in the 2000s, club rugby has never really been a major drawcard in Australia or New Zealand.

It’s the internationals that capture the public’s attention.

That’s why claims like “League is taking over in NZ” seem a bit delusional when they completely overlook the enduring presence and influence of the All Blacks.


I’m probably extra sensitive to this because I now live in an AFL-dominated state, where I constantly hear similar claims. So when I hear the same kind of talk coming from League supporters, it tends to rub me the wrong way.

" league taking over NZ" has nothing to do with the popularity of the All blacks. At the very least, a small country like NZ actually getting to dominate a sport on a global stage , the patriotism that that encompasses and the history of that- that's not going away. Actually, globally that's not going away. I was in Christchurch during the world cup at a little Irish bar pack to the rafters in the morning because Ireland were playing..!
Is Union big in Ireland? Not really.

Patriotism and popularity for a sport are two different things entirely. The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world, yet nobody follows hardly any of the events outside of the Olympics.

Yeah, club RU in NZ is a thing and it's probably the only clear metric of the actual sports popularity in NZ .
On that metric: Can Rugby league ( NRL) become more popular than Rugby Union ( Super Rugby)
Of course it can, look at the trajectory of the 2 competitions...
It's only a matter of time, can a second NZ team speed that up? Like a rocket!

 

[Wb1234]

"I felt there was a real connection between him and our pathways (manager) Andrew McFadden. If there is one thing that successful organisations have it is stability

 

[Gobsmacked]

"I felt there was a real connection between him and our pathways (manager) Andrew McFadden. If there is one thing that successful organisations have it is stability

His positional decisions still a major concern. TMM needs to be 7 DWZ needs to be dropped to find form.
They won't win a comp until he finds a more ruthless approach.

 

[Wb1234]

If Union wanna focus on internationals and leave the club game to be taken over by us that’s fine lol

Where do the future all blacks come from … mars ???

Problem for league is the warriors have been a poor flagship for the code and with the decline in super rugby there’s an opportunity for the game to make huge inroads

Kiwis hitched their game to Aussie union and that’s killing their club game. Should’ve booted Australia and stuck with South Africa

But it’s good to see Aussie union is taking nz union with it

 

[Wb1234]

His positional decisions still a major concern. TMM needs to be 7 DWZ needs to be dropped to find form.
They won't win a comp until he finds a more ruthless approach.

Dwz is a shadow of his pre injury self

Montoya has been going ok in a good dogs side

Ladder flatters then they aren’t a top four side imo

 

[Gobsmacked]

Dwz is a shadow of his pre injury self

Montoya has been going ok in a good dogs side

Ladder flatters then they aren’t a top four side imo

The Warriors are fortunate to have been on the right side of some close games early in the year. If they want to actually make a play in the finals, they need more depth in attack with a genuine play maker- Te Mari Martin.

 

[Gobsmacked]

NRL 2025: Peter V’landys confirms review of Origin eligibility rules, State of Origin, New Zealand and England, Kaeo Weekes decision, news, videos, highlights https://share.google/mRQlEB7dl0z218U9p

 

[Jonty]

If Union wanna focus on internationals and leave the club game to be taken over by us that’s fine lol

100% this.

domestic rugby in both codes is the bread&butter of the game which is where the overwhelming majority of games are played and centred around.

Where do the future all blacks come from … mars ???

from an ever decreasing player pool.

Problem for league is the warriors have been a poor flagship for the code and with the decline in super rugby there’s an opportunity for the game to make huge inroads

theyve(warriors) underperformed both on and off the pitch for the majority of their existence unfortunately but in recent seasons have shown the true potential of RL in New Zealand with a little success.

just imagine if they(warrior/s) actually won a premiership or had a decent run of sustained success like the panthers or storm?

Kiwis hitched their game to Aussie union and that’s killing their club game. Should’ve booted Australia and stuck with South Africa

breaks the heart doesn’t it.

But it’s good to see Aussie union is taking nz union with it

amen brother.

the question is will the NRL take full advantage of this by giving NZ a 2nd NRL team?

