Oh that’s right, there’s a Test match on!
Roar Guru By ScottWoodward.me, 11 Oct 2012 ScottWoodward.me is a Roar Guru
My good mate Mick was kind enough to schedule his wedding after the footy season, but he forgot that there is a Test Match on between Australia and New Zealand this Saturday. The good news is it doesn’t matter.
I was thinking that I would watch his beautiful bride walk down the aisle then grab a quick feed at the reception just in time for the kick off, but after looking at the Kiwi line-up I think there could be more excitement in having a few more toasts to the happy couple and perhaps a waltz or two.
There is not a single player in the Kiwi team who would make the Kangaroo team, with the possible exception of Ben Matulino, who I rate as NZs best prop but will start from the bench in the Test Match. Benji Marshall and Isaac Luke are world-class players but would still not make the Aussie line-up.
When we look at the two teams, what stands out is that the Kiwis are really struggling for quality world-class players but James Tamou, who was selected in New Zealand’s train-on squad for the Four Nations in 2011, will pack down against his country wearing green and gold. Just watch his jealous face when the haka is on and when he tries to remember the words to “Advance Australia Fair”.
This situation is ludicrous and is killing international rugby league, if it is not dead already. We will witness a club football game between Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets out-rate the Test match on Saturday and, for me, maybe my mate’s wedding.
The problem is not that difficult to solve and the lead must come from the ARLC.
With so much money involved now to play State of Origin, it is unfair to make a player choose between country and cash. The bigger picture is that non Australian teams cannot afford to lose players like Tamou. It is hurting the growth of the game outside these shores.
If a player meets the criteria to be eligible for the country he was born in and also Origin, then what is wrong with him playing in both?
Tamou playing for the Kiwis on Saturday night will not change the lopsided result but it would help a struggling nation and, in time, would assist in levelling the international playing field so people like me don’t have to choose between a wedding and a Test match.
Now what to wear?
October 11th 2012 @ 4:05am
Johnno said | October 11th 2012 @ 4:05am | Report comment
It has astounded me real or perciveved negativiyy about this test or the extreme reactions of opposite difference about this test. 50% are pumped for it can’t wait eg the sell out crowd in Townsville, and the other 50% seem to be talking more about the point of having it on rather than the game itself. I don’t get it lol
The kiwis are the rugby league world champs not the aussies. So the kiwis can compete with the kangaroos.
I am in the 50% that are pumped for it i can’t wait. Nothing else on this weekend no wallaby tests etc, i can’t wait for this match.
I think the match will be far more close and evenly matched than this years All Blacks VS Wallaby tests in 2012. The rugby league test at Eden Park this year was exciting match good atmosphere and very evenly matched.
Sell out crowd in Townsville a good NZ team assembled I can’t wait. Great exposure for the code keeps rugby league in the news and for global rugby league too. And the Presidents match in PNG was a hit too this year, good exposure for the code in PNG.
My issues is the word meaning and defining or re-defining Intenrational/test match footy as the no1 rep pinnacle not flamin state of origin. I love origin and all but really this is 2012. The pinnacle of rugby league should not be a match series between 2 states in Australia with a lot of kiwi now in it, in a global world and a code that says it is a global code.
There should be a clear 4 year cycle like rugby or soccer
YR 1- ASHES GB test series kangaroo tour every 4 years and alternate and come here. So in other words aussies go to GB every 4 year and play a 1 off test in France too. Happy France is getting much better too will be a force again in 10 years improving rapidly.
And GB could play a 1 off test vs PNG or NZ too.
YR 2- 4 nations
YR 3 – rest have an off season as world cup next year in 4 year cycle
YR 4- World cup
- Plus have a ANZAC day test with big prizmoney eg like $200,000 dollars each bonus for every winning player of winning team, or a big pay day winner takes all style .
