The Rocket

It was five years, and I`ll take a guess we`ve been winning ever since. Fair enough, in my defence it was 20 years ago, and at that stage I had three children under 10 and a business to run, I`ll be the first to admit I have drifted in and out of League (always following, not always overly obsessively) throughout my adulthood. Little different now I`m semi-retired. But in that last 14 years still winning far more often than we lost. As I said earlier if SOO can be three games and generate one quarter of the monetary value of our FTA deal, I don`t think this current NRL administration are going to turn down a three Test series against anybody that can generate similar returns. So no point stewing over what may have happened in the past, let`s hope the current crop of international teams can provide that and with NZ1 and later 2 coming in they`re prob our best bet.

It`s been covered a million times. One WC to the Kiwi`s and a 3 (?) nations and a 20 year drought either side and not a series against you for 50 years, I`m sorry mate but as an Aussie and international League fan, it`s not enough. But I`ll be going tomorrow because we live in hope, but I know I`m kidding myself it will be competitive, we`ll thump the Tongans just like we did two weeks ago. Same old, same old.

The NRL`s broadcast deal with FTA channel 9 is worth about 120m, Origin is estimated to be about 30m of that. 3 games out of 110 or whatever (regular rounds plus finals) one quarter of the deal. Once NZ2 and eventually 3 come in the Kiwis will be able to field three teams that will match it with Oz. Very likely it will replace the Bledisloe as the number one sporting contest between those two countries. Packed out 50/60k stadiums in either country with massive broadcast ratings. There`s another 30m there. You watch how quickly the NRL find a place for it in the calendar. Same as it will be against you if we can start to go series for series for the next decade or so. There is commercial value in international League for the NRL, but we need consistent competitive competition.

VEGAS AND JD SPORTS Hot on the heels of a groundbreaking deal with Red Bull, the NRL has landed another significant sponsorship that strengthens their appeal to a younger audience by signing JD Sports to be their presenting partner for Las Vegas for the next two years. The latest deal with a global brand is further evidence of the NRL’s growing appeal with the likes of Reece Walsh, Nathan Cleary and Kalyn Ponga helping rugby league capture a new market. JD Sports is a global brand that is big in the US and UK and growing in Australia and New Zealand. This will be their first foray into footy sponsorship. “It is great to welcome JD Sports to the rugby league community as a partner and as a brand that has a passion for innovation,” NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said. “We look forward to working with JD Sports to take the Rugby League Las Vegas festival to even greater heights for fans over the next two years. “The partnership represents an opportunity for the NRL to work with a global sports brand to build our connection to youth culture and capitalise on the brand’s influence in the US.” By coincidence I walked past the JD Sports store in Parramatta mall today, huge store full of young people, just another market League is aiming for.

What does it hold, 30k ? I was there at the Indigenous game a couple of years ago and that was about 25k and what with the pre-match traditional dancers and great match it was probably one of the most enjoyable live League experiences I`ve ever been had. This should be right up there. Btw, saw a group of Papuans down at Parramatta town square today in their Kumul`s gear, I gave them a " go the Kumul's" so hopefully there will be a good mix in the stadium on Sunday but suspect it`s mostly going to be a sea of red, my sons and I will be wearing some red and hoping for a boilover which will bring the house down.

C`mon fellas. lighten up, Abdo`s not interested in giving everyone a history lesson in international Rugby League, he`s only interested in talking this up for the media and the general public and making it seem like it`s the best thing since sliced bread and going to only be bigger and better next year and that the NRL is an unstoppable force in Australasia. Basically it`s all about the here and now and the hype not he history.

Well Herbie`s doing his bit, this is the second or third article I`ve seen today where Herbie is saying the Aussie`s are the next target Herbie goes bananas for England, now wants a slice of Aussies after dusting off Samoa

This probably belongs on the `Rugby League in strange places` thread but speaking of Time Team, Phil the pottery expert on that show often wore St. Helens` sloppy Joe `s and /or caps.

2028, that`d have to be Tonga again wouldn`t it. It`d be four years since Samoa travelled as well. 2029 Ashes in Oz.

Probably like yourself Jim I`ve been watching Test matches involving the Pacific Nations for near on I reckon forty years and can well remember the days when the games were one-pass hit-ups and every basic error in the book. What I saw tonight, especially that first half from Tonga, blows me away how far we`ve come, League of the highest order tonight.

