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The New Zealand Rugby League must feel hard-done-by at the NRL’s recent announcement of the rescheduling of the season from 2018 onward.
As debate rages about the axing of the mid-year Test and apparent snubbing of the international window said window created, the NZRL can choose to break out of the ARL’s shadow and strive to be the pinnacle of the international game.
For a long period international rugby league has been disregarded and bullied by the administrators that run rugby league in Australia, treating it as an afterthought.
Even now with the game growing internationally as never before, it appears that only a begrudging eye can be passed over any struggles and triumphs occurring away from the NRL.
Instead of rueing the loss of the midyear Test, the NZRL should capitalise on the opening of the schedule and create an income stream that is independent of the ARL.
The NZRL’s financial situation paints a clear picture of the true position of the international game – the world’s number one rugby league nation is $250,000 in debt, chasing a massive bank role at the 2017 World Cup.
This boom and bust cycle is hazardous to both the NZRL and international rugby league, so it’s time to revisit the idea of a combined Pacific Islands team.
The team would be selected from current representatives of active Pacific Island teams. For example:
1. Kevin Naiqama
2. Marika Koroibete
3. Joseph Leilua
4. Konrad Hurrell
5. Eto Nabuli
6. Israel Eliab
7. Tuimoala Lolohea
8. Sam Kasiano
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Korbin Sims
11. Jayson Bukuya
12. Frank Pritchard
13. Isaac Liu
14. Wellington Albert
15. Luke Page
16. Leeson Ah Mau
17. Sika Manu
18. Daniel Vidot
19. Stanton Albert
20. Ray Thompson
This side could be very competitive with a fantastic mix of experience, talent and youth.
The match could help secure a steady income stream not only for the NZRL but the Pacific Islands nations and the players who represent them.
Play it in Auckland and you could have a decent crowd while supporting the return of international rugby league to New Zealand, which has few matches on home soil.
Post 2018 it could be held on the Friday night of the Origin 3 week, with intra-Pacific Tests occurring on the weekend of Origin 2 for players to be selected for the combined side.
In this day and age all the athletes in our code are professional and the match would be contested with passion and desire. With the inclusion of the Cook Islands and other budding nations, the player depth and wealth for this fixture would continue to grow.
The game would be less about being an Origin-style match, but rather an exhibition of the talent that exists and the passion that is displayed outside of Australia.
Even as a one-off, the match would be greatly beneficial to the game.
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