It was briefly talked about as being a one-off game in this year’s Four Nations, but for 2010, we need the Ashes back so Australia and England can meet more than just once and also to guarantee good matches on Australian turf.
The current draw for the Four Nations in 2010 has a double header blockbuster of England Vs PNG and New Zealand taking on Australia at Eden Park.
The ARL has already signalled they want to play the Australia and England match in Melbourne, leaving Sydney to get a match between the Kangaroos and the Kumuls of PNG. Now let’s be totally honest: how many people will turn up for this match?
If it is 15,000, that would be seen as a good result. But it simply isn’t good enough.
The logistics of what I proposed probably can’t happen, but we need to extend the tournament by one more week to allow two matches between the Aussies and Poms. First, at Melbourne, and the second in Sydney.
New Zealand and the Kumuls could play a extra game or sit back and see their arch rivals bash themselves up for a extra 80 minutes.
This could then allow the Australia and Papua New Guinea match to be played at either Suncorp, Dairy Farmers or Port Moresby.
Furthermore, the Ashes were a great part of Rugby League for nearly 100 years. For the growth of the game, it won’t be as it used to be with Great Britain, but a new era of Ashes Rugby League can be born.
My 2010 Four Nations
Week 1: England v PNG (Eden Park)
New Zealand v Australia (Eden park)
Week 2: Australia v England (Melbourne)
New Zealand v PNG (Hamilton)
Week 3: PNG v Australia (Port Moresby)
New Zealand v England (Wellington)
Week 4: Australia v England (Sydney)
Week 5: The Final (Brisbane)
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Mick from Giralang said | November 24th 2009 @ 6:23am | Report comment
Some excellent points there. I think the problem with reviving the Ashes in its traditional format is that international rugby league is no longer a two horse race, with NZ the current world champions (gee it’s hard to type that…). Could you imagine the outcry from across the Pond if they thought their Test matches were being watered down to second-class status compared to England v Australia?
It will be interesting to see the crowd in Sydney for the Kumuls Test. I for one will be making the effort to get there. PNG are the entertainers of the international rugby league scene and win, lose or draw it’s going to be a sensational match. Anyone who has not seen these blokes play recently will be surprised at their skill, toughness and commitment. They are a joy to watch.
M1tch said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Agree about that the RFL thought it needed to end which then created the tri and now the 4 nations, but I do think alot of people have forgotton how great the Ashes battles were.
I dont think now we could have a 3 match series every 4 years or so, but included in 4 nations like Bledisloe is with Rugby and I think it would be great.
I dont know what NZ would think, but the next year a similar prize could be on offer for them.
Dogs Of War said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
The Ashes could just be the head to head results over a 4 year period. I much prefer the current format we have for the International game, than what we used to have.
PJ said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Bring back the Kangaroo tours!! How good were they, and it could take place every year before the world cup – atm there is nothing scheduled in 2012.
M1tch said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment
Cant do it these days, 2012 is the rest year, remember players have been playing internationals since nearly every year.
Paul J said | November 24th 2009 @ 7:57am | Report comment
I agree with Mitch that we should bring back the ashes. What we may have to do is combine the 4 Nations with the Ashes in the same way Rugby combines the Tri Nations with the Bledisloe.
Keep the 4 Nations format so everyone plays equal amount of games but make the 1st clash between the Aussies and the Poms the Ashes Test, whoever wins that is the Ashes champ until their 1st meeting of the next 4 Nations.
M1tch said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:22am | Report comment
1 off game though doesnt really do the tradition of the Ashes justice, needs to be a 2 or 3 game series.
Paul J said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
3 game series would definitely be better but the players play too much as it is. 26 NRL games plus finals, 3 Origin games, plus the 4 Nations which we need for the International game. 3 extra games for the Ashes would be great but it’s too much for the players.
Making 1 of the 4 Nations games the Ashes test may be the best compromise.
I’d like to see Rep footy every year on free to air being:
Aus v Nz (Anzac Test)
SOO
NZ v Pacific Nations XIII (1 game played during Origin series)
Pacific Nations Cup
4 Nations (1st game between Aus & Eng doubling as the Ashes Test).
M1tch said | November 24th 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Compromise probably best way to sum how Ashes could be brought back
Love the idea of NZ v Pac islands, especially if Origin is moved to Sunday night and have a saturday night with that match and even friday night have DreamTime team taking on NZ Moari team, possible weekend of rep footy
Rodney McDonell said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
The problem with playing for the Ashes as part of an already establish tournament undermines the esense of the Ashes altogether – this was confirmed via the backlash recieved from past rugby league greats prior to the Four Nations kicking off this year. It’s obvious, if your change the Ashes from a stand along, three game series to a one game nothing, you’re disrespecting an age of history and tribalism that makes the games so great.
I’d like to see the Ashes back, but squeezing it in is going to be a big task. For the first time in a long time we have nations such as Serbia, Germany and Somoa and PNG, playing our great game against other great nations every year and with that they can clearly see a path to the top. The international strucutre we now have with the European and Pacific Cups and the European Shield & Bowl tournaments is unique for us and they’re presense is long over due.
The Ashes should be brought back, but it should be in a three game series, just as it has been play for decades prior.
oikee said | November 24th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment
The Sydney siders should really get behind the PNG , Kangaroo game. If it was in Brisbane, i would expect a sellout crowd.
More on PNG in a minute.
The ashes test series will be looked at in the 2012 period. This is a huge money spinner for rugby league, and its also a tradition that is ready to be re-established in our code. So the powers to be should have this in mind come 2012.
Now as for PNG, what the RLIF should be thinking about is putting some effort into having a touring team for PNG. This is what i surgest, PNG can be used as a yard-stick for international competitors, By this i mean as follows. Let them go on tours around to all the up and coming nations like Serbia, Lebanon, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, even take them to America and Jamaica. All the nations involved can then see how well they are coming along by testing themselves against the Papuans. We then can measure how far off any country might be in playing standards, if they beat the papuans, they are getting pretty close to being invited on tours of England and Australia. Papua New Guinea will benifit, and other countries will benifit, without moving out of their comfort zone, and the support will come from with-in. This would become a real interest factor for rugby league followers. Cheers.
So get out and support PNG, if it was in Brisbane i would be their.
James said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
PNG struggled to afford to send their team to Aus for the RLWC, so i doubt there would be any money to afford a sweeping international tour and i doubt the RLIF would put up much cash in this area as i suspect there would be very little sponsorship and little tv rights interest. They would rather put money directly into PNG RL, which i think is a better option.
oikee said | November 24th 2009 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Also would be interesting how long it would take the Victorian government to make their money back on the new stadium. 3 codes playing all their games their, plus the coverage they get for a world class stadium, not only here, but around the world. Anyhow , off topic i know, but going back to the old lions tours, and kangaroos tours. At the moment we need to keep promoting rugby league in Oz, New Zealand also, because we need to make the game look good to TV audience, the poms are feeling depressed at the moment having rugby union 24/7.
Australia is our stronghold, and we need to support the game with gussto. Cheers.
oikee said | November 24th 2009 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Who here isn’t a member of a club? if not, i would strongly recommend you do everything in your power to sign up, even if its only a 95 dollar loungeroom seat member. It all adds up, cheers the oikster.
JimC said | November 24th 2009 @ 12:58pm | Report comment
I think a full a Ashes series in the UK is scheduled for 2012.
Hopefully the Kangaroos will play some clubs sides too (to soften them up and confuse their team selection ofcourse)