-And have a shield eg Meninga-Wiki Shield/Trophy
-But i cant wait for Townsville test. And happy next year I red today a test in Canberra is going to be played. I hope it is a sell out it will i have no doubt be, a Canberra test or Townsvile or Newcastle a great venues as would Parramatta stadium be, or suncorp.
And scrap city-coutnry it hasn’t been a rep game for 20 years. And have stand alone origin weekends. Saturday night Origin to me would be far more fun and exciting than mid week work night Wendsday night. You can really absorb the saturday thinking about the match all day then on saturday night game on.
And have other rep matches that weekend eg NZ VS PNG, or NZ VS Pacific Islands team, or have a FIji VS Samoa test etc.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:25am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
Johnno
Good stuff mate.
In the fair dinkum department, the Kangaroos will win by more than 3 tries. NZ dont have an organiser and half their team cant be fit. I am shocked at some of the selections.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:59am
oikee said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Scott, it can easily be fixed yet dont hold your breath mate. This game has never improved our international game, yet they have the very tool in which to make the international game prosper.
Origin, expand it and add to the series.
Look, i dont care aanymore, enjoy the wedding, i have nothing else to watch, i have watched a couple of Australian soccer games which i would never pay to watch, god awful.
I have the super league final taped on Pay, so i will watch that again before this test match.
Even if the kiwis win i wont be commenting, the international game deserves no coverage.
The men running our game are Oxygen thief’s.
I am glad i have got that horrible description out of the way, now i can hybenate in peace.
Cheers, enjoy the wedding. I have got my arts and Brisbane weekends planned and booked. League is dead for now.
October 11th 2012 @ 12:46pm
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
oikee
How do u think origin would go played at Wembley that included Sam Burgess?
October 11th 2012 @ 4:47am
Morotti said | October 11th 2012 @ 4:47am | Report comment
I think one off tests are useless. If you are going to play 1 then you should play 3.
4 nations is a good concept and I am happy for that to continue.
Disagree with NZ players being able to play for NSW or QLD.
I believe City vs Country is still relevant but as I have mentioned in other threads, it should be held on a representative weekend which also ecompasses Origin and other rep games.
These guys are professional athletes and I disagree with having a year off representative games.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:27am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:27am | Report comment
Morotti
The guys only have a small financial window to set them selves up for life and most will knock back a game for their country to grab 50k each origin game. They should not be in that position.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:42pm
Morotti said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:42pm | Report comment
I agree that they only have a certain life expectancy as football players.
I believe that the answer lies in making it more financially attractive to play for New Zealand. The NZRU needs to create strategies to increase revenue and increase player payments.
Also I believe that life after football for many players is extremely rewarding financially. With the connections many of them have forged over their football careers it is not as bad as we are made out to believe it is.
October 11th 2012 @ 6:47am
Pogo said | October 11th 2012 @ 6:47am | Report comment
“There is not a single player in the Kiwi team who would make the Kangaroo team”
I don’t know about that, Kasiano almost did make the kangaroo team.
NZ have beaten Australia before with a squad full of players who you could argue wouldn’t have made the Kangaroo team.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:31am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:31am | Report comment
Pogo
It is footy so 2 teams can win, thats clear.
This is NOT a competitive game. Aust are 1.20 and I think that is great odds.
As for Kasiano, he never got sighted on the big stage in the GF. He actually has good stamina for a big guy but struggles straight after a big hit up in defence. I would always plump for Matulino in my team.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:00am
Renegade said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:00am | Report comment
Kasiano was not even close to making the kangaroo team…not sure where you got that from.
October 13th 2012 @ 6:57am
Terry Tavita said | October 13th 2012 @ 6:57am | Report comment
kasiano wants to play for samoa..problem is international league is rubbish and samoa hasn’t played a league test in 3 years..
