NRL.com - Aus to play NZ in Oct 2018 ??? + Mal wants 'Australia A' to play Pacific

[Burns]

http://www.nrl.com/meninga-wants-emerging-roos-program/tabid/10874/newsid/115340/default.aspx

Rising NRL stars Nathan Cleary, Jayden Brailey, Latrell Mitchell, Kalyn Ponga and Brodie Croft could be among the first players named in Mal Meninga’s inaugural “Emerging Roos” squad.

Australia coach Mal Meninga is planning to help the national team’s development from next year in the same vein as the Origin emerging squads that NSW and Queensland have facilitated over the year.

Unlike the Queensland and NSW squads which don’t play matches, Meninga wants the Emerging Roos to play as an “Australia A” team as well as attending training camps and be part of introductory sessions on the Kangaroos culture.

An added bonus would be that the extra games would help the game grow in the Pacific region.

The international calendar for the Kangaroos is depleted next year as there is no mid-year Test, and no Four Nations tour post-season. There is a one-off Test against New Zealand earmarked for October.

~~~

Wasn't Australia playing no Tests next year? Has there been any mention of a Aus v NZ test?

On that note - What is the confirmed schedule for next year anyway?

And Australia A? Why not just call is Australia and play matches regardless?

 

[Evil Homer]

Australia is f**king weird

 

[DlEHARD]

Call them the Emus.

Let's send indigenous sides to South Africa. Pleased to see South Australia send a side to Thailand recently.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Call them the Emus.

Let's send indigenous sides to South Africa. Pleased to see South Australia send a side to Thailand recently.

If its an emerging team, we should call them the "Australian Joeys"...

 

[Coastbloke]

Well, I'm pleased the Kangaroos are playing at least 1 match..
Offer it to Ch7 immediately..!!
Play at either Dunedin or Eden Park..

 

[siv]

Well, I'm pleased the Kangaroos are playing at least 1 match..
Offer it to Ch7 immediately..!!
Play at either Dunedin or Eden Park..

If its played in Oz - Ch9 already have the rights

 

[Billythekid]

I'll believe it when I see it. Let's hope to see more international games being announced for next year and the year between now and the next WC sooner rather than later.

 

[StadiumXIII]

http://www.nrl.com/meninga-wants-emerging-roos-program/tabid/10874/newsid/115340/default.aspx

Rising NRL stars Nathan Cleary, Jayden Brailey, Latrell Mitchell, Kalyn Ponga and Brodie Croft could be among the first players named in Mal Meninga’s inaugural “Emerging Roos” squad.

Australia coach Mal Meninga is planning to help the national team’s development from next year in the same vein as the Origin emerging squads that NSW and Queensland have facilitated over the year.

Unlike the Queensland and NSW squads which don’t play matches, Meninga wants the Emerging Roos to play as an “Australia A” team as well as attending training camps and be part of introductory sessions on the Kangaroos culture.

An added bonus would be that the extra games would help the game grow in the Pacific region.

The international calendar for the Kangaroos is depleted next year as there is no mid-year Test, and no Four Nations tour post-season. There is a one-off Test against New Zealand earmarked for October.

~~~

Wasn't Australia playing no Tests next year? Has there been any mention of a Aus v NZ test?

On that note - What is the confirmed schedule for next year anyway?

And Australia A? Why not just call is Australia and play matches regardless?

Before this Emerging Roos business why not get an U20's 4 Nations going similar to what they're starting in Europe. Australia A.. that's pretty much the Prime Ministers XIII !!

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

Before this Emerging Roos business why not get an U20's 4 Nations going similar to what they're starting in Europe. Australia A.. that's pretty much the Prime Ministers XIII !!

I prefer the idea of a team with an age limit that just a team of open-age rejects. Its why U20s was always better than NRL reserves...

Saying "this is the best possible team within these limitations" is always better than "this is whats left after the good players pull out".

If the Roos dont want to tour, an U20s or U23s would be a perfect alternative.

 

[Coastbloke]

Not my wish list and this is only a personal opinion of course..My preference would be:

NZ v Tonga and Samoa v Cook Islands in NZ.

PNG v Fiji in Port Moresby

England v France and Ireland v Wales. Either as a double header or put England v France in France and alternate Wales v Ireland if International weekend becomes permanent..

Other minor matches could include USA v Jamaica and Russia/Serbia v Scotland. With plenty of time to prepare, the minor nations could start go fund me campaigns and scour for potential sponsors...

 

[Coparugby]

Pacific test details are here. Tickets on sale now.
http://m.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=PACIFICT18

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

Do the cook islands even have a team all their are in kiwis or roos. Why not pit us against nation with revenue in the future. I mean why not the Maori vs Samoa. Cook islands aint a team until they have all their good players back and would disrespectful to Samoa who would wipe the floor with them. Maori have alot of stars and is more of a test or an eventual Hawaii in the future for Polynesian football. If not give Toa the irish since their is hard feelings. But not the cooks or anyone who is not equally to sell when Toa will have more support and more to lose. The reason it sells between Tonga and Kiwis including Maori would sell is because fans have vested interest when we play these certain teams. Im telling you now wrong opponent shit support and engagement. Do it correctly.

 

[Force]

Do the cook islands even have a team all their are in kiwis or roos. Why not pit us against nation with revenue in the future. I mean why not the Maori vs Samoa. Cook islands aint a team until they have all their good players back and would disrespectful to Samoa who would wipe the floor with them. Maori have alot of stars and is more of a test or an eventual Hawaii in the future for Polynesian football. If not give Toa the irish since their is hard feelings. But not the cooks or anyone who is not equally to sell when Toa will have more support and more to lose. The reason it sells between Tonga and Kiwis including Maori would sell is because fans have vested interest when we play these certain teams. Im telling you now wrong opponent shit support and engagement. Do it correctly.

A bit of a mumble-a-thon but I got the jist of it.

FYI, the last time Samoa played the Cooks, Samoa lost with a host of NRL players and the Cooks were full of U20's and Cup players. The Cook Island team that played Tonga in the World Cup qualifiers was of similar standard with mainly Cup and U20's and only 1 or 2 NRL players and they went well. Having a team full of top players doesnt necessarily mean a top team, just look at Lebanon, only a few NRL players but almost pulled off an upset against an NRL laden Tongan team. So I wouldn't be too dismissive of any team, especially how poorly Samoa have performed at this World Cup.

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

A bit of a mumble-a-thon but I got the jist of it.

FYI, the last time Samoa played the Cooks, Samoa lost with a host of NRL players and the Cooks were full of U20's and Cup players. The Cook Island team that played Tonga in the World Cup qualifiers was of similar standard with mainly Cup and U20's and only 1 or 2 NRL players and they went well. Having a team full of top players doesnt necessarily mean a top team, just look at Lebanon, only a few NRL players but almost pulled off an upset against an NRL laden Tongan team. So I wouldn't be too dismissive of any team, especially how poorly Samoa have performed at this World Cup.

That was this world cup mate. Lets just not Force end of story. Tonga vs Samoa or us against Kiwis. Cook Islands have never beaten full strength Samoan team and lets be real that Samoan team was a farce compared with the important players missing due to injury. Cooks can play Lebanon. Have some respect for the Samoan team who taken great strides in the sport. The lebanon game was always going to be banana skin game for the Tongans who had beaten Toa and Kiwis their biggest rivals so they were on a high and playing Lebanon was always going to be a low. This week the Tongans will dispatch England. Besides whats accomplished by Toa playing cooks what have they done. Give me something because last time i checked they got cleaned by Png.

 

[Force]

That was this world cup mate. Lets just not Force end of story. Tonga vs Samoa or us against Kiwis. Cook Islands have never beaten full strength Samoan team and lets be real that Samoan team was a farce compared with the important players missing due to injury. Cooks can play Lebanon. Have some respect for the Samoan team who taken great strides in the sport. The lebanon game was always going to be banana skin game for the Tongans who had beaten Toa and Kiwis their biggest rivals so they were on a high and playing Lebanon was always going to be a low. This week the Tongans will dispatch England. Besides whats accomplished by Toa playing cooks what have they done. Give me something because last time i checked they got cleaned by Png.

Well your condescending tone towards teams like the Cook Islands and Lebanon shows you're the one who is lacking respect. With the team Samoa had they should've done a lot better than what they did, even without some of their injured players so no excuses. They were lucky to advance to the play-offs without winning a game, drawing against a very weak Scotland team and looked average against the U23 NSW Country team in their warm up game. Samoa at full strength is a stronger team no doubt but games arent won on paper and the Cooks can field a strong team aswell if they were at full strength. Also, last time I checked, being beaten by one try isnt called being 'cleaned up'....losing 8 tries to nil is.

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

Well your condescending tone towards teams like the Cook Islands and Lebanon shows you're the one who is lacking respect. With the team Samoa had they should've done a lot better than what they did, even without some of their injured players so no excuses. They were lucky to advance to the play-offs without winning a game, drawing against a very weak Scotland team and looked average against the U23 NSW Country team in their warm up game. Samoa at full strength is a stronger team no doubt but games arent won on paper and the Cooks can field a strong team aswell if they were at full strength. Also, last time I checked, being beaten by one try isnt called being 'cleaned up'....losing 8 tries to nil is.

Well when you have no halves you cannot win. Last time we had halves was Reni Maitua leading Ben Roberts we put 30 plus points on Fiji. Losing to Australia is nothing to be ashamed especially when Fiji outpointed Toa in those stakes by nine tries. Not being condescending towards Cooks but they are maori anyway why the hell does NZ get two teams. Besides all their players are in top rep sides and have bundy rum sides. Rather Toa get games like Ireland, France, South Africa, USA, Canada or teams developing with big economies so Rugby League can move forward. Playing Cook Islands does nothing and is basically NZ city anyway. Why the hell is that allowed.

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

NZ proved my point Force when you have supbar halves the special talent cannot play and showcase their x factor. Can Australia play like that without the big three. Those players are once in a generation. Would any nsw halves lead Australia like what these qld guys have done.

 

[Force]

Well when you have no halves you cannot win. Last time we had halves was Reni Maitua leading Ben Roberts we put 30 plus points on Fiji. Losing to Australia is nothing to be ashamed especially when Fiji outpointed Toa in those stakes by nine tries. Not being condescending towards Cooks but they are maori anyway why the hell does NZ get two teams. Besides all their players are in top rep sides and have bundy rum sides. Rather Toa get games like Ireland, France, South Africa, USA, Canada or teams developing with big economies so Rugby League can move forward. Playing Cook Islands does nothing and is basically NZ city anyway. Why the hell is that allowed.

Roberts is hopeless and Maitua isnt a half, hes like Sefa Paulo, a backrower trying to play half but has no playmaking skills. Samoa had no good halves this world cup, only Milford and Tyrone May the good Samoan halves running around but one was blocked by his club and forced to have surgery and the other was injured. Thats one big downfall for P.Is teams, no good halves. The strong forwards and backs of the Pacific teams mask the poor halves against the lesser teams but when they come up against a well drilled team like Australia, those halves are exposed as we saw with Fiji v Australia last night.

Not sure if you noticed but the Cook Islands is a whole different country to NZ, its a 3 hour flight away so to call them another NZ City is silly, Its roughly the same distance from NZ to the Cooks as it is from NZ to Samoa. Its weird you want Toa to play South Africa after they have been demolished by Niue a few times in the last two years so their position would be worse than the Cook Islands. Also, what many misguided people fail to realise is just because a Country has a bigger economy and population, it doesnt necessarily mean that will transfer favourably to a sport like Rugby League. You need more than those two to establish and maintain a successful sport.

 

[Force]

NZ proved my point Force when you have supbar halves the special talent cannot play and showcase their x factor. Can Australia play like that without the big three. Those players are once in a generation. Would any nsw halves lead Australia like what these qld guys have done.

Thats why you can never write off any team even if they are stacked with NRL players because if they lack halves, they are vulnerable to any team.

 

[KokoRugbyLeague]

Roberts is hopeless and Maitua isnt a half, hes like Sefa Paulo, a backrower trying to play half but has no playmaking skills. Samoa had no good halves this world cup, only Milford and Tyrone May the good Samoan halves running around but one was blocked by his club and forced to have surgery and the other was injured. Thats one big downfall for P.Is teams, no good halves. The strong forwards and backs of the Pacific teams mask the poor halves against the lesser teams but when they come up against a well drilled team like Australia, those halves are exposed as we saw with Fiji v Australia last night.

Not sure if you noticed but the Cook Islands is a whole different country to NZ, its a 3 hour flight away so to call them another NZ City is silly, Its roughly the same distance from NZ to the Cooks as it is from NZ to Samoa. Its weird you want Toa to play South Africa after they have been demolished by Niue a few times in the last two years so their position would be worse than the Cook Islands. Also, what many misguided people fail to realise is just because a Country has a bigger economy and population, it doesnt necessarily mean that will transfer favourably to a sport like Rugby League. You need more than those two to establish and maintain a successful sport.

Well we wont know until we play those new nations. African boers are suited for this up the guts game. Plus maitua did more in his samoan tenure than that trigger nut ben roberts but im thankful they decide to don the blue jumper. Im grateful but kind of envious to see Tonga way to well.