NRL considering Ashes tour and dedicated Oct / Nov International window

[jim_57]

If Australia’s focus is on those 5 nations hopefully that means a return of the Oceania Cup going forward. It definitely should have at least 4 teams in the top tier though and Australia in every year, not dropping in & out. Ideally 6 teams.

If that’s the case England should be getting behind a Northern Hemisphere tournament once a World Cup cycle as games against Southern Hemisphere opponents will be minimal to none those years you’d imagine. Involving Lebanon would be a good step and add some competitiveness.

[Hull Kingston Bronco]

3 hours ago, THE RED ROOSTER said:

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/plans-confirmed-for-game-in-usa-manly-sea-eagles-ashes-tour/ba938161-66b7-4722-b989-ac6d751d09b4

Northern hemisphere as an afterthought in his thinking - typical provincial Aussie mindset.

NZ has one pro team and a shrinking player pool. The Pacific Islands have no local pro leagues and their international sides are benefiting from a potential one-off era of 2nd and 3rd gen immigrants, who qualify on heritage but are developed in Aussie systems from the ground up. There may not be the same volume of heritage-qualified talent in 15-20 years time to make competitive sides vs. the Kangaroos, as positive though recent developments are.

Australia needs continuous engagement with England / Great Britain, and to actively incubate France, within any long-term international strategy. 

That said, if we beat them in a World Cup Final, they'll be back here as fast as a rat up a drainpipe. That's what we need to focus upon, factors our own hemisphere can control. 

[jacksy]

I'm starting to get passed caring about playing the aussies now.

 

 

[George Watt]

    Reintroduction of an Ashes series? Is that a group of pigs I see flying up there?

[SydneyRoosters]

19 minutes ago, Hull Kingston Bronco said:

Northern hemisphere as an afterthought in his thinking - typical provincial Aussie mindset.

NZ has one pro team and a shrinking player pool. The Pacific Islands have no local pro leagues and their international sides are benefiting from a potential one-off era of 2nd and 3rd gen immigrants, who qualify on heritage but are developed in Aussie systems from the ground up. There may not be the same volume of heritage-qualified talent in 15-20 years time to make competitive sides vs. the Kangaroos, as positive though recent developments are.

Australia needs continuous engagement with England / Great Britain, and to actively incubate France, within any long-term international strategy. 

That said, if we beat them in a World Cup Final, they'll be back here as fast as a rat up a drainpipe. That's what we need to focus upon, factors our own hemisphere can control. 

I agree, England/GB is one of only 2 of Australia’s competitors, they need to be playing on a regular basis and the ashes is a great way of getting them back playing regularly. 

The NRL can try to keep in it Australia and New Zealand by playing Oceania cups but it just isn’t going to work, People will get tired of seeing Australia destroy everyone with the occasional New Zealand win and then they will be straight back to playing England like they have been for last 114 Years. 

Just another one of V’Landys and Abdo’s #### plans to Americanise the sport and keep it in Australia.

[SydneyRoosters]

4 minutes ago, George Watt said:

    Reintroduction of an Ashes series? Is that a group of pigs I see flying up there?

It was confirmed to be happening 2 years ago but Covid came, Next year would be the perfect opportunity to actually bring it back.

[Man of Kent]

It's not hard to envisage a future where there'll be so many English players in the NRL that it makes sense for England to play in a SH comp at the end of the season, and the Knights to play in a European comp simultaneously.   

Edited October 26, 2022 by Man of Kent

[SydneyRoosters]

1 hour ago, Man of Kent said:

It's not hard to envisage a future where there'll be so many English players in the NRL that it makes sense for England to play in a SH comp at the end of the season, and the Knights to play in a European comp simultaneously.   

This is a joke right

[Man of Kent]

4 minutes ago, SydneyRoosters said:

This is a joke right

Not at all. All the best oppo for England is Down Under.

If they want to play Test football against the best more often, they'll have to travel. That's the reality of the international game in 2022.

The flip side is we would have a more competitive European-based tournament up here. 

 

[Madrileño]

11 hours ago, SydneyRoosters said:

 

Just another one of V’Landys and Abdo’s #### plans to Americanise the sport and keep it in Australia.

Ah yes.... the great Masterplan you keep going on about.

Do they sit hidden away in the NRL bunker while working on this plan?

[Llangennech]

15 hours ago, Spidey said:

Oh. They’re interested again?  

Aussies have always been interested. You obviously haven't listened to Matty Johns, D Lockyer, S Roach, C Cronk, B Slater etc. over the years and what they have said on TV about the 'Roos.  

[RayCee]

My feeling is Australia will use England when it suits and drop them when it doesn't. The NH RL needs to realise this and work on working with those nearest.

France needs to be playing a full England side each year as it builds toward the 2025 WC. Ideally in some sort of four nations format if possible with a grand final. Less money for England than going down under I presume but more valuable to the international game. The SH can still have a top international comp within the Pacific. 

[Tommygilf]

You know when people say they want the World Cup to only have the strongest teams in and they only think playing competitive international matches is worth it? This is what happens when the Australians think like that.

Ultimately they don't need us to have an international game they're happy with. If the international game based on RFL Leagues and the nations around them isn't that good, that is on us (as they see it).

[Henson Park Old Firm]

Australia is committed to the Ashes....

[Spidey]

7 hours ago, LlanWests said:

Aussies have always been interested. You obviously haven't listened to Matty Johns, D Lockyer, S Roach, C Cronk, B Slater etc. over the years and what they have said on TV about the 'Roos.  

When I say “Aussies” I mean the NRL and administrators. If they were interested there wouldn’t be so few series in recent memory 

[Gomersall]

22 hours ago, JimBronco said:

I've always wondered why Rugby League isn't big in the States, considering how quick the game is and with it being so physical. 

As for an Ashes type series each year...that would be awesome. Really hope it happens. 

An Ashes type series every year outside of a WC would be a terrible case of overkill IMO Jim. Buses.

[Llangennech]

9 hours ago, Spidey said:

When I say “Aussies” I mean the NRL and administrators. If they were interested there wouldn’t be so few series in recent memory 

Heard of the AFL? 

[The Future is League]

If regular tours by the Aussies to here and England doing tours there, and they undermine SOO the Aussies will find an excuse to drop them

[UTK]

On 26/10/2022 at 22:40, SydneyRoosters said:

I agree, England/GB is one of only 2 of Australia’s competitors, they need to be playing on a regular basis and the ashes is a great way of getting them back playing regularly. 

The NRL can try to keep in it Australia and New Zealand by playing Oceania cups but it just isn’t going to work, People will get tired of seeing Australia destroy everyone with the occasional New Zealand win and then they will be straight back to playing England like they have been for last 114 Years. 

Just another one of V’Landys and Abdo’s #### plans to Americanise the sport and keep it in Australia.

One of Australia's 2 competitors?

The Big 3 was a myth. England/GB haven't beaten us for 16 years, Tonga beat us in 2019 in only the second meeting between the two sides. 

[Gomersall]

5 hours ago, UTK said:

One of Australia's 2 competitors?

The Big 3 was a myth. England/GB haven't beaten us for 16 years, Tonga beat us in 2019 in only the second meeting between the two sides. 

It took Australia four games before they beat England.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

On 26/10/2022 at 12:22, jacksy said:

I'm starting to get passed caring about playing the aussies now.

 

 

Agreed.... I'd rather a full schedule with France, Samoa, NZ, Tonga, Fiji and maybe Ireland /Wales would do great