England 4 Nations warm up game against the NZ Maori

[The Future is League]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8890012.stm

a good warm up game in my opinion against a team who will give it 100%

[thirteenthman]

That could prove to be as big a banana skin as the match against Papua New Guinea. Let's hope Sky show it.

[The Future is League]

That could prove to be as big a banana skin as the match against Papua New Guinea. Let's hope Sky show it.

This game will certainly focus the minds of the players far more than a game against Wales would.

[Wendall]

Be a tough test if past history has shown.

A Maori win would strengthen their case for inclusion in the World Cup structure.

[Odsal Outlaw]

Be a tough test if past history has shown.

A Maori win would strengthen their case for inclusion in the World Cup structure.

Not unless they become a country.

(yes I know they were in in 2000, but that won't ever happen again!)

[Tommy The C5t]

That could prove to be as big a banana skin as the match against Papua New Guinea. Let's hope Sky show it.

It's not going to look good is it if we get beat by the Maori

[Lobbygobbler]

Why not play a proper nation like Fiji?

The NZ Maori at RL is a joke because the entire NZ RL team is ##### Maori

[ArmchairRhino]

Why not play a proper nation like Fiji?

That's an excellent question

The NZ Maori at RL is a joke because the entire NZ RL team is ##### Maori

You're wrong there

[nadera78]

We're playing them because the NU touring side played them in 1910, because they'll bring in a decent crowd, and because it's probably cheaper for the organisers than bringing in Tonga or Fiji.

NZ will be playing Samoa and Australia were rumoured to be looking at the Cook Islands. Hopefully PNG will get a warm up game as well.

Lobby

the Kiwis have had a number of Maori players in the team recently, but it's usually a mix of Maori, Islanders and the odd white fella. It was only a few years back when the majority of the team seemed to be of Samoan descent.

[Lobbygobbler]

We're playing them because the NU touring side played them in 1910, because they'll bring in a decent crowd, and because it's probably cheaper for the organisers than bringing in Tonga or Fiji.

NZ will be playing Samoa and Australia were rumoured to be looking at the Cook Islands. Hopefully PNG will get a warm up game as well.

Lobby

the Kiwis have had a number of Maori players in the team recently, but it's usually a mix of Maori, Islanders and the odd white fella. It was only a few years back when the majority of the team seemed to be of Samoan descent.

Apologies I meant nearly all Maori

Anyway I recall that the last Maori NZ team was not all full blown Maoris!

Nothing against playing the Maoris if its part of a full test itinerary but to me this is all about doing it on't cheap

[East Coast Tiger]

Tonga is playing Fiji the same day. The Cook Islands are playing NSW Country. Samoa is playing NZ, obviously. That's pretty much all the other options gone. They're in NZ preparing for the game against NZ and it make sense to play a NZ based side. And the historical factor makes it even more appropriate. It'll be a good test for the poms and it's probably a great result for the Kiwis too because the Maori should bash the ###### out of them.

[CGD]

I'll wait to see the squads, but it might turn out that the NZ Maori side is stronger than Fiji anyway.

[nadera78]

Tonga is playing Fiji the same day. The Cook Islands are playing NSW Country. Samoa is playing NZ, obviously. That's pretty much all the other options gone. They're in NZ preparing for the game against NZ and it make sense to play a NZ based side. And the historical factor makes it even more appropriate. It'll be a good test for the poms and it's probably a great result for the Kiwis too because the Maori should bash the ###### out of them.

Not much of a game for the Cook Islands. Is it a warm up for something else?

[Futtocks]

NZ will be playing Samoa

If it's half as entertaining as their last warm-up match, against Tonga, it'll be well worth seeing.

[jackknife]

i think this will be a great test of where our england stars are at in means of there skill, playing wales or france is a miss match and a waste of time we would be better suited playin an england A team or a super league mixed team

[deluded pom?]

Tonga is playing Fiji the same day. The Cook Islands are playing NSW Country. Samoa is playing NZ, obviously. That's pretty much all the other options gone. They're in NZ preparing for the game against NZ and it make sense to play a NZ based side. And the historical factor makes it even more appropriate. It'll be a good test for the poms and it's probably a great result for the Kiwis too because the Maori should bash the ###### out of them.

What happened to the proposed Kangaroos v Cooks game? Are Australia having a warm up game?

[Odsal Outlaw]

I think playing the Maoris is good. In the same way that if the Aussies and Kiwis were here and they decided to play non-national rep sides such as Cumbria etc.

The Maoris is something different, it has histrocial value, and it will give us a good test before the 4 Nations. We will also play against players who in some respect will play a similar style to the NZ team.

Prob the best warm-up game we could have had. Also, it is a game that may pull in a few thru the tunrstiles and therefore help the 4 Nations be profitable which is always important.

Sounds like the other nations are getting games as well - Not a bad end of season I dont think.

Edited August 6, 2010 by Odsal Outlaw

[Methven Hornet]

I think playing the Maoris is good. In the same way that if the Aussies and Kiwis were here and they decided to play non-national rep sides such as Cumbria etc.

The Maoris is something different, it has histrocial value, and it will give us a good test before the 4 Nations. We will also play against players who in some respect will play a similar style to the NZ team.

Prob the best warm-up game we could have had. Also, it is a game that may pull in a few thru the tunrstiles and therefore help the 4 Nations be profitable which is always important.

Sounds like the other nations are getting games as well - Not a bad end of season I dont think.

Plus, seeing as we won't let them compete in the WC, and we no longer have traditional tours, the game has a responsibility to the Maoris to provide them with decent fixtures.

After all, are there many other communities that show as much commitment to the game?

[hindle xiii]

How can this be?

Things seem to be getting done properly.

It all seems to be going too smoothly.

[terrywebbisgod]

How can this be?

Things seem to be getting done properly.

It all seems to be going too smoothly.

Until they get on the pitch.

[hindle xiii]

Until they get on the pitch.

Of course.

[HappyDave]

Until they get on the pitch.

Why? What's going to happen on the pitch? Is someone going to take a dump on it?...

I think the Cumbria & NZ Maori games are fantastic news for RL.

[Kiwi-Capper_merged]

Why not play a proper nation like Fiji?

The NZ Maori at RL is a joke because the entire NZ RL team is ##### Maori

I wouldn't call the maori team a joke. it's just a rep team made up of maori. nothing more nothing less.

Apologies I meant nearly all Maori

Anyway I recall that the last Maori NZ team was not all full blown Maoris!

Nothing against playing the Maoris if its part of a full test itinerary but to me this is all about doing it on't cheap

I think they will all be of the required 1/16th maori descent. They will be more maori than the england team english, NZ team NZ and Australia team Australian when you think about it

[deluded pom?]

We're playing them because the NU touring side played them in 1910, because they'll bring in a decent crowd, and because it's probably cheaper for the organisers than bringing in Tonga or Fiji.

I could run with that if it were a stand alone game rather than a curtain raiser to NZ v Samoa.

[deluded pom?]

Plus, seeing as we won't let them compete in the WC, and we no longer have traditional tours, the game has a responsibility to the Maoris to provide them with decent fixtures.

I disagree. The NZRL have a duty to the Maori. We (England) have a duty to the game internationally. It's also not about not letting them play in the WC. They aren't a nation. End of. I personally feel we've missed a chance to give either Fiji or Tonga high profile international exposure. We whine on about giving the PI nations, and others, more high profile games so that their heritage players (and the likes of Uate) will commit to them fully rather than just for WCs and then we spurn the chance to give them those types of games. England should be playing Fiji and Australia should be playing Tonga as pre 4N games.

Edited August 7, 2010 by deluded pom?