October 13th 2012 @ 11:07am
CJW72 said | October 13th 2012 @ 11:07am | Report comment
Hi Terry, that’s the first time I’ve heard that re Kasiano wanting to play for Samoa. I,ve only ever heard and read his written intention/desire to play for the Kiwis. Born , raised , played otahuhu leopards etc.. Do you have a reference for that? I for one am all for players representing their heart first. You can be born anywhere in the world but still define yourself by your parentage..this seems largely lost in this argument abut eligibility..unfortunately there is no balance to the way RL is presented to the world.. Unlike other codes where International bodies supersede club and national administrations for the elite players. RL is run by myopic cyclops with no peripheral vision.. International League is the only area of growth available to RL. That’s (internatinals) the only aspect RU (that and its old boys/white collar affiliations) has over RL as a sport. The day that RL (ARLC) pulls its head out of its own ass will not be a day too soon. Then and only then will you see regular fixtures and interest (money) from other countries.. RL needs to wake up and realise its part of a Global community.. Token internationals and self serving interests domestically are a blight on our games potential..
October 11th 2012 @ 7:15am
eagleJack said | October 11th 2012 @ 7:15am | Report comment
Ben Matulino should have won prop of the year. What is crazy is that he finished on equal points as Sam Kasiano in the Dally M proper, yet wasn’t even a nomination for the Dally M prop of the year.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:32am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:32am | Report comment
Jack
I agree, he is a gun.
Next year he will start and SBW will be in the team.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:08am
View from the hill said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:08am | Report comment
“There is not a single player in the Kiwi team who would make the Kangaroo team”. Funny they used to apparently say that about Queensland & NSW n the 1980s when state of origin started. Why everyone is so down on international league is bewildering. The game is sold out. It will be on free to air tv and will outrate the a-league soccer. Who do we blame for the negativity & indifference? The RL admin or the supposed RL media? Or RL fans becoming club centric like AFL or NFL?
October 11th 2012 @ 10:35am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
View
All I want is a competitive game mate. The market says the Kangaroos will win by about 14 points and I expect it to be more. Soccer have 2 world class players clashing at the SFS which will also be a sell out.
Because the Warriors have not played for weeks it has impacted their fitness.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:10am
Col Quinn said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:10am | Report comment
What are you going to write when the Kiwis win?
October 11th 2012 @ 10:36am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Col
Plz mate stop it. Benjy and Luke are that talented that they can win any game on their simply based on sheer skill, but as a team they are not in the Kangas class. Shame but true.
October 11th 2012 @ 1:55pm
Col Quinn said | October 11th 2012 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Scotty,
To quote Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe from Bastogne, “Nuts”. I can’t agree with you regarding the abilities of the various Kiwi players. Many of them would make the Roos, easily. I never discount the Kiwis having seen them on many occasions win games that were predicted to be an Australian walk over. This Test is will be great spectacle for RL. The game will show how two good Rugby sides can play expansive, running Rugby, without resorting to penalties as the main means of scoring points. This game, in front of a packed stadium, should be promoted heavily and not palmed off as a second rate contest.
Col
October 11th 2012 @ 2:57pm
League fan said | October 11th 2012 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Yeah well said Con. I am looking forward to the game. Two great teams going at and insteading of promoting what is going to be a great game all we hear is the usual negative rubbish sprouted out by the media and so called experts whenever a international RL game is played.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:31am
Will Sinclair said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:31am | Report comment
It will be interesting to see what effect the introduction of Rugby Sevens to the Olympics has on international rugby league.
My understanding is that several smaller nations are switching their league clubs over to rugby union, and not without good reason. The lure of going to an Olympics is going to be a massive drawcard for these amateur athletes.
It will be interesting to see how this develops.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:38am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Will
What a joke the Olympics has become. We need them to introduce 2 up next.
October 11th 2012 @ 2:08pm
Col Quinn said | October 11th 2012 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
I think you mean the three Russian RL clubs that moved to RU in the hope of getting their players selected in the RU 7s. The Russian RU then orchestrated that the RRLF be expelled from the State Register of Sports of Russia and lose funding. Although this move has weakened Russian RL, I understand that two of the clubs that went to RU, have recently approached the Russian RL Fed for readmission to RL.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:38am
Zippa said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Scott give yourself an uppercut. It is because of people like you that the international game struggles. Every time there is a RL test or a RL world cup it gets nothing but critisim and negativity by the media and ignorant people like yourself.
