You can also be thankful you’re not a fan of the Wallabies either, who had hopes and dreams of being crowned world champions predictably dashed in a match that was well … underwhelming is probably a nice way of putting it.
No, fans of New Zealand rugby league can brush yesterday’s loss off because it meant nothing.
You see, Benji Marshall and co. don’t really turn up to play unless there’s a piece of silverware on the line.
New Zealand are the World Champions and Four Nations Champions so you’d think that would be an outrageous thing to say.
But the shiny cups and big game atmosphere seem to be what drives New Zealand’s best.
Who needs to worry about the other contests?
Australia clearly takes more pride in these friendlies and non-finals. The Kangaroos have won every single match between the two countries since the Tri Nations final in 2005.
It’s why the Kiwis should be favourites when the two sides most likely meet in the final of the Four Nations in England over the coming weeks.
Those two victories have single-handedly given meaning to international rugby league again – even if only a handful of countries take the sport seriously – so the Aussies can hardly complain.
The Kiwis probably shouldn’t have Russell Packer or Issac Luke for much of the Four Nations though.
One of Packer’s first contributions as an international player was to plant a late shot on the chin of Lockyer while Luke became the latest player to produce a “prowler” tackle.
Don’t worry though, friends across the Tasman. Your team will still find a way to win the Four Nations and yesterday’s unpleasantness will be nothing more than a faded memory.
Given what the history books tell us over the last six years, you would be a brave man to bet against it.
trakl
Guest
No need to be abusive with the "WTF?" I didn't accuse you of "bagging" me. I do accuse you of not being able to read or write or think properly. The article has been duly read and contained within it are quotes from Carter who - despite not having the game made available to him at school - managed to play rugby league as well as rugby union in his childhood. Are the "posts" not rugby league posts? Are they merely suitable for rugby union? Was Carter more "competitive playing rugby union with his mates than he was when playing rugby league? They are his words and not mine. He knows what he's talking about. You don't.
Westy The Real Rugby Fan
Roar Rookie
WTF? I definitely prefer both codes of rugby, but I've found league fans like yourself to be, on the whole, a lot more defensive & insecure about their code than union fans. I don't bag league - I bag league fans like you. My purpose here is to get a few people to think about what they're saying more than anything else. I have to stick up for league against my AFL-following mates too. As per usual trakl you show your lack of anything remotley passable as reasoned thought. “We’d play games of rugby, league…etc” Try and read the whole article. "We lived on a block and I had seven or eight mates that used to come around to my house – because we had the posts "
trakl
Guest
He did. He says so himself. In the article from which you have already quoted. "We'd play games of rugby, league...etc" Which bit of that quote do you find problematic? The "rugby" bit or the "league" bit or the fact that it was in the NZ Herald or the fact that they are not my words but ones that belong to Carter himself? Did Ray teach you all you know?
Westy The Real Rugby Fan
Roar Rookie
Whichever way you put it, Dan Carter never played the game of rugby league and the nz herald doesnt mention he did. Maybe rugby league isnt played at all in schools in Christchurch just as soccer isnt available in schools in the Poverty Bay and East Coast of NZ.
trakl
Guest
I think you mean to say " You're" and not "Your" - but do you mean Dan Carter or do you mean me merely for having the temerity to allow others to read him in his own words?
trakl
Guest
Which bit did Raymond get right? The bit where he said that Dan Carter had never played any rugby league at all? Or the bit when he said that there had never been an article in any newspaper - including specifically the New Zealand Herald - in which Dan Carter himself had ever mentioned playing any rugby league? The bit where he calls one a "liar" for saying that Carter did play games of rugby league? Or the bit where he calls one a "clown" simply for having quoted Dan Carter's own words for his expert perusal? Nobody has suggested that Carter was a junior with the Auckland Warriors - and everybody knows just how hard it is to play rugby league at school when it is not offered on the school curriculum - but it is clear that despite everything even the blessed Dan Carter managed to find ways to play games of rugby league. Those are his own words. Not mine. I am not Dan Carter!
Westy The Real Rugby Fan
Roar Rookie
Raymond is right, theres nothing there to say Mr Carter took aprt in any competitive rugby league game apart from throwing the ball around wth his mates oustside his house because he had goalposts.
Westy The Real Rugby Fan
Roar Rookie
We lived on a block and I had seven or eight mates that used to come around to my house - because we had the posts - almost every day after school. "We'd play games of rugby, league and having kicking competitions, everything. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/greatest-all-blacks/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503057&objectid=10717483 Your kidding, right?
trakl
Guest
When Dan Carter says he and his mates grew up playing (rugby) league you dismiss him - but when, in the very same breath, he says they grew up playing rugby (union) you... dismiss him? Or accept - humbly and respectfully - that the man knows what the hell he's talking about? Is he a "liar" and a "clown" too?
trakl
Guest
Why wouldn't you know? Why shouldn't there be a "couple?" Why shouldn't they all out-rate the rugby league? Except that they don't, do they?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
trakl No doubt the apology or at the very least, admission of a mistake will be forthcoming from the gent in question.Hell freezing over, has a better chance.
trakl
Guest
You promised you'd leave the Roar - not merely those rugby league threads - if I could find you an article, any article, including from the New Zealand Herald, in which Carter ever states at any time that he ever played the game of rugby league. This is for you Raymond - sent with love from me. New Zealand Herald, August 1st, 2011 - The article is headed "Dynamic Dan hard man to outshine" and is written by Dylan Cleaver and Dan the man speaks of his childhood days:" The beauty of living in a small community is that all your mates are not far away. We lived on a block and I had 7 or 8 mates that used to come around to my house - because we had the posts - almost every day after school...We'd play games of rugby, league and having kicking competitions, everything..." Of course, Dan should refer to rugby union and rugby league as opposed to rugby and league - but nobody's perfect! Is Dan lying? Am I - merely by quoting him? Or are you by hanging around the Roar when you promised you'd be off?
trakl
Guest
Just because I have quoted Carter saying he did play games of rugby league doesn't make you a "liar." There's no such thing as "superleague" - and your denial that it has ever beaten rugby union's European Cup final seems to begin and end with 2011. Why?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Johnno Unfortunately melad your wish ,is not your command.These guys will stay in rl,as they will be better paid for it from 2013. And judging by he grassroots development going on overseas in rl,the future looks reasonably bright for that side of the equation,particularly in Eastern Europe. Securing COG ground floor acceptance,is also a big boost for the code. The future is bright,the future is rugby league or words to that effect.
Ray
Guest
dan carter http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/3553048/NRL-loving-All-Blacks-star-unlikely-to-jump-ship sky tv ratings 2011 - heineken cup 400,000 2011 - superleague grand final 319,000
Ray
Guest
ive show you a link, stop making a fool of yourself. if you have any dignity left show your link and save us all from this thread.
Republican
Guest
mace 22 Not so sure about that. Our indigenous code is often percieved as being too soft by NZers and this is our most popular footy brand. I think Australians are actually very different in more ways than one to NZers. Certainly Union is no where near as poular here as it is in NZ. Cheers
trakl
Guest
"...I found...?" Did you change your name by deed poll?
trakl
Guest
Except that I wasn't. Unless there are two Dan Carters. As there appear to be at least two Rays! How many names do you post under?
Ray
Guest
no worries, i was only trying to prove he was wrong and looks like he was.