England v New Zealand Test in Denver - Australian based players able to play? New Kiwi Coach

[Graham]

England v New Zealand - Mid NRL Season in Denver

There have been reports and apparently some comments in various quarters of the game in Australia that some clubs do not want their players English players to be involved in what they see as a game with it's risks of injury in what they must think of as a lower level game  than if it had involved the Australian international team.

Wayne Bennett and his NRL based England players have published a statement to mmake their position and views clear:

Quote

England coach Wayne Bennett and the English NRL players have released a statement in support of the mid-season Test against New Zealand in Denver going ahead.

Reports emerged in Australia over the weekend claiming a host of NRL clubs and the Rugby League Players Association were reluctant to let their star players feature in the historic Test.

 

According to Australian reports, several NRL sides and the RLPA were concerned about insurance issues for the travelling players as well as the high altitude of the game in the United States.

But the Rugby Football League has released a statement on the behalf of Bennett and the NRL based England internationals.

It read: “We would like to place on record our absolute support for the upcoming Rugby League International game between England and New Zealand, scheduled to be played in Denver in June.

“We believe that the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in Australia demonstrated the value of the international game to our sport. We all collectively said at the time that it was important we took the opportunity to try and grow the game globally and believe that this mid-season window provides the perfect opportunity for the sport to showcase itself to a new public in North America.

“Whilst we understand that there have been some concerns regarding player welfare, the England Chief Medical Officer, Dr Chris Brookes, has made it clear to us that he has no additional concerns with this game being played in Denver and the insurance that has now been put in place is more comprehensive than any other in the history of International Rugby League.

“We have spoken with our English based teammates who have received the full support of their Super League clubs and we are all in agreement that it is important that this game takes place.

“We are looking forward to meeting up as a squad in June and, if selected, walking out in Denver to take on New Zealand.”

Bennett, George Burgess, Sam Burgess, Tom Burgess, James Graham, Chris Heighington, Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead and Gareth Widdop have all signed the statement.

 

[Lounge Room Lizard]

Todd Greenberg needs to come out and make a statement.  But there is nothing sadly. This should have been sorted weeks ago. This is the Job of Greenberg to confirm that the NRL will punish clubs who refused to Release players for this game.

[Big Picture]

50 minutes ago, R L Winger said:

This games timing is absolutely stupid, it should be rescheduled till after the Grand Final of both the NRL and Super League.

No, the timing is just about perfect because it's outside the gridiron season which is exactly the right time to attract the NFL and NCAA gridiron fans who are the target audience.  A match after the NRL and SL Grand Finals would be a dismal failure, it would be invisible to that target audience because the NFL and NCAA gridiron seasons are both in full swing at that time of year.

[Davo5]

7 hours ago, R L Winger said:

This games timing is absolutely stupid, it should be rescheduled till after the Grand Final of both the NRL and Super League.

So is the timing of State Of Origin which regularly sees players doubling up 48 hrs later stupid ?

[Vichyssoise]

11 hours ago, Lounge Room Lizard said:

Todd Greenberg needs to come out and make a statement.  But there is nothing sadly. This should have been sorted weeks ago. This is the Job of Greenberg to confirm that the NRL will punish clubs who refused to Release players for this game.

Needless to say that it'll probably never happen. Greenberg is everything but a leader.

[Sports Prophet]

1 hour ago, R L Winger said:

Still a waste of space test at that time of year and will attract no crowd of any significance

In my opinion, mid club season is the best time for internationals.

Even a WC tournament mid season would be my preference.

[Lounge Room Lizard]

The silence is defending.  Does Greenberg just think by ignoring things it will sort itself? Great leadership again

[Davo5]

3 hours ago, R L Winger said:

Still a waste of space test at that time of year and will attract no crowd of any significance

Well the end of season World Cup  matches in Australia didn’t either.

[Big Picture]

5 hours ago, R L Winger said:

Still a waste of space test at that time of year and will attract no crowd of any significance

FYI the promoter's goal is 35,000-40,000.

[Big Picture]

2 hours ago, R L Winger said:

That's just hilarious, if they get 5000 there laughing.

As you see from this , tickets are already moving though in modest numbers so far.

