Pacific Championships 2024

[Matua]

Just for sh!ts and giggles heres what a full strength kiwis team could look like.

* denotes players injured/suspended for this years tournament

1 CNK
2 mulitalo *
3 timoko
4 iro *
5 isaako
6 brown *
7 hughes *
8 JFH
9 Smith *
10 Leota *
11 Nikora *
12 Papalii
13 Tapane

14 JMK *
15 Thompson *
16 NAS *
17 Sorenson

That's depressing reading, although I'd replace JMK for Foran on the bench. Got to have one whitey in the team.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

That's depressing reading, although I'd replace JMK for Foran on the bench. Got to have one whitey in the team.

It's good reading for the 2026 world cup. Seems to be the one international tournament players don't want to miss and will delay surgery for / schedule their lives/weddings/holidays around.

 

[Billythekid]

Just to circle back to the France discussion I don’t really see the relevance to what’s happening in the pacific. It’s not like there has been a huge investment financially by rugby league in the region. Some changes to eligibility and the large amount of players from places like Tonga and Samoa already in the NRL have allowed them to quickly become competitive. It’s not like we could just redirect some of that funding and suddenly have France become competitive.

I agree that France actually coming up to speed would be HUGE for the international game but that’s going to be far harder and require more investment than what we’ve seen in the pacific.

I think it’s fine that the NRL is really pushing to dominate the pacific region and there are spill over effects for international footy as well. I do hope we eventually see more movement in the NH but I’m not optimistic if I’m honest.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Just to circle back to the France discussion I don’t really see the relevance to what’s happening in the pacific. It’s not like there has been a huge investment financially by rugby league in the region. Some changes to eligibility and the large amount of players from places like Tonga and Samoa already in the NRL have allowed them to quickly become competitive. It’s not like we could just redirect some of that funding and suddenly have France become competitive.

I agree that France actually coming up to speed would be HUGE for the international game but that’s going to be far harder and require more investment than what we’ve seen in the pacific.

I think it’s fine that the NRL is really pushing to dominate the pacific region and there are spill over effects for international footy as well. I do hope we eventually see more movement in the NH but I’m not optimistic if I’m honest.

Yes, its actually lower hanging fruit than we think. There is already a professional pool of around 20 French players in SL. Invest in some French Polynesian talent in the mix and they could have a quality national side which would also raise the profile of the game in France

 

[taste2taste]

Just to circle back to the France discussion I don’t really see the relevance to what’s happening in the pacific. It’s not like there has been a huge investment financially by rugby league in the region. Some changes to eligibility and the large amount of players from places like Tonga and Samoa already in the NRL have allowed them to quickly become competitive. It’s not like we could just redirect some of that funding and suddenly have France become competitive.

I agree that France actually coming up to speed would be HUGE for the international game but that’s going to be far harder and require more investment than what we’ve seen in the pacific.

I think it’s fine that the NRL is really pushing to dominate the pacific region and there are spill over effects for international footy as well. I do hope we eventually see more movement in the NH but I’m not optimistic if I’m honest.

I think Frances best chance of becoming competitive is to get touluese into super league, unfortunately they missed the cut by a bees.

France were very competitive against England in their mid year test, it was only in the last 20 mins England pulled away for a 40-8 win. In previous years England have been winning these mid year tests by 60.

if France have a 2nd professional team to produce players they can make a big jump.

France regularly beat England at jnr level, these players need the type of development that can be offered by a professional system and then theres a big chance France could be competitive at snr level.

 

[taste2taste]

That's depressing reading, although I'd replace JMK for Foran on the bench. Got to have one whitey in the team.

Looking at it glass half full, despite missing 10 of their first choice players NZ now have the depth they can still name a decent team.

 

[Matua]

It's good reading for the 2026 world cup. Seems to be the one international tournament players don't want to miss and will delay surgery for / schedule their lives/weddings/holidays around.

I don't care about 2026 (yet) I care about tomorrow and we're rolling out CNK at 6.

 

[Matt_CBY]

Just for sh!ts and giggles heres what a full strength kiwis team could look like.

* denotes players injured/suspended for this years tournament

1 CNK
2 mulitalo *
3 timoko
4 iro *
5 isaako
6 brown *
7 hughes *
8 JFH
9 Smith *
10 Leota *
11 Nikora *
12 Papalii
13 Tapane

14 JMK *
15 Thompson *
16 NAS *
17 Sorenson

JMK is in better form than B.Smith at the moment

 

[Matt_CBY]

That's depressing reading, although I'd replace JMK for Foran on the bench. Got to have one whitey in the team.

Image the outrage if the word blackey was used instead of whitey.

 

[Clarkent]

I don't care about 2026 (yet) I care about tomorrow and we're rolling out CNK at 6.

He might be your 6 at the world cup

 

[Mother Nature's Son]

I don't care about 2026 (yet) I care about tomorrow and we're rolling out CNK at 6.

I can only imagine they`re playing him there early to get through the first 20 minutes in defence when the Aussies might try and break them. Nikorima will come on after that.
Hard to see where the Kiwi`s points are coming from on that side of the field while CNK is five-eight though. Can only hope that Kini plays a blinder, big ask for a rookie though.

 

[RedVee]

I think Frances best chance of becoming competitive is to get touluese into super league, unfortunately they missed the cut by a bees.

France were very competitive against England in their mid year test, it was only in the last 20 mins England pulled away for a 40-8 win. In previous years England have been winning these mid year tests by 60.

if France have a 2nd professional team to produce players they can make a big jump.

France regularly beat England at jnr level, these players need the type of development that can be offered by a professional system and then theres a big chance France could be competitive at snr level.

Are there any good players nearly eligible for France by residency?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

I don't care about 2026 (yet) I care about tomorrow and we're rolling out CNK at 6.

Remember old mate, no matter what happens this weekend. You Kiwis seem to love pulling our pants down in tournament finals. I mean, Nathan Fein was your world cup winning halfback FFS

 

[Coastbloke]

I would have liked to have seen Kiwis v Roos at Dunedin. Seems it’s yawnion private property..

 

[84 Baby]

That’s some funky beatboxing

 

[Matua]

He might be your 6 at the world cup

Why are you so convinced Brown is going to defect (are you family, do you have the inside word )?

Even though he's not in the team this year he's been used by the Kiwis in lots of promo stuff.

 

[Matua]

Remember old mate, no matter what happens this weekend. You Kiwis seem to love pulling out pants down in tournament finals. I mean, Nathan Fein was your world cup winning halfback FFS

All Fein had to do was give the ball to Benji ... CNK has 2024 version SJ.

Anyway, hopefully I'm successfully lowering my expectations.

 

[Wb1234]

 

[Jim from Oz]

Nice to see a packed stadium for the Kiwis versus kangaroos rugby league test! And in Christchurch, I don’t think that’s a huge league area

 

[Burns]

Gee Christchurch looks good. Real good.