Sonny Bill Williams decision to boycott the Anzac Test next Friday night is another blow to the credibility of the fixture.
Williams has withdrawn from the game due to his continued anger at being implicated in a sleeping pill and energy drink scandal on last year’s World Cup tour of England.
Kiwis selector Richie Barnett insists that Williams was never in consideration for selection anyway, because he is not a part of the Kiwis future plans.
However Williams was named the best player on the planet last year, so for a one-off game Barnett’s logic seems flawed.
More flawed though is the entire Anzac Day concept. Why has this fixture been so underwhelming?
The fixture started in 1997 and there was a fuss about the use of the word ‘Anzac’. The word Anzac is protected in Australia and requires permission of the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs for use in commercial events.
This permission was given for the event from 1997–1999. From 2004 until 2008 the match was officially called the Bundaberg Rum League Test, after the principal sponsor, Bundaberg Rum. For the 2009 fixture, the principal sponsor was Victoria Bitter and, as such, the match was officially called the VB Test.
Despite the official name change, it is still common for the match to be called the Anzac Test, despite the fact the game has only been played once on Anzac Day.
Two different trophies have been awarded for the winner of the Test. From 1997–1999 the winner was awarded the Anzac Trophy. Since 2004, the winner has been awarded the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.
In 2011 the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy was not played for in the Anzac Test, but instead in a one-off post-season Test match.
In 2007, the New Zealand rugby league announced that the Anzac Test would not be contested after 2008, citing difficulties with selecting their best possible team for a match held at that time of year.
However the fixture has continued. Australia has won 13 of the 14 matches by an average score of 30-11. The Kangaroos last tasted defeat in 1998, the inaugural year of the NRL.
This game has nothing on the AFL’s Anzac Day blockbuster at the MCG. It’s a confusing mess with no real feel of tradition, hype or rivalry.
Between 1997 and 2014 there have been some memorable matches between Australia and New Zealand, but this game has been often plagued by a lukewarm reception from players and sponsors.
Is it time for the game to be scrapped? Why have the players not produced great football in this fixture?
What can be done to re-market the event more effectively? Do we need a constant diet of sport on Anzac Day?
How often and when should New Zealand and Australia play Test matches?
Panisam
Guest
Sounds like good business to me especially in an environment where a slip a fall or awkward tackle could end a career..and when that happens he can slip off to the sun or to wherever he decides to retire sit on the porch watch the sun go down and think about his life...as a "nobody"...ha ha
Emerson McLeod
Guest
Well said....I'm not a roosters fan, but to call him a nobody is moronic. He would have done more in sport than most by the time he was 20. He is different. Maybe even arrogant..but not a nobody..
Brad.H
Guest
KB" You proved yourself a Sonny Dill zombie with your lead-in comment and revealed with "Better look in' than Greggie " that your argument has nothing to do with ability.
Brad.H
Guest
John , Oh you had me rolling in the aisles in fits of laughter with your witty comeback , was it all your own work or did you get help with it ?
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
What has AFL in NZ to do with a rugby league test between Australian and NZ here .That is just plain trolling.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That's brought you a lot of happiness no doubt Clipper. Regardless of what happens the test will proceed,and get decent Tv ratings.Remember the three offerings club,SOO and country,other codes don't have such a choice here.
Raugeee
Guest
Good work Garth.
Raugeee
Guest
I agree Renegade. There must be plenty of people like me who love watching the Kiwis get walloped.
Raugeee
Guest
That's right Clark. When Kiwi's lost the ANZAC Test last year 32 -12 a lot of people were saying they would win with SBW. What happened? In the World Cup final they lost 34 - 2. NZ are 12 pts worse off with him! Who NZ need is Benji Marshall :)
Raugeee
Guest
SBW is the most overrated player, apart from DWH. He is only worried about his $ value. He realised another poor showing against top company would tarnish his glossy image. Last year NZ lost by 20 pts in the ANZAC test. Everybody was saying that NZ would win when SBW played in the World Cup. Rubbish. NZ lost the Final by 32 pts! NZ are 12pts worse off with him. Good riddance to the show pony. Let him rip off some other code.
lee
Guest
Cmon first 3 letters , Australia New Zealand, whats AFL got to do with that ! ,and a test match leaves club games for dead .I think it was and is a great idea showing the friendship and alliance of the 2 countrys
Bres
Guest
Spot on kit you are dead right, sbw is an employee of news ltd which is the reason why you cant avoid hearing about him in papers , Sad thing is he has never lived up to the monicer He throws more crap passes than makes breaks. To all sbw lovers go and actually watch everything he does in a game = not much
KB
Guest
You express distaste toward SBW like a Dogs or Souths fan might.
duecer
Guest
There's two basic tenants in marketing - at what price is the product considered too high that the consumer wouldn't buy it (which is the obvious one) but also at what price is the product considered too low and considered 'poor'. It can be a fine line, but at $12.50, perhaps they're devaluing the product - it should be at least priced above regular season games.
Robyn Goulevitch
Guest
Why knock SBW for being a professional sports person.Many league players in fact most move to new clubs so are you objecting that he swapped codes? Whyshouldnt he make his money from where he has skills, at sports. Its hhis job after all, his employment which means he is inly changing careeer path like most of us do in our wirking life. He clearly has an amazing work training ethic no matter any traits you perceive.
Kit
Guest
If I have tall poppy attitude I won't be watching the NRL will I. Please use your brain. Just look at Glenn Stewart, at least he tried to stay at Manly. That shows loyalty. I'm not a Manly fan, but credit is where credit is due. SBW's world view is that the world revolves around him. He lacks integrity which truly define not only a great athlete, but a person. I know in this age who cares about loyalty right, but that's how I define a 'somebody' from 'nobody'.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Turbodewd - The big question mark about Williams is is he tough enough to string together two good seasons in the NRL?In his debut season at Canterbury he was a sensation his second season was pretty average an the third year prior to bolting to France was dreadful. So far this year he has been struggling I guess we will have to wait and see as to whether he can back up from last season...but I do think his decision not to play for The Kiwis (forget that crap about looking to the future and not considering him he has thumbed his nose at them) has cost him my respect not that he should care about something as meaningless as that - but I wonder how some of his fellow Kiwis really feel about his on again off again relationship with their national team?
Kit
Guest
And you are?
Squirrel
Guest
Fans don't like selfish look at me mercenaries. Ie mundine photocopies. He has been good for the roosters though and that's all I care about. Go the roosters
Glenn Innes
Guest
Renegade - Yes but the average score across those eight series is nothing like 30-11 the last two series have been decided by a single point. and QLD have never won 13 out of 14 games no matter how you sequence it Call a spade a spade test Rugby League involving Australia is like watching a badly mismatched prize fight it is just plain boring.Once every pancake day you get a good game but mostly it so predictable - the opposition hang in there for fifty minutes and then Australia run all over them in the last half hour. These games should be played post season when History shows Australia are a little more beatable... leading into origin with the best players fresh and motivated it is just a waste of space and the results show it. That's the real reason Williams does not want to play..no glory here for him here... he will be a marked man in a badly outclassed team and he suffered enough of that in the World Cup Final.Once again lets call a spade a spade that is why he doesn't want to play.