What this does do is it allows players who have previously been part of the team a chance to redeem themselves for selection in the future and gives uncapped and younger players expericence at the international levelWhile I dont believe in throwing test caps to just anyone who is available, surely a nz maori or pms 13 team could have gone instead!
Though i am pissed off they called the game off, they did say from the outset that It will be a Kiwis test match but it will only be for the players who don't take part in the NRL finals.
Add to this the NZ Domestic season is still going, i can see why they cant field a team. Our only 4 halfs are in the finals for NRL or Super League. I guess this is the downside for having 3 kiwi sides in the final this weekend.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5700612/Kiwis-test-against-Cook-Islands-called-off
Apparently there are a lot of players unavailable.
Just a thought, but if it is injuries which have meant that the NZRL has to cancel the game, shouldnt the Cook Islands get the official win by way of forfeit?
David Fairleigh has a massive conflict of interest in this.
Assistant coach at the Warriors and coach of the Cooks puts him in an odd position of the game being bad for the team that pays him but good for the side he is head coach of.
What do you base that statement on?Jim Doyle is an idiot
1/5 of the country turned out?Cook Islands National Team 54 beat Cook Islands PMs XIII 16 at the National Stadium, Rarotonga. Ref: Shane Rehm (NZ), Crowd: 4,200
Cook Islands National Team 54 beat Cook Islands PMs XIII 16 at the National Stadium, Rarotonga. Ref: Shane Rehm (NZ), Crowd: 4,200