[Big Picture]

11 hours ago, R L Winger said:

Looks about 1000 tickets sold so far with a bit of luck the other 4000 will be sold by kick off to watch the losers v losers

That was posted on another thread a few days ago, I'd put it at 2-3,000.  The capacity is just over 76,000 and the stadium has about 80 rows of seats, so on average there are about 950 per row more or less.

[Davo5]

On 29 March 2018 at 2:55 PM, Big Picture said:

As you see from this , tickets are already moving though in modest numbers so far.

Looks like a Souths game at ANZ

[RabbitRhinoovOZ]

On ‎30‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 12:55 AM, Big Picture said:

As you see from this , tickets are already moving though in modest numbers so far.

Looks like a record Roosters home attendance to me.

Cock a doodle doooooo!!!!

[RabbitRhinoovOZ]

I'm with any club who tells them to get stuffed, State of Origin & mid season internationals should be abolished with rep footy only being played at the end of the season. Clubs & there members bare all the risk in letting there best players take part in these games . I for one have no interest in SOO since paul gallens limp wrist killed of what was great about it & England v NZ in Denver in front of a few confused spectators doesn't exactly get me excited either. 

[Graham]

It’s not aimed at Aussie audience as such. The fact that Aussie clubs have signed the players is a factor, but it is short sighted and selfish of any club to deny their players to represent their country. You may not like the timing, venue etc. I can understand that.

It’s the usual friction between the domestic game and the rep game. 

I can see why trying something new might be criticised. The risk of a small crowd in a big venue is a valid concern. Still where would we be if we stand still... eventually drifting backwards.

[Graham]

New Kiwi National Coach.

Applications were invitied from suitable applicants who need not be Kiwi nationals.

Quote

New Zealand will have a new coach for their mid-year Test against Wayne Bennett's England in Denver after David Kidwell decided against seeking re-appointment to the Kiwis job.

Kidwell was in charge of the Kiwis at last year's World Cup and while the NZRL announced after his contract expired in February that the post would be open to non-New Zealand coaches, he was invited to re-apply.

However, the 40-year-old confirmed to NRL.com that he would not be submitting his CV when applications close on Wednesday and had accepted responsibility for the failed World Cup campaign, in which the Kiwis were bundled out at the quarter-final stage after successive losses to Tonga and Fiji.

A review conducted by former Canterbury Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle, who is now Rugby Australia chief executive, and New Zealand lawyer Tim Castle found that Kidwell was too inexperienced to be give the job after Stephen Kearney resigned to coach the Warriors on the eve of the 2016 Four Nations.

The review also found that Kidwell tried to implement too much change too quickly but was also critical of NZRL management for not providing him with a high-level plan leading up to and during the World Cup.

Kidwell also had to contend with the drugs scandal after last year's ANZAC Test in Canberra, which led to Kiwis captain Jesse Bromwich and experienced forward Kevin Proctor being banned from playing for New Zealand in the World Cup.

The Kiwis were further weakened by the defection of Jason Taumalolo, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Manu Ma’u and David Fusitu'a to Tonga.

Taumalolo has again pledged his loyalty to Tonga for the June 23 Pacific Test against Samoa at Campbelltown, along with Andrew Fifita, who said last weekend that Taukeiaho, Ma'u and Michael Jennings were also sticking with the Mate Ma'a.

The Kiwis are scheduled to play England at Denver's Mile High Stadium on the stand alone representative weekend but NRL clubs are reluctant to release their players for the Test.

 

[Big Picture]

On 2018-4-2 at 5:27 PM, RabbitRhinoovOZ said:

I'm with any club who tells them to get stuffed, State of Origin & mid season internationals should be abolished with rep footy only being played at the end of the season. Clubs & there members bare all the risk in letting there best players take part in these games . I for one have no interest in SOO since paul gallens limp wrist killed of what was great about it & England v NZ in Denver in front of a few confused spectators doesn't exactly get me excited either. 

Whether you like it not, it's going ahead and a good thing that is too.  As you can read in this Sydney Morning Herald report,

"The NRL and the RLPA are powerless to stop the international, as it does not fall under the governing body's jurisdiction."

"While concerns have been raised, the game appears set to go ahead."

[Big Picture]