I never hear the rugby media bag the international game even if the All Blacks thrash the Wallabies for more than 10 years. The league tests between the Kiwis and the Kangaroos have been much more competitive in the the last 7-8 years than the one sided Bledisloe Cup.
Should be a cracking game.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:59am
Will Sinclair said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Yeah, but when the Wallabies play the All Blacks there is (usually) something on the line.
Tacking this Test Match onto the end of the season – a one off game three weeks after the Grand Final – is ridiculous. It’s the very definition of meaningless.
(I would be equally critical of the Bledisloe Cup Test next weekend, which is similarly meaningless. Although not as bad as the game in HK a few years ago.)
October 11th 2012 @ 9:06am
Ryan O'Connell said | October 11th 2012 @ 9:06am | Report comment
I’m with you, Will.
October 11th 2012 @ 9:21am
Will Sinclair said | October 11th 2012 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Having said all that, will I watch the league Test?
Probably!
I’m a sucker like that, and there are probably thousands like me!
(I might hire a DVD instead though. Haven’t seen The Avengers yet.)
October 11th 2012 @ 9:46am
Ryan O'Connell said | October 11th 2012 @ 9:46am | Report comment
It’s a good movie! Haha!
But watch the Test! If for nothing else, than to see how Sheens uses Farah.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:07am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:07am | Report comment
Ryan,
If Aust are a long way in front he will come on, but if it is close there is no way he will replace smith, Cronk or Benjy.
There is no doubt that Barba should have been on the bench in place of Farah and I am a Farah fan.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:04am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Will
I would have liked to see the game played in Perth or even Auckland. They have not helped the Kiwis playing in the heat in Benjys backyard.
October 11th 2012 @ 3:56pm
PJ said | October 11th 2012 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
and they would have got a crowd of no more than 10,000 in Perth. This is a meaningless fixture that ensures international RL remains a laughing stock.
October 11th 2012 @ 4:47pm
League fan said | October 11th 2012 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
Oh PJ trolling again aren’t you. Can’t help yourself can you. The last NRL in Perth got over 20,000 and with the large Kiwi population there would be another good crowd of 20,000 plus.
Being a RL hater it must really hurt when you live in such a RL obsessed state. It must also hurt knowing the greatest game of all is expanding around the world and there is nothing you can do to stop it.
October 11th 2012 @ 5:21pm
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
PJ
A TM in Perth would be a fill up. Mate I am happy for you to comment but dont talk crap.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:42am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Zippa
You could not be more incorrect. Few people promote rep RL more than I do. I have a daily email (ChampionProfits.com) and I write for other publications and go into great detail about all rep footy.
I call it as I see it and the timing is wrong here and the rules that are in place prevent non Aust teams having their best team. I would like to see the rules changed so we can see the best all the time.
October 11th 2012 @ 5:22pm
League fan said | October 11th 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
PJ are you seriously deluded enough to think rugby is anywhere near as popular as league in QLD. The QLD Reds are the only rugby team in QLD and represent all of QLD just like the QLD Maroons. Would you like to compare apples with apples and compare the Reds to the Maroons. I didn’t think so.
RL has and always will be by far the no.1 sporting code in QLD. The other sports soccer, union, Afl will have their bandwagon support when their team does well but RL will always be king.
October 11th 2012 @ 8:42am
Go warriors said | October 11th 2012 @ 8:42am | Report comment
Not a very good article Scott. Two great teams going to battle and all you can do is bag it. You rubbish it for being a predictable one sided game yet you could say the same thing about state of origin.
I cant wait for the game.
Go the Kiwis
October 11th 2012 @ 10:23am
Pogo said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
Good point, NZ have won a series against Australia more recently (if you can tri-series/four nations) than NSW have won a series against Queensland.
