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Pacific Cup 2024

Matua

Bench
Messages
4,983
League needs new blood, the inclusion of the Pacific Islands not including NZ has really proved that point and been the biggest quantum leap for the game in a hundred years.
Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.
 
Messages
754
Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.

Do you mean the change allowing Tier 2 aligned players to also play Origin?

If so, it seems the only scenario where the Kiwis have been (additionally) disadvantaged is when a player is:

- eligible for the Kiwis; and
- eligible for a Tier 2 nation; and
- eligible for Origin; but
- commits to Tier 2 instead of the Kiwis, for the sole purpose of playing Origin.

The last part is hard to know for sure unless a player outright admits it.

But unless I’ve missed something, that still feels like a pretty small subset of players? maybe Isaiya Katoa?

Plus if the benchmark is beating the Roos and Poms, both Tonga and Samoa have done that over the last few years since having a bigger pool of players who've committed.

So if the change has made things harder for the Kiwis, its at least helped the broader game.
 

sup42

Juniors
Messages
2,419
Can't say I agree with you here ehoa. There's been no quantum leap, the Aussies have just set up a system for them. All it's done is weaken NZ by the Aussies having rules that favours splitting NZ apart as much as possible.

In all honesty, playing and beating the Kangaroos/Poms is the real prize in International league and the new system makes that a little more difficult.
`Can't disagree on the set up by the Aussies, of course they dirtied the pool, they always do, in everything they do, Aussie is a synonym for cheating.
The Tongans sell out stadiums in New Zealand and sing hymns during the tests. Them and Samoa drive around Auckland waving flags from vehicles and hosting street parades as far off as the united states. So yes they are the evolution of the sport there is no getting away from that.

Take a visit to Penrose and drive the blocks of streets around Mt Smart and see Tongan flags flying from houses all year around. We have seen nothing like it from a league audience.
 
Messages
17,640
If we had all our best players we should beat this Aussie team.
But they could say something similar.
In saying that Grant would be their 1st choice hooker and Edwards the fullback.
 

Blair

Coach
Messages
11,136
A bummer for all those Tongan fans. They're a fun bunch and not getting over the line was disappointing.
 

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