 

[Wb1234]

100% this.

domestic rugby in both codes is the bread&butter of the game which is where the overwhelming majority of games are played and centred around.



from an ever decreasing player pool.

theyve(warriors) underperformed both on and off the pitch for the majority of their existence unfortunately but in recent seasons have shown the true potential of RL in New Zealand with a little success.

just imagine if they(warrior/s) actually won a premiership or had a decent run of sustained success like the panthers or storm?

breaks the heart doesn’t it.

amen brother.

the question is will the NRL take full advantage of this by giving NZ a 2nd NRL team?

I think chch is the overwhelming favourite for team 20 and expect once the warriors play raiders ? At te kaha stadium next year talks will ramp up

Pvl and abdo will be there in a corporate box with the various nz2 bidders lurking around

Arl has also ensured nzrl gets home tests each year so they can profit from them

A second nz nrl team will spend at least 20 million on rugby league salaries / juniors etc in nz and will flow down to under 16

IF super rugby stays as is there should a push for more than 2 nz nrl sides

Obviously this is way down the track buts its in the realms of possibility

I never thought union would be vulnerable in nz. It’s always been presented as bulletproof

 

[Gobsmacked]

100% this.

domestic rugby in both codes is the bread&butter of the game which is where the overwhelming majority of games are played and centred around.



from an ever decreasing player pool.

theyve(warriors) underperformed both on and off the pitch for the majority of their existence unfortunately but in recent seasons have shown the true potential of RL in New Zealand with a little success.

just imagine if they(warrior/s) actually won a premiership or had a decent run of sustained success like the panthers or storm?

breaks the heart doesn’t it.

amen brother.

the question is will the NRL take full advantage of this by giving NZ a 2nd NRL team?

Imagine a steady top 4 Warriors lining up vs a South Island team.
Seriously..
Who in NZ would miss that game? Twice a year?
The advertising revenue to the broadcasters?

Currently 30 million pa with Sky..

How do you think the next rights negotiation plays out with the biggest club rivalry game in the pacific?
$$$$
Have an Origin at Eden Park..

People who think League can't dominate the sporting landscape in NZ are delusional.

PVL just needs to pull the trigger.

 

[Jonty]

I think chch is the overwhelming favourite for team 20 and expect once the warriors play raiders ? At te kaha stadium next year talks will ramp up

Pvl and abdo will be there in a corporate box with the various nz2 bidders lurking around

Arl has also ensured nzrl gets home tests each year so they can profit from them

A second nz nrl team will spend at least 20 million on rugby league salaries / juniors etc in nz and will flow down to under 16

IF super rugby stays as is there should a push for more than 2 nz nrl sides

Obviously this is way down the track buts its in the realms of possibility

I never thought union would be vulnerable in nz. It’s always been presented as bulletproof

Christchurch has the stadium and the fans evidenced by warriors pre-season NRL trial and regular season games.

christchurch/canterbury/South Island also has the player pool both union&league(majority union at present).

NZ2 shouldn’t be favourites but instead should be #1 priority for the NRL.

 

[Wb1234]

Christchurch has the stadium and the fans evidenced by warriors pre-season NRL trial and regular season games.

christchurch/canterbury/South Island also has the player pool both union&league(majority union at present).

NZ2 shouldn’t be favourites but instead should be #1 priority for the NRL.

If it wasn’t for the 600 million from Aussie govt and also the money from wa govt neither of those bids would’ve got in over chch

 

[Gobsmacked]

Christchurch has the stadium and the fans evidenced by warriors pre-season NRL trial and regular season games.

christchurch/canterbury/South Island also has the player pool both union&league(majority union at present).

NZ2 shouldn’t be favourites but instead should be #1 priority for the NRL.

The Dragons CEO thinks so also.
Go to 9 minutes.

 

[Matua]

Disingenuous, all contact sports has shown a decline in participation. RL has bucked the trend post COVID for a few reasons

Did you actually read the article? This is the second sentence:

Sport New Zealand statistics show playing numbers in rugby league have declined faster than any sport in the country's biggest city during the past 10 years.

The game was genuinely in trouble back then. In all honesty, I think Covid benefitted the game in NZ, being stuck in Oz meant that there was a huge groundswell of interest in the Warriors when they finally returned home regardless of the results (this thread started before the Warriors started playing well). Check the crowds/viewership they were getting pre Covid and compare it with that first year back and it was like chalk and cheese. It is great that the ascendancy continued through last year even when the Warriors returned to their woeful worst.