titoelcolombiano
First Grade
- Messages
- 5,491
I know it has already been tried in Super League in 1997 but the landscape is completely different now.
Adding a NZ team to Origin would work...
Reason 1
New Zealand have the quality and depth that would allow them to compete hard with NSW and QLD....
1. Manu / CNK / RTS (Quality and depth)
6. Brown / Foran (Quality and depth)
7. Hughes and Johnson (Quality and depth)
9. Cheese / JMK (Quality and depth)
FR. JFH and Leota are two of the best in the NRL
Reason 2
New Zealand is our third heartland after NSW and QLD and the game is growing in popularity there. Other than a second NRL team and getting the Kiwis to play at home more, this is a great way to get more NZ eyeballs on RL. Origin has a massive marketing budget that international RL just doesn't have. This is a fantastic way to build up the interest in a Kiwi rep team outside of the Warriors.
Reason 3
It would massive help the NZ Kiwis which would help generate interest in the international game. Gives NZ selectors four more games every year to build combos etc and gives
Reason 4
Origin will eventually lose its lustre if it doesn't evolve (I know, I know its king right now but it could get stale in the future). A NZ team builds on traditional rivalries that are already there. Acknowledges NZ as a key heartland, comes, with a ready made large Kiwi fanbase on both sides of the Tasman and could really fire up NZ seeing their side beat NSW and QLD and maybe even winning Origin titles. Essentially it breathes new life into the concept. Maintains the QLD v NSW rivalry but adds the trans Tasman rivalry element into the mix.
Now for those saying... no, let's just play more tests. I would love that too, but it's clear with the amount of footy being played that we'll never get an international window larger than 4-5 weeks at the end of the season. This is a chance to give the Kiwis more rep opportunities and build the status of rep football in the eyes of NZ players and fans.
Now, my proposal is not the NZ Kiwis playing Origin. It is a separate rep team, the NZ Origin team. The eligibility for the team will line up with Origin eligibility rules which means the Tongan and Samoans can play for NZ Origin (giving them access to Origin and engaging the Samoan and Tongan fans) but still playing international footy for the Island teams (Taumololo is a prime example of this).
The team would be run and selected by the NZRL so they can choose to keep the core of the Kiwis team together for the benefit of the international side and / or add the best NZ eligible Tongans and Samoans where it boosted the side.
Format:
Play each team home and away. QLD home is at Suncorp, NSW home at Accor, NZ home at Eden Park. Then a final which gets sold to the highest bidder (similar to how the third Origin game is sold at the moment.
Adding a NZ team to Origin would work...
Reason 1
New Zealand have the quality and depth that would allow them to compete hard with NSW and QLD....
1. Manu / CNK / RTS (Quality and depth)
6. Brown / Foran (Quality and depth)
7. Hughes and Johnson (Quality and depth)
9. Cheese / JMK (Quality and depth)
FR. JFH and Leota are two of the best in the NRL
Reason 2
New Zealand is our third heartland after NSW and QLD and the game is growing in popularity there. Other than a second NRL team and getting the Kiwis to play at home more, this is a great way to get more NZ eyeballs on RL. Origin has a massive marketing budget that international RL just doesn't have. This is a fantastic way to build up the interest in a Kiwi rep team outside of the Warriors.
Reason 3
It would massive help the NZ Kiwis which would help generate interest in the international game. Gives NZ selectors four more games every year to build combos etc and gives
Reason 4
Origin will eventually lose its lustre if it doesn't evolve (I know, I know its king right now but it could get stale in the future). A NZ team builds on traditional rivalries that are already there. Acknowledges NZ as a key heartland, comes, with a ready made large Kiwi fanbase on both sides of the Tasman and could really fire up NZ seeing their side beat NSW and QLD and maybe even winning Origin titles. Essentially it breathes new life into the concept. Maintains the QLD v NSW rivalry but adds the trans Tasman rivalry element into the mix.
Now for those saying... no, let's just play more tests. I would love that too, but it's clear with the amount of footy being played that we'll never get an international window larger than 4-5 weeks at the end of the season. This is a chance to give the Kiwis more rep opportunities and build the status of rep football in the eyes of NZ players and fans.
Now, my proposal is not the NZ Kiwis playing Origin. It is a separate rep team, the NZ Origin team. The eligibility for the team will line up with Origin eligibility rules which means the Tongan and Samoans can play for NZ Origin (giving them access to Origin and engaging the Samoan and Tongan fans) but still playing international footy for the Island teams (Taumololo is a prime example of this).
The team would be run and selected by the NZRL so they can choose to keep the core of the Kiwis team together for the benefit of the international side and / or add the best NZ eligible Tongans and Samoans where it boosted the side.
Format:
Play each team home and away. QLD home is at Suncorp, NSW home at Accor, NZ home at Eden Park. Then a final which gets sold to the highest bidder (similar to how the third Origin game is sold at the moment.
(At least he was actually born in Samoa).
