The twenty all draw between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis in the second game of the Four Nations tournament has capped off what has been a very intense and fascinating start to a competition that once again had to prove its worth to those doubting its place on the Rugby League calendar.
Like last year’s Rugby League World Cup, there are many people deriding the Four Nations because of Australia’s so called international dominance, even though the side is yet to win a big tournament since the 2006 Tri-Nations.
Indeed many people still think that the Kiwis remarkable victory against the Kangaroos in the World Cup final was a fluke, brought about by the silly error from fullback Billy Slater during the second half of last season’s decider.
Any doubts surrounding the credibility of New Zealand’s victory against Australia twelve months ago were put to bed on Sunday morning, as Stephen Kearney’s men came within a whisker of producing another so called upset.
After Eels prop Fui Fui Moi Moi started proceedings badly for the Kiwis, New Zealand were forced to defend their line for extended periods against a Kangaroos backline that needs no introduction in regards to the quality they possess.
For all the star power in Tim Sheens’ ranks however, New Zealand defended their line superbly, thus giving the indication that the Kiwis have turned many corners since their abysmal showing in 2007 against the same opposition.
As is so often the case, the Kiwis produced six points in their few touches of the football, as forward Adam Blair gave off a beautiful short ball to Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala to score the first try of the night.
New Zealand’s bright start however came under threat on a constant basis, as the Kangaroos took control of possession.
With the assistance of six straight penalties, the Kangaroos were finally able to level the scores with a divine long range try set up by the clinical passing of Melbourne Storm duo Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis.
Their work allowed Dragons winger Brett Morris to score his first test try in his maiden appearance in the green and gold.
Finding themselves level at halftime, Stephen Kearney’s men started producing costly errors in their own territory during the early stages of the second half.
Kiwi fullback Lance Hohaia had the ball stripped off him by Australia halfback Johnathon Thurston, who went on to score a critical try that put the Kangaroos in the lead.
Hohaia then produced a knock on after failing to catch a bomb, which saw the Kiwis concede a further two points thanks to a penalty conversion from Thurston.
New Zealand managed to rally however and were left galvanised after Knights centre Junior Sau muscled past four defenders to score a great try.
Despite still trailing by two points, the Kiwis were starting to cause havoc around the ruck, thanks to the quality ball playing services of both Benji Marshall and Lance Hohaia.
Hohaia got a just reward for his performance, slicing through some tiring Kangaroos defence to score a try that gave the Kiwis the lead.
Enigmatic Panthers forward Frank Pritchard then scored what looked like the winning four pointer for New Zealand, as Stephen Kearney’s men were on the edge of achieving rare back to back victories against their illustrious trans-Tasman rivals.
A superb offload from Kangaroos centre Greg Inglis however, saw hooker Cameron Smith burrow his way through the Kiwis defence to score a match saving try with just two minutes remaining.
Whilst both sides left the field feeling a little empty handed for their efforts, the 20 all draw was a fitting result between two Test nations that suddenly find themselves much more evenly matched than most people think.
Throw this result in with the tough uncompromising performance from France in their loss to England, and the Four Nations tournament has experienced the best opening it could have hoped for.
No doubt if all four nations continue to be as competitive as they were during the opening stages of the tournament, then perhaps international Rugby League stands in great stead in its quest to spread their global wings.
Crosscoder
Guest
siva samoa. Come on mate,I distinctly saw only recently, du Plessis's name on the Rooster's under 20 roster. Don't worry there are thousands of good young SA players ,looking for an opportunity ,regardless of the rugby code.
oikee
Guest
The roosters have 4 on their books siva, and all clubs have talent scouts going to sth africa next year. One kid went back yes. The storm are looking at sth africa juniors, but only the top athletes, You can read about it at melbourne storm site. cheers.
Siva Samoa
Guest
Keep dreaming oikee. I heard the South African kids went back to rugby in South Africa.
oikee
Guest
I will post this here on this blog, ( i am trying to avoid union bloggers, they are giving me hell,) , start off by saying congratulations on them winning the Melbourne bid. Also will say very happy because rugby league can now keep moving into STH Africa on their poaching of great talent over in that country. If they got the licience for another africa team, it would have slowed rugby league's progress in that country. Things are looking bright for STH African talent in the NRL. To be honest, they have more than enough talent in STH Africa, the AFL has already started their push into the country. Africa is loaded with top sportsmen, they need all the help they can get, we are here to help. :) Brazil will be next.
cam
Guest
Waterboy I laugh whenver you leaguies say leaguies is the best game in the world and you have a better product. That's just your opinion fella and it's pretty obvious the rest of the world doesn't agree!
cam
Guest
Haha love it True Tah. This Oikee bloke is definitely on some drugs or is the most delusional fans I've ever come across. I know leaguies in general are delusional but this is taking too far.
