Pacific Championships 2024

[titoelcolombiano]

Wish it were 4 teams in each competition (Pacific Cup, Pacific Bowl) instead of 3.

Kangaroos only playing 2 tests in the group stage is pathetic. The organisers don't care about test match football.

I agree with this, tournament still finishes in 4 weeks but each nation gets min three tests each. You could easily fill in the fourth team in the Cup by using Lebanon whilst also helping each world cup nation prepare for 2026 which will make the tournament even better.

You've got 10 world cup nations; Aus, NZ, Eng, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Fiji, Cook Is, Lebanon and likely France. 6 of the 7 SH teams are in the Pacific Championships with Lebanon as an invited 7th team and one SH tours the NH playing both England and France. Imagine our top 10 nations playing regularly leading into a world cup... would make an incredible difference to the quality, competitiveness and perception of the tournament.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

They might be shocked then because Ipswich and Logans have plenty of Polynesians

I'll be interested to see how many turn out to support Tonga compared to Sydney. Last year they took the game vs Samoa to Townsville.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I'll be interested to see how many turn out to support Tonga compared to Sydney. Last year they took the game vs Samoa to Townsville.

I'm just trying to book some tickets now. Hopefully it's a good crowd

 

[Coastbloke]

Australia are playing England next year so the Pacific Cup will be NZ, Samoa, Tonga

it would make sense that will be played entirely in NZ with the Ashes (RL) tour in Australia..

 

[Coastbloke]

Is that a seperate series or part of the pacific cup

seperate..

 

[Wb1234]

Having an ashes series when the pacific cup is on is stupid

the pommies are the Ultimate ck block for the arl developing the international game here

we’ve missed out on Tonga and Samoa playing each other for two years so they can tour England and get crowds barely over 10k and struggle to make money

 

[Coastbloke]

I’m guessing without any facts whatsoever that Fox Sports will broadcast it and Nein will practically ignore it to the point they consider it non-existent

 

[Coastbloke]

Having an ashes series when the pacific cup is on is stupid

the pommies are the Ultimate ck block for the arl developing the international game here

we’ve missed out on Tonga and Samoa playing each other for two years so they can tour England and get crowds barely over 10k and struggle to make money

This can be rectified by the ARLC/NRL not being c**** and having a 3 week interval sans mid season NRL matches. Over 3 weekends, SOO and various men and women Tests with NZ, PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Sure Samoa will miss the likes of Lui, but that gives them the opportunity to blood someone else..

 

[Wb1234]

This can be rectified by the ARLC/NRL not being c**** and having a 3 week interval sans mid season NRL matches. Over 3 weekends, SOO and various men and women Tests with NZ, PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Sure Samoa will miss the likes of Lui, but that gives them the opportunity to blood someone else..

Plus women’s origins too

couldn’t agree more

Pom’s are still bludgers off our hard work though

 

[Vee]

Fixtures finally official:

2024 Pacific Championships Draw Announced

The National Rugby League (NRL) has today announced the draw for the 2024 Pacific Championships to be played in four countries across four consecutive weekends in October and November.

www.nrl.com

So, Samoa off to England this year?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

So, Samoa off to England this year?

Yes

Schedule:

Friday, 18th October
Pacific Cup: Australia v Tonga at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Sunday, 27 October
Pacific Cup: New Zealand v Australia at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
England v Samoa at Brick Community Stadium, Wigan, UK

Saturday, 2 November
Pacific Cup: New Zealand v Tonga at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
England v Samoa at Headingley, Leeds, UK

Sunday, 10 November
Pacific Cup Final at Commbank Stadium, Sydney

2024 Pacific Championships: New Zealand Aiming for Back-to-Back Titles as Australia’s Dominance Faces a Resurgent Challenge

The 2024 Pacific Championships are set to ignite the international rugby league stage, with powerhouses Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga vying for glory in the Pacific Cup, while Papua New Guinea,…

rugbyleaguebunker.com

 

[taste2taste]

Amazingly it looks like thier actually promoting the Pacific Championships this year.

Advertising for tickets on the front page of the Telegraph and a full page advertising tickets and games on the 2nd page of the sports section.

Edit : also heard Abdo interviewed on Triple MMM talking up the tournament.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

A left field selection idea for the vacant kiwis centre spot.

 

[undertaker]

I agree with this, tournament still finishes in 4 weeks but each nation gets min three tests each. You could easily fill in the fourth team in the Cup by using Lebanon whilst also helping each world cup nation prepare for 2026 which will make the tournament even better.

You've got 10 world cup nations; Aus, NZ, Eng, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, Fiji, Cook Is, Lebanon and likely France. 6 of the 7 SH teams are in the Pacific Championships with Lebanon as an invited 7th team and one SH tours the NH playing both England and France. Imagine our top 10 nations playing regularly leading into a world cup... would make an incredible difference to the quality, competitiveness and perception of the tournament.

Also, I read somewhere that the England vs Samoa series (which occurs concurrent with the Pacific Championships) is only going to be 2 tests, instead of 3.

Pathetic!

 

[undertaker]

Amazingly it looks like thier actually promoting the Pacific Championships this year.

Advertising for tickets on the front page of the Telegraph and a full page advertising tickets and games on the 2nd page of the sports section.

Edit : also heard Abdo interviewed on Triple MMM talking up the tournament.

Well, that's a massive change.

Test match football has been shat on by both the media and RL governing bodies for a long time, which has been incredibly frustrating to witness, given the potential that it has always had (with proper promotion).

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Also, I read somewhere that the England vs Samoa series (which occurs concurrent with the Pacific Championships) is only going to be 2 tests, instead of 3.

Pathetic!

Yes strange decision. Same with the Pacific Championship pools having 3 teams instead of 4. They are trying to cut down on player workload by skimping on the already short international season

 

[taste2taste]

They are trying to cut down on player workload by skimping on the already short international season

Player burn out is a real concern, the top players will be playing more than 30 games per season which is totally unsustainable.

If we go to a 19 game comp in 2028 it will allow players to still be able to play Internationals before getting thier end of season surgery and also allow them to get a full pre season.

If the Pacific Championships are a success ( good crowds and ratings ) it will give the NRL confidence to reduce the season length and place more emphasis on end of season Internationals. However, if the Championships are poorly supported as they were last year I'd rekon the NRL will stick to a 27 week season and continue to treat International footy as an afterthought.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Player burn out is a real concern, the top players will be playing more than 30 games per season which is totally unsustainable.

If we go to a 19 game comp in 2028 it will allow players to still be able to play Internationals before getting thier end of season surgery and also allow them to get a full pre season.

If the Pacific Championships are a success ( good crowds and ratings ) it will give the NRL confidence to reduce the season length and place more emphasis on end of season Internationals. However, if the Championships are poorly supported as they were last year I'd rekon the NRL will stick to a 27 week season and continue to treat International footy as an afterthought.

Yeah completely agree about the player burnout.

Good to hear talk coming out of the NRL about a shorter regular season. That's where we can make cuts. More teams plus less rounds could actually equate to more content for the broadcasters, so we should still get TV deal increases.

 

[Clarkent]

Yes strange decision. Same with the Pacific Championship pools having 3 teams instead of 4. They are trying to cut down on player workload by skimping on the already short international season

I watched a interview by Cam Smith and he said a lot of the top players loved playing international because they get to represent there nation and they get to have longer time off by skipping the off season training that most players dread. So it's definitely not the players complaining.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Having an ashes series when the pacific cup is on is stupid

the pommies are the Ultimate ck block for the arl developing the international game here

we’ve missed out on Tonga and Samoa playing each other for two years so they can tour England and get crowds barely over 10k and struggle to make money

Seem to be arguing against yourself here. Removing Oz from the Pacific Championship for the 2025 Ashes series makes way for Tonga v Samoa.

BTW, there is a possible legacy from the old Pacific Cup. This tournament was held irregularly from the mid-70s until 2009.

I remember reading about the final of the 1992 tournament. Western Samoa 18 Tonga 14 after three periods of extra time. Tremendously exciting game, but accompanied by tensions on and off the pitch at Carlaw Park. Suspect NZRL were subsequently hesitant about Tonga v Samoa in Auckland, lest it prove divisive among the RL community.