Samoa v Tonga, Battle of the Pacific series (my proposal)

[wain]

It's classic RL to not seize an opportunity and run with it, but we need to capitalise on the Pacific momentum in the past few years. Being held back by Aus RL's lack of desire to play games can't keep keep happening.

It was interesting to read the article about using it as a gateway into the USA.

Why Samoa's World Cup success could produce party in the USA

From Oklahoma to Kansas City, Los Angeles, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Portland, San Francisco and Phoenix, Toa Samoa’s appearance in the World Cup final may help rugby league to finally gain a foothold in the United States.

www.nrl.com

And seeing the footage worldwide this week, has proven bigger than I thought it could have been. Let's build some hype and have confidence in our product!

What about about this for a 5 week series, taking in cities with large Polynesian communities as well as the home nations. Id be all for women's matches also, but would love to see local teams (in the USA and home nations games) to play curtain raisers to hopefully have a positive legacy on the local scene. Imagine the teams being able to spend a few days in each city doing development work, particularly before their home nations and USA matches!

Selling 70-80,000 tickets in the US/Aus/NZ markets would easily make enough money to offset smaller gates on the islands.
Playing 5 games and earning a decent amount of coin should also be another way to combat the lure of Origin money.

wk 1:
Salt Lake City. pop: 1.2 mill
America First Stadium, capacity: 20,000

wk 2:
Bay Area. pop: 7.7 mill
PayPal Park, capacity: 18,000

wk 3:
Apia, Samoa. pop: 40,000
Apia Park, capacity: 12,000

wk 4:
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga. pop: 70,000.
Teufaiva Sport Stadium, capacity: 10,000.

wk 5:
Sydney. pop: 5 mill
Commbank Stadium, capacity: 30,000

(cont. next post)

 

[wain]

(cont.)

The three other options I would interchange:
USA option.
Honolulu. pop: 1 mill
New Aloha Stadium: 35,000 (open 2025)

NZ option.
Auckland. pop: 1.6 mill
Eden Park: 50,000

Aus option.
Brisbane. pop: 2.5 mill
Suncorp Stadium: 52,500

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Agreed that it is the time to get ambitious with the international game. We've got 7 quality international sides that will only get better and a further 2 or 3 with medium term potential to join the party

 

[LeagueXIII]

First thing I'd be doing is parading the team through the streets of Apia.

I wouldnt like to see 3 Test series...one off events or tournament style games.

 

[Matua]

First thing I'd be doing is parading the team through the streets of Apia.

I wouldnt like to see 3 Test series...one off events or tournament style games.

Be a good chance for some of them to visit for the first time.

 

[wain]

ambition isn’t a word we use too often in Intl RL is it?

Agreed that it is the time to get ambitious with the international game.

 

[Perth Red]

Biggest problem is who is repsonsible for deciding such things? If it’s the AUSTRALIAN RLC then good luck. Doesn’t seem samoa and tongan rl administration has the capability to do it, the IRL doesn’t have the role to do it. So who takes the lead to make IRL a priority?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Biggest problem is who is repsonsible for deciding such things? If it’s the AUSTRALIAN RLC then good luck. Doesn’t seem samoa and tongan rl administration has the capability to do it, the IRL doesn’t have the role to do it. So who takes the lead to make IRL a priority?

I think it will be the ARLC that ultimately decide whether it will happen or not, but here's the thing. If the ARLC can see the dollars, then they'll fund it and play it. And I'm sure anyone with half a brain at the ARL can see that we have a very strong Kiwis, England, Tonga, Samoa and a good Fiji and PNG. If you can't make money from any combination of those each year in a tournament then it's time to resign.