Matt S
Guest
Waterboy, so true and the real stupidity of union to have allowed this and believe me they have been the ones to pressure their schools, via oldboy networks, not to allow league in. They probably thought AFFL would do the jon=b on league they had failed to achieve but now must realise AFL is just stomping on everyone. Union is now third in QLD, a shocking fact they must now shudder at. I did read a snippet in the local brisbane paper some top union schools are apparently putting teams in the league confraternity comp in 2010. This comp is like a week long league festival for private schools who mainly play union (in Brisbane-Padua, Ipwich Grammar) and the few private schools who play league (St James, St Edmunds) and the league playing schools in Nth QLD (St Brendans, Rockhampton Grammar, etc). This is actually a good move and one union realises will be much more beneficial to them then having AFL beside them.
waterboy
Guest
forget that 'not' in my last line :)
waterboy
Guest
Re QBE not sponsoring RL see points 4 & 5 of my earlier post. It is the same mentality of the elite private schools in NSW, and I expect Qld as well...let soccer in, let aussie rules, both to join the tradition union played at the school, but never will league be allowed to be played. The idiocy of their decision is that aussie rules with their requirement for tall athletes and their unlimited development resources, will cannabalise union at the schools stealing all the elite tall athletes, and are a far greater threat than league would ever be. Its like not barring a duck from your chook pen, but letting a fox in.
oikee
Guest
Cable is in fact the growth market, spike is going to be one of the biggest, many years reseach lead rugby league right into their lap, and they make QBE look like guinea pigs breeders. Suncorp, Queensland's biggest bank is rugby league, why do you think they are the biggest Qld bank. :) ANZ is another league supporter, and they have now opened investments into India. Harvey Norman is our countries largest white Goods provider, and they operate around the UK, i think they also support Irish rugby league. I could go on, but it becomes boring. Is their a six nation tournament coming up, 1st i have heard, just thought the Wallibies were on their annual holidays. :)
oikee
Guest
Thats nice to hear, i read exactly the same announcement coming from Gillette sponsering the 4 nations. They are pleased to be able to grow there product, blah blah blah,. Happens with every sponser at every event. I dont know if you have heard of Engage, who are they, i dont know, but i drink Iron brue, and they sponser league, its quality drink, very nice. What do you want them to say, we are sponsering rugby union, because thats all thats left to sponser.
Matt S
Guest
Yeah, QBE definately one product I stay clear of and yes they are involved in all sport bar RL. much like that Bank of QLD idiot Liddy. BOQ sponsor AFL & Union but surprise surprise no league. One of the biggoted old boy network CEO's. Ian, I think one thing that will advantage union and perhaps league is the proliferation of cable TV stations. Content, content, content esp. sport will be drastically needed hence we now see everything from extreme motocycling to snowboarding on TV!
Ian Noble
Guest
Westy Thanks for that, I knew about the Swans as my nephew is on the roster.
westy
Guest
Ian they hate rugby league. They are the principal sponsor of sydney swans, Auskick and their Chairmen is on the record of making quite a few anti rugby league comments. i would be most surprised if they ever went anywhere near rugby league at least in their Australian operations.
Ian Noble
Guest
Oikee and others might be interested in this statement from QBE "QBE Insurance Group is one of the world's leading international insurers, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It operates out of 45 countries across the globe, doing business in over 100. QBE has been active in the UK since 1904, originally within the marine insurance market in London, but has grown substantially in the last 10 years to offer specialist commercial insurance to companies across the UK. At the end of 2008, the Group's UK turnover was approximately £3bn, making it one of the largest insurance firms in the UK. Steven Burns, CEO QBE European Operations, commented: "This is a fantastic partnership for QBE. We are excited to be working with Premier Rugby and proud to be a partner of the most successful rugby union league in the world. "Despite being one of the world's leading insurers, QBE has a low profile in the UK outside the London insurance markets. We have ambitious growth targets and see many opportunities to continue expanding our business, particularly across Europe. This sponsorship will drive an increase in brand awareness in the UK and will provide us with a number of business development opportunities." Being an Aussie company, if RL was so strong as you suggest on the back of the NRL why are they not sponsoring the Super League?
allblackfan
Guest
A lot better than Nat Myles
Ian Noble
Guest
Oikee It was Warren Gatland, the Welsh coach who made the comment about the GP. He was criticised about having only Peel from the GP in his squad; natural reaction and part of build up to the forthcoming 6Ns. At one time every Saturday afternoon on FTA, BBC in fact, a top RL game was featured with commentators who became legends, Eddie Waring and Ray French. They had no competition and it pulled in very good audiences. The programme ran for donkeys years and that was the opportunity to spread the game to other parts of the UK and it was missed. They then sold their soul to SKY and in my opinion have gone backwards. There is a highlights programme on BBC called the Super League Show which is shown on BBC North at a reasonable time, if I recall 6pm on a Sunday evening and elsewhere in the UK, either at 3am on a Monday morning or occasionally on the red button. Thr RFL have to keep their viewing figures otherwise SKY will renegotiate downwards, because they have a virtual monopoly position in Uk, that is why the emergence of ESPN out of the ashes of Setanta UK is so important to televised sport in the UK. The RFL are under pressure to deliver hence the need for the 4 nations and the move to show games on a Friday evening to hopefully enjoy a solus position and keep viewing figures up. Matt S Missing the point ESPN wants rugby because it opens up a new market for satelittes. I suspect you havn't seen any Top 14 rugby which is top draw, if they do have GP as well then it could make people buy the subscription in addition to Sky. It could be darts or tiddywinks if it pulled in the viewers, it just so happened that they think Rugby pulls in the viewers and is a good call.
oikee
Guest
No worries WCR, you are right about that.
The Link
Guest
allblackfan - how's Byron Kelleher travelling these days?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Oikee You may not watch ESPN but plenty of Americans do. Alot more than those who watch Spike TV.