October 11th 2012 @ 10:45am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
Go Warriors
OK then tell me one Kiwi who would run on in the Aussie team and tell me who he would replace?
The correct answer is zero.
I would be delighted if the Kiwis win but I am not biased.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:03am
Boomshanka said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:03am | Report comment
“….tell me one Kiwi who would run on in the Aussie team and tell me who he would replace”
James Tamou
October 11th 2012 @ 11:09am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Boom
in other words you cannot find anyone, so plz dont tell me this will be competitive.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:36am
Boomshanka said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:36am | Report comment
I’ve seen with my own eyes a South Island team beat the Kangaroos (1983) and there have been many many upsets along the way. Rugby League is a team sport and the greatest point of difference to other sports is that every dog can have its day.
Sure, Australia have an impressive line up of individuals but a star team can beat a team of stars.
I’m looking forward to the commentators melt down as in previous victory’s to the Kiwis.
October 11th 2012 @ 1:46pm
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Boom
Good luck Boom. NZ are not a team of stars.
They have Hoffman who was dropped from the Broncos for poor form
Perrett who the Roosters were happy to let go.
Whare, not International class as this stage.
Beale, just hangs onto first grade
Foran is NOT a 7
Bromwich only playing because he is fit from GF
Proctor, GF game gets him in on fitness
Mannering, has not played in 2 mths
Taylor, not an impact player
Blair should not be there on club form
October 12th 2012 @ 2:33pm
Boomshanka said | October 12th 2012 @ 2:33pm | Report comment
Scott
I think you’ve missed the point on a team of stars (a team of individual talent ie Australia – not New Zealand) and a star team (ie if the Kiwis work together they can be unbeatable).
Rugby League is a team sport. It’s how well the team gel as a playing squad and is typically why New Zealand do well in Tournaments rather than one off tests.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:08am
Go warriors said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Scott the same thing could been said in the last world cup final or the 2010 four nations final that not one Kiwi player would have made the Kangaroos lineup but we all know what happened there.
Yes the Kangaroos have star studded team on paper but the game is not played on paper. What the Kiwis may lack in skill they will certainly make up with pride and passion. You have no idea the honour of putting on the Black jersey.
Also too I think you are understimating the ability of Marshal, Foran, Isaac Luke, Pritchard just to name a few.
October 11th 2012 @ 11:12am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 11:12am | Report comment
Go
Aust are 1.20 which means they take up 83.33% of the market. I actually have them much shorter than that. Mathematically it means that when a team is those odds they will win 8 or 9 times out of 10. So yes, the Kiwis can win but dont hold your breath.
October 12th 2012 @ 1:49pm
matthewthorpe said | October 12th 2012 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
benji marshall
October 11th 2012 @ 10:21am
Tom of Brisbane said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:21am | Report comment
Is there a worse game in the world than rugby league for glass-half-empty? No one bags international football (soccer) teams for playing “friendlies”. I’m over it. Here goes:-
It’s fabulous that this game is being played after the season finishes, and in Townsville. It’s fabulous that last years game was in Newcastle. More games to the regions please that support RL with a fervour that all the Sydney-based scribes apparently lack.
State of Origin is the greatest sporting competition on the planet, bar none. Is there another competition anywhere in the world that has maintained such a high level of intensity between two evenly matched teams for so long? I doubt it.
The Melbourne Storm are RL’s greatest achievement and an outstanding success (salary cap indiscretions notwithstanding). If you had gone up and down the Bourke St mall even 15 years ago claiming that by 2012 a first grade RL team would be playing every second week in Melbourne in a purpose built rectangular stadium and attracting 15,000+ crowds the men in white coats would have carted you away. They won the comp in their second year FFS
October 11th 2012 @ 10:48am
ScottWoodward.me said | October 11th 2012 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Tom
The guy responsible for that is John Ribot. He rang me on Tues and I congratulated him on winning 10 GF with the 2 clubs he has founded. Not a bad effort.