General 2015 NZRL National Premiership

[Defence]

Lifted from the Canterbury league Facebook page-

Sky TV will be showing the NZRL National Premiership grand final - Canterbury Bulls v Counties-Manukau Stingrays - live from 3pm on Saturday, Channel 54! As always, we'll also be bringing live updates to you on the Facebook page.

Shame we won't get it in oz

 

[mt.wellington]

Didn't realise it was in this weekend. That was a fast tournament.

Good luck to both teams...

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[mode81]

Kiwis will be at Mt Smart this Sunday for a meet & greet?

They should have had The Kiwis at this final on Saturday so that our domestic players could play in front of them.. good incentive for the domestic players to show them what to aspire to and play in front of some of their heroes.

 

[mt.wellington]

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[Defence]

Bluey the bus driver addressed the Bulls players via video link last night.
Sounds like the boys are well up for this one- should be a cracker.
From a cantab point