Geez you`re a miserable git. They`ve sold over 30 000 seats already, weren`t at this number until the end of January 2024 for the first Vegas venture. Given what they learnt last year from where the American sales were made expect them to leverage that information to increase that area of sales as well. A recent visitor to Vegas reported that the big screen at the front of Allegiant was running NRL Las Vegas adverts on loop. BTW over $500 000 in corporates alone so far. Wrong again, multinational Korean car company Kia are the new front of shirt sponsor. If you didn`t have such a jaundiced view of things you may have noticed that under the current NRL administration nothing is off the table, anything that is a possible revenue stream will be pursued. Abdo was even saying last week the commission are looking to find a permanent spot on the calendar for the WCC so that we don`t have the situation we have this year. In a radio interview recently V`Landys was asked about when he might step away, his response was that Rugby League in this country had been close a couple of times to being the impregnable financial and sporting juggernaut it should be, he wasn`t leaving until that was achieved this time.

I wouldn`t be too tough on Crossland, he had a great year this year and last year more than ably fill in for Brailey. His passing game for the Knights out of dummy-half was as good as anyone, chest high and out front. You could tell he was nervous the other night, for whatever reason, debut maybe, but his first pass missed everyone and he was missing his mark a lot, very unlike him. We didn`t see any of his darting runs either, something he was doing for the Knights as well, I expect we`ll see more of that and no one could question his efforts in defence. O`Brien even came out and said this year his team is more defensively secure when Crosslands is on the field. Funny enough the commentators were blaming Nikorima, Crosslands replacement, for not getting out from the ruck quick enough when Edwards made his break at the end there. I think Crossland will only get better.

Yeah I think they heard you were coming.

I was thinking if the Pom`s did come over next year they might play the whole Pac Cup and Bowl in NZ, PNG and the Islands, this would hopefully allow for the greater appearance of ownership and hence media coverage and public interest in those tournaments across that region. However if the Kangaroos and Jillaroos do head north we might get a couple of games in Oz, wouldn`t bother me if we didn`t though. Fun fact though, as someone pointed out on the Aussie forum, last week`s sold-out Oz/NZ clash in Christchurch continued a run of completely sold-out League matches in that country for 2024. With the Wahs of to Vegas next year expect the hype to continue.

Yeah I saw that post and was going to reference it in my response, it makes sense. It`s a circus, but hey three Tests against us over there hopefully under lights, that`s all that matters.

Mixed feelings, was looking forward to going to see a strong looking English side in Oz next year, but will happily watch both the Pac championships and Ashes tour on the telly instead.

Well all the talk has been that you blokes will be touring over here. Found this five minutes ago when I opened the paper. NRL: Kangaroos and Jillaroos set to tour England after 2025 season, historic revival comes after 22-year hiatus | The Australian "The ARL Commission and England’s RFL are considering the tour of England after 2025 for the men’s Kangaroos and women’s Jillaroos. "It is likely the tour would comprise three Tests against England without any additional games against club sides due to player welfare. "England would then travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea the following year for rugby league’s World Cup. Tonga toured England last year with Samoa currently in Britain. "An Ashes series in Britain involving the star-studded Australians would be a financial boon for English rugby league. "The tour hasn’t been confirmed and planning remains in the preliminary stages although the International Rugby League is aware of the Kangaroos’ desire to tour England." Makes sense, touring down here twice in two years is madness Be a nice follow up to a series win over Samoa as well.

This tour has been getting decent publicity in Oz. It wasn`t going to be even televised until fans kicked up a stink and Fox put it on. You beat Samoa again next week and I`ll guarantee you if the first game is played in Brisbane they`ll get 35k plus, win up there and the other games will be near sell-outs if not sold out.

Just couldn`t believe that Nikorima wasn`t bought on at 6 with 20 to go and chasing points, his link play may have made all the difference. Might have given Kino the bit a space to make the break he`d been threatening all game. I suppose that`s leaves the problem with Crossland providing no spark at all, still the Kiwis` may have been better off leaving that to the middles just to get Kodi at 6.

Well done to you and all the people who kicked up a stink and got them to put in on. Great news, you`ve made my day.

Jarome Laui was in Samoa last week, met up with the Samoan PM, she asked him if he and the Samoan team might become the face of Samoan sport given that the other rugby code isn`t doing so well at the moment. Follows on from him being appointed a tourism ambassador a couple of years ago.

Yeah, for god`s sake what were they thinking, a really, really poor reflection on their attitude towards the international game, and after all the hoo-ha about getting Fox to show a club game in the U.S. and they don`t insist on Fox showing this. I mean it`s part of the whole international package, very disappointing.

Yeah, just checked, I`m gutted, FFS , stunned. Hadn`t even thought about Scheck, worth watching for that alone. Yeah mate I don`t expect you to go to too much trouble but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, we`ll watch it on our laptops if necessary.

I assume we`re still talking about the England/Samoan Test series, if so, it better be on, I`ve travelled 5 hours to Sydney to watch the Kangaroos and Kiwis Sunday afternoon then get up at 2 a.m. Monday to watch England take on Samoa on Kayo.

That`s madness as well, it`s when the teams are announced that people can really start to put faces to the whole thing and be more likely to start engaging.