NRL scrap USA game, NZ v Tonga mid 2019 [?]

[Burns]

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-set-to-scrap-us-season-opener-20180903-p501eg.html

"The NRL is on the brink of scrapping plans to stage its season opener in the United States next year, unwilling to wear a loss of up to $1 million on the match as rugby league's American push stalls.

Fairfax Media understands that unless a white knight emerges within days to help underwrite the event the experiment will be shelved, six months after NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg used the season launch to outline his ambition for a first regular-season match outside Australasia."

"But it is tempered with news there might be an imminent boost for the international game with a New Zealand-Tonga Test match looming to fill the void of the ill-fated mid-year Denver experiment."

.....
"But the NRL privately concedes the game is now on life support with projections its bottom line could take a hit far in excess of the $500,000 widely speculated."
....

"While the game is now considered highly unlikely to happen, it's believed Greenberg could deliver a huge boost for a couple of Test-playing nations, with the New Zealand Rugby League angling for a mid-season international against Tonga in 2019 as compensation for hosting an end-of-season clash between Australia and the Mate Ma'a.

The NZRL, which is understood to be $400,000 out of pocket from the loss-making Denver Test on the stand-alone representative weekend in June, wants emerging power Tonga to fill the mid-season void"

....

The USA game falling through is unfortunate, but not surprising. Discussion on the whole USA adventure is a topic for another thread, but it sure doesn't look great.

I was more interested in the proposal for a New Zealand v Tonga test and why this is now essentially 'planning on the run'.

We'll remember that the RLIF endorsed a Pacific Championship from next year, that would be played in the middle and end of 2019: http://rlif.com/article/8444/rlif-board-makes-progress-on-international-calendar-and-governance.

If New Zealand play Tonga - Where does that leave the Pacific Test on the Representative weekend? Are New Zealand part of the Pacific Championship?

ou imagine the NZRL would want the test played in Auckland. Who would Samoa play at a relaunched Western Sydney Stadium? England? (What even does England do, play France?)

And finally, does the Pacific Championship become a 5 team competition, as you imagine either PNG or Fiji would be squeezed out if New Zealand participate.

 

[taipan]

I'm on board with this,If it means the Roos get to play Tonga,because the NRL hasn't lost money playing in the USA,it is still helping the international game.Which is what most of us here want.

Of course the ultimate prize is making some sort of impact in the USA,but a loss making venture in say (San Francisco )is not going to help.

 

[siv]

Hope the Pacific Cup becomes a 6 team comp

 

[Burns]

Hope the Pacific Cup becomes a 6 team comp

2019

You need a sixth team. Could only be the Cook Islands, who last played when? Do you split the 6 teams into two pools of three? Otherwise you end up with a 5 week comp.

 

[batley]

Not surprising really, the Aussies are all talk.They stuffed up the WC and the Denver game.All this talk about opening the 19 season with a game in NY was all words.

 

[Springs09]

2019

You need a sixth team. Could only be the Cook Islands, who last played when? Do you split the 6 teams into two pools of three? Otherwise you end up with a 5 week comp.

5 weeks including the mid-season rep weekend. So 4 weeks at the end of year + a final if they want it. Only problem with that is NZ have to squeeze in playing GB somewhere.

 

[Burns]

I just can’t see there being 4 weeks of Pacifc related tests at the end of the year combined with the Lions tour next year.

I mean, it really isn’t that much in the end - but how would they bankroll it? Could see multiple double headers as a result.

 

[Springs09]

I just can’t see there being 4 weeks of Pacifc related tests at the end of the year combined with the Lions tour next year.

I mean, it really isn’t that much in the end - but how would they bankroll it? Could see multiple double headers as a result.

I would be surprised if there's any more than 2 games each for the Pacific sides at the end of the year. I'll be very surprised if Australia and NZ play anyone other than GB.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Not fussed. This is a good thing. Games in Denver, etc. are mostly useless and primarily attempts at making money rather than spreading the game.

 

[deluded pom?]

Not surprising really, the Aussies are all talk.They stuffed up the WC and the Denver game.All this talk about opening the 19 season with a game in NY was all words.

Australia were going to take the game all over the world (again) but end up doing nothing (again). No surprise there then.

 

[latingringo101]

Tonga to play Kangaroos and Kiwis in boost for international game
Author
Brad WalterSenior Reporter
Timestamp
Tue 4 Sep 2018, 05:16 PM
Share on social media

• Share via Facebook
• Share via Twiiter
• Share via Whats-app
• Share via Email

International rugby league is set to receive a huge shot in the arm, with confirmation World Cup giant killers Tonga will play Tests against Australia and New Zealand in Auckland.

Details of the Tests will be announced by NZRL chief executive Greg Peters and NRL GM elite competitions Jason King at a press conference on Wednesday after months of negotiations to ensure the game capitalises on the momentum generated by Tonga’s rise at last year’s World Cup.

The Mate Ma’a, who were boosted by the defection of Jason Taumalolo, Andrew Fifita and other big-name stars from tier one nations, will play the Kangaroos on October 20 and the Kiwis on June 22 during next season’s standalone representative weekend.

The Australia-Tonga Test will be played at Mt Smart Stadium the weekend after the Kangaroos play New Zealand on October 13 at the same venue.

To ensure the viability of the Test against Tonga, Australian players have agreed to a one-off reduction in their usual $20,000 fee and are expected to receive $5000 or less.

Some of the money the Kangaroos are sacrificing will go towards match payments for their Tonga counterparts – ensuring pay parity for the Mate Ma’a for the first time.

While NZRL officials had initially been reluctant for the Test to be played in Auckland because of fears it would impact on ticket sales for their Test against Australia, they were keen to host Tonga next season on the same weekend as State of Origin II in Perth.


https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/04...oos-and-kiwis-in-boost-to-international-game/

Coaches Speak – Round 25

It is understood the NRL has agreed to back both Tests as the NZRL is yet to be paid by the promoter of June’s controversial Denver Test against England at Mile High Stadium – putting an end to plans for the two nations to continue playing mid-year in the United States

The October 20 Test will the first time Australia has played Tonga since the quarter-final of the 2000 World Cup in London and is expected to be the beginning of more regular Tests for the Mate Ma’a against tier-one nations after their success at the World Cup.

With Taumalolo turning his back on the Kiwis at last year’s World Cup, the likes of David Fusitu'a, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu Ma’u followed suit, while Fifita withdrew from the Australian squad to play for Tonga.

The Mate Ma’a beat New Zealand 28-22 before a capacity crowd in Hamilton to top their pool and lost 20-18 in controversial circumstances to England at a sold-out Mt Smart Stadium in the semi-final.

In addition to the Tests against the Kangaroos and Kiwis, Tonga may feature on the itinerary for the Great Britain Lions tour at the end of next season as RFL officials have made it known they want to play at least one Pacific nation as well as Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/04...oos-and-kiwis-in-boost-to-international-game/

 

[Burns]

I really think no one has thought about the implications of the Pacific Championship/Pacific Test anywhere in the NZRL/NRL.