Pacific Championships 2024

[titoelcolombiano]

He's decided he's (only) Tongan.

I'm thinking Oz born Kiwis like Ponga, Howarth etc, my cousin's boys are gun juniors up in Qld, I know 100% they'd pick NZ if they could play Origin and NZ.

I've got a Kiwi mate whose son just debued for the Titans, he's eligible for NZ and Australia and Origin seems to be the thing that has him on the fence. It would be nice if he could do both because he is both a New Zealander but also a product of the QLD RL system having grown up here.

The increasing number of these situations may force a change to Origin eligibility. Especially if the NRL really does want to drive a competitive international game.

 

[warriors 95]

He's decided he's (only) Tongan.

I'm thinking Oz born Kiwis like Ponga, Howarth etc, my cousin's boys are gun juniors up in Qld, I know 100% they'd pick NZ if they could play Origin and NZ.

I think ponga would have 100% rep the kiwis had he been also able to play for Queensland.

im also sure howarth was born in Australia but said as much in a recent interview that he would have done both too.

 

[warriors 95]

I've got a Kiwi mate whose son just debued for the Titans, he's eligible for NZ and Australia and Origin seems to be the thing that has him on the fence. It would be nice if he could do both because he is both a New Zealander but also a product of the QLD RL system having grown up here.

The increasing number of these situations may force a change to Origin eligibility. Especially if the NRL really does want to drive a competitive international game.

I don’t think junior origin rep sides help as well.

must be huge amount of pressure for the youngsters these days. Not a good situation imo.

 

[Matua]

I've got a Kiwi mate whose son just debued for the Titans, he's eligible for NZ and Australia and Origin seems to be the thing that has him on the fence. It would be nice if he could do both because he is both a New Zealander but also a product of the QLD RL system having grown up here.

The increasing number of these situations may force a change to Origin eligibility. Especially if the NRL really does want to drive a competitive international game.

It's the blatant hypocrisy that annoys me. Maybe, just maybe, when they first introduced the PI rule it wasn't as hypocritical, but now, with competitive PI sides claiming they're tier 2 and allowing their players to pick and choose is just utter B/S.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It's the blatant hypocrisy that annoys me. Maybe, just maybe, when they first introduced the PI rule it wasn't as hypocritical, but now, with competitive PI sides claiming they're tier 2 and allowing their players to pick and choose is just utter B/S.

With international player pay the same now no matter which country they play for and with some very good Pacific Islander players committing long term to their country of heritage it's probably a good time to turn the switching rule off and open up Origin to all eligible players.

Give everyone until the World Cup to make their final decision on which country you'll play for and then that's it from that tournament onwards, you're locked in. As you say, as long as origin is open to those eligible, they'll probably stick with NZ, Samoa or Tonga in international footy where applicable.

 

[Last Week]

It's all well and good that Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are competitive at a top level grade, but it's hardly because of the work either nations domestic Leagues have done.

They're all products of the NSWRL or QRL.

How is it beneficial to the sport apart from an extra competitive game on TV at the end of the year?

There's a reason why France should have been the focus of international efforts. They're there closest to having a professional competition and to introduce a new market to the sport. Real growth.

Heritage players playing for Tonga and Samoa? That's not growth. It's a TV product for the NRL.

 

[Matt_CBY]

It was obvious from the crowd that Fiji needs a lot of work to make RL more popular there. Stadium wouldn't have helped! Thats a shocker.
Hopefully the NRL (and Storm) stick with it and keep raising interest in the game over there.

Have you ever been there?

 

[Matt_CBY]

It's all well and good that Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are competitive at a top level grade, but it's hardly because of the work either nations domestic Leagues have done.

They're all products of the NSWRL or QRL.

How is it beneficial to the sport apart from an extra competitive game on TV at the end of the year?

There's a reason why France should have been the focus of international efforts. They're there closest to having a professional competition and to introduce a new market to the sport. Real growth.

Heritage players playing for Tonga and Samoa? That's not growth. It's a TV product for the NRL.

France is not a new market.

 

[Last Week]

France is not a new market.

OK, if you want to be pedantic.

Reclaiming an old market.

Better?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

It's all well and good that Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are competitive at a top level grade, but it's hardly because of the work either nations domestic Leagues have done.

They're all products of the NSWRL or QRL.

How is it beneficial to the sport apart from an extra competitive game on TV at the end of the year?

There's a reason why France should have been the focus of international efforts. They're there closest to having a professional competition and to introduce a new market to the sport. Real growth.

Heritage players playing for Tonga and Samoa? That's not growth. It's a TV product for the NRL.

I agree on France. But Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have really kick started RL in their home nations and the fruits of that will be felt in the decades to come

 

[warriors 95]

It's all well and good that Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are competitive at a top level grade, but it's hardly because of the work either nations domestic Leagues have done.

They're all products of the NSWRL or QRL.

How is it beneficial to the sport apart from an extra competitive game on TV at the end of the year?

There's a reason why France should have been the focus of international efforts. They're there closest to having a professional competition and to introduce a new market to the sport. Real growth.

Heritage players playing for Tonga and Samoa? That's not growth. It's a TV product for the NRL.

I don’t think it’s fair to lump Fiji in with Tonga and Samoa as Fiji has a domestic league and a semi-professional team in the silktails playing Jersey Flegg.

The NRL should also setup headquarters in Samoa and Tonga as well as in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

The NRL should have sown up the pacific region decades ago.

 

[Matt_CBY]

OK, if you want to be pedantic.

Reclaiming an old market.

Better?

Yes

 

[ash the bash]

Way way down the line my goal for the Pacific Champ would look like this.

Pacific Champ:
- Australia
- NZ
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Fiji
- PNG
* Essentially becomes the 6 nations of the Pacific. Sort out the Origin eligibility if a Kiwi has played junior footy before 12 either in QLD/NSW let them play origin and represent NZ. We need to accept we are in the entertainment game, more than a sport. Imagine how strong we could grow the 4 under Aus/NZ, Tonga already have the bones just need to iron out some positions and have investment in them. Imagine Samoa with Haas/Tino, they still play Origin but come International window they play for their heritage.
* Games played in right venues ex
- Alternate the Tonga-Samoa game between Mt Smart one year or at the new Penrith/Bankwest stadium.
- Play Kangaroos V Kiwis in Perth or Melbourne.
- Games in PNG, FIJI, NZ..
- Likely PNG expansion team will lead to PNG getting stronger and stronger.
- Ultimate goal being setting up NRL COE's across the pacific, training bases with a few fields. One in PNG, Tonga, Samoa and FIJI. Have trials junior GF's there, it would be a farm for all the NRL clubs to get Juniors. The kids would all be looking for opportunities. At the end of the day the talent will follow the money.

Pacific Bowl:
- Cook Islands
- Vanuatu
- New Caledonia
- Solomon Islands
???
* Australian government funded, teams playing out of central venue like Cairns for example. Unless its feasible can't see any games being played in those islands.

 

[warriors 95]

Way way down the line my goal for the Pacific Champ would look like this.

Pacific Champ:
- Australia
- NZ
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Fiji
- PNG
* Essentially becomes the 6 nations of the Pacific. Sort out the Origin eligibility if a Kiwi has played junior footy before 12 either in QLD/NSW let them play origin and represent NZ. We need to accept we are in the entertainment game, more than a sport. Imagine how strong we could grow the 4 under Aus/NZ, Tonga already have the bones just need to iron out some positions and have investment in them. Imagine Samoa with Haas/Tino, they still play Origin but come International window they play for their heritage.
* Games played in right venues ex
- Alternate the Tonga-Samoa game between Mt Smart one year or at the new Penrith/Bankwest stadium.
- Play Kangaroos V Kiwis in Perth or Melbourne.
- Games in PNG, FIJI, NZ..
- Likely PNG expansion team will lead to PNG getting stronger and stronger.
- Ultimate goal being setting up NRL COE's across the pacific, training bases with a few fields. One in PNG, Tonga, Samoa and FIJI. Have trials junior GF's there, it would be a farm for all the NRL clubs to get Juniors. The kids would all be looking for opportunities. At the end of the day the talent will follow the money.

eveyone plays each other once then a final between the top 2?

Pacific Bowl:
- Cook Islands
- Vanuatu
- New Caledonia
- Solomon Islands
???
* Australian government funded, teams playing out of central venue like Cairns for example. Unless its feasible can't see any games being played in those islands.

bouganville?

play all games of the pacific bowl on 1 island other than the Cook Islands that’s maybe just too small to host.

 

[ash the bash]

eveyone plays each other once then a final between the top 2?

bouganville?

play all games of the pacific bowl on 1 island other than the Cook Islands that’s maybe just too small to host.

I think so we are culturally into having a grand final. Makes it another event game that can be moved around Aus/NZ. One year at Suncorp, next in Auckland then maybe Melbourne etc.

Yes each team plays each once, gives broadcasters 3 games a week through international window. Just like Magic round, just like Vegas I believe this will grow and get bigger. We just have to persevere with it and get the structures right and it could become another blue chip product for the game.

About the Pacific bowl a good option could be basing the team at the NRL hotel in Sunshine coast and having all the games at Sunshine coast stadium. Cost effective and NRL make coin off the teams staying or subsidise the teams staying at the Mercure.

 

[taste2taste]

There's a reason why France should have been the focus of international efforts. They're there closest to having a professional competition and to introduce a new market to the sport. Real growth.

Heritage players playing for Tonga and Samoa? That's not growth. It's a TV product for the NRL.

We are obsessed with sowing up the pacific, tiny islands with tiny populations and no money but totally ignore France who have established competions , a 100 year history of playing the sport, a population of 75m and the 7th largest economy in the world.

its just sooo rugby league

 

[warriors 95]

We are obsessed with sowing up the pacific, tiny islands with tiny populations and no money but totally ignore France who have established competions , a 100 year history of playing the sport, a population of 75m and the 7th largest economy in the world.

its just sooo rugby league

The pacific is in Australia back yard and produce amazing athletes.

what can the NRL do in France?

 

[Last Week]

I agree on France. But Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have really kick started RL in their home nations and the fruits of that will be felt in the decades to come

I mean this genuinely, but has it?

I can't see any data about playing numbers and the TNRL has been suspended as an IRL member.

Honestly, the only affect I have seen is fan support for Tonga and Samoa in Australia and NZ.

A couple of interesting and shiny toys for the NRL Commission to play with.

 

[Last Week]

The pacific is in Australia back yard and produce amazing athletes.

what can the NRL do in France?

Work with the RFL, FFR13 and IRL to actually work together and increase the sports profile.

Honestly, if Union can establish itself in f**king Argentina, we can strengthen league in France.

 

[Matt_CBY]

I mean this genuinely, but has it?

I can't see any data about playing numbers and the TNRL has been suspended as an IRL member.

Honestly, the only affect I have seen is fan support for Tonga and Samoa in Australia and NZ.

A couple of interesting and shiny toys for the NRL Commission to play with.

You are aware that Tonga has a new governing body right?