Oceania Cup confirmed

[adamkungl]

http://www.cookislandsnews.com/sport/league/item/72117-kukis-focus-on-the-world-cup-qualifiers

Fiji V Cook Islands off because of a WCQ clash. Amatuer hour.

Haha they play no games for 2 years and then some f**khead schedules them 2 at once..

As if it couldn't be any clearer that the NRL, RFL, and NZRL give zero f**ks about international rugby league that isnt run directly by them

 

[Burns]

Um, so does this mean Fiji just don't get a game then? What's Lebanon doing?

Like, I can't even blame the Cook Islands here - treated with contempt last year by being forgotten about in the Oceania Cup anyway.

The RLIF dont even have a date or venue for the RLWC Qualifer between South Africa and the Cook Islands - http://www.rlif.com/

 

[adamkungl]

Fiji have been shafted so hard in every aspect
Despite finishing in the WC Semis and beating NZ, the exact same achievement Tonga has got all the attention for,

1. They didn't get a game last October while Tonga got to play Australia.

2. they dont get a game in June unless Lebanon or Italy comes to the table in June, likely no one in charge will bother facilitating this.

3. They get lumped in the 2nd tier of the Oceania Cup

4. They dont get a game v Great Britain

 

[Burns]

Fiji are the largest of the Pacific Islands as well. Like, if we took them even half as seriously as Union did they would:

Have had a NSW/QLD Cups side for as long as PNG did.
Have consistent end of year Tests against either NZ or Australia.

 

[jim_57]

Fiji have been shafted so hard in every aspect
Despite finishing in the WC Semis and beating NZ, the exact same achievement Tonga has got all the attention for,

1. They didn't get a game last October while Tonga got to play Australia.

2. they dont get a game in June unless Lebanon or Italy comes to the table in June, likely no one in charge will bother facilitating this.

3. They get lumped in the 2nd tier of the Oceania Cup

4. They dont get a game v Great Britain

Long term they have far more potential than Tonga as well and arguably their best team is just as good right now.

Fiji already have quite a few Fijian born players building up in the pro leagues even without any major structure or the NSW Cup team. Get those in place and they could be a real force within 10-20 years.

Yet they and PNG get mostly ignored for Tonga because of the 'flavour of the month' factor. Not saying Tonga shouldn't be getting the games and attention they do, but so should Fiji, PNG and even Samoa.

 

[adamkungl]

Long term they have far more potential than Tonga as well and arguably their best team is just as good right now.

Fiji already have quite a few Fijian born players building up in the pro leagues even without any major structure or the NSW Cup team. Get those in place and they could be a real force within 10-20 years.

Yet they and PNG get mostly ignored for Tonga because of the 'flavour of the month' factor. Not saying Tonga shouldn't be getting the games and attention they do, but so should Fiji, PNG and even Samoa.

And they have proven ability for sustained success in 7s. Huge potential in this sport.

 

[Force]

Fiji have been shafted so hard in every aspect
Despite finishing in the WC Semis and beating NZ, the exact same achievement Tonga has got all the attention for,

1. They didn't get a game last October while Tonga got to play Australia.

2. they dont get a game in June unless Lebanon or Italy comes to the table in June, likely no one in charge will bother facilitating this.

3. They get lumped in the 2nd tier of the Oceania Cup

4. They dont get a game v Great Britain

Fiji got shafted because of the hype Tonga brought to the last World Cup so the organisers are hoping to cash in. Fiji have been shafted big time and its not only the last World Cup, they made it the furthest of the P.Is nations for the past 3 at least. I remember before the 2013 RLWC, they said the highest finishing Pacific Island team will be included in the following 4N played downunder but somehow, Fiji ended up playing Samoa in a play-off for the 4N berth yet, Fiji beat Samoa at the 2013 RLWC to advance to the semi's. The goal posts got shifted in that regards.

I think all 3 Pacific Island teams can beat each other on their day, especially when all are at full strength. Tonga has just gained the ascendancy lately cos they are at full strength, Fiji is pretty much full strength too but Samoa arent. Samoa and Tonga will bring more hype with their fans if the game is played in OZ or NZ due to their large heritage population in those Countries.

 

[Storm13]

Why didn't the Fiji bid look at the QRL?

Would think the backing of the QRL and the Goverment would be able to top up the possible Origin players for the future.

 

[yakstorm]

The Oceania Cup is actually a RLIF event, so it is them who have f*$ked up here... Maybe this is their way of announcing the South Africa match won't happen (although my understanding was CI v SA was originally scheduled for May).

Anyway as for Fiji, they really are victims due to migration. Unfortunately Tonga and Samoa are more commercially viable teams in Australia and New Zealand versus PNG and Fiji due to the larger heritage communities.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

It is just nsane how short RLs attention span is....

Right now, we are crazy about Tonga. In 2 years, they are gonna start to slow down. So, instead of doubling -down and building something that will last long term, RL will abandon the for the next gimick.

Attention span of a geniused toddler....

 

[Stallion]

It is just nsane how short RLs attention span is....

Right now, we are crazy about Tonga. In 2 years, they are gonna start to slow down. So, instead of doubling -down and building something that will last long term, RL will abandon the for the next gimick.

Attention span of a geniused toddler....

All the areas abovementioned deserve attention for development in rugby league! Not just one or two !

 

[c0c0nutz]

The Oceania Cup is actually a RLIF event, so it is them who have f*$ked up here... Maybe this is their way of announcing the South Africa match won't happen (although my understanding was CI v SA was originally scheduled for May).

Anyway as for Fiji, they really are victims due to migration. Unfortunately Tonga and Samoa are more commercially viable teams in Australia and New Zealand versus PNG and Fiji due to the larger heritage communities.

It's even unknown whether South Africa are participating as far as I'm aware it's the USA v the Cook Islands..

 

[Walter sobchak]

Long term they have far more potential than Tonga as well and arguably their best team is just as good right now.

Fiji already have quite a few Fijian born players building up in the pro leagues even without any major structure or the NSW Cup team. Get those in place and they could be a real force within 10-20 years.

Yet they and PNG get mostly ignored for Tonga because of the 'flavour of the month' factor. Not saying Tonga shouldn't be getting the games and attention they do, but so should Fiji, PNG and even Samoa.

I guess it all comes down to the $$$$.

Tonga has a large expat community in NZ and large player pool to choice from. Not sure if the Fijian communities are as big in both NZ and Australia.

 

[Walter sobchak]

It is just nsane how short RLs attention span is....

Right now, we are crazy about Tonga. In 2 years, they are gonna start to slow down. So, instead of doubling -down and building something that will last long term, RL will abandon the for the next gimick.

Attention span of a geniused toddler....

This. Couldn’t have put it better.

 

[adamkungl]

It's even unknown whether South Africa are participating as far as I'm aware it's the USA v the Cook Islands..

Cook Islands have claimed they won't be playing Fiji because they're playing South Africa.

But as usual with international RL nothing is straightforward... no official announcement yet

 

[welshmagpie]

Cook Islands have claimed they won't be playing Fiji because they're playing South Africa.

But as usual with international RL nothing is straightforward... no official announcement yet

It honestly wouldn’t surprise nor shock me if somebody contacted the South African board over the coming days and said...

“Sorry we’ve double booked you and will have to cancel, you can try again in 2023 though so don’t worry!”

 

[roughyedspud]

Jeremy Edwards,the RLIF southern hemisphere general manager,is off to a cracking start isn't he...lol

 

[Stallion]

Jeremy Edwards,the RLIF southern hemisphere general manager,is off to a cracking start isn't he...lol

Yes. The poor administration ethos seems to be a recurring theme within rugby league worldwide. Wonder if this is a deliberate tact in undermining this underperforming/untapped code!? Too many poor administrative decisions going on for my liking!

 

[hutch]

Just got an email for the “pacific tests” at Leichhardt oval featuring Fiji v Lebanon.

 

[roughyedspud]

Until Lebanon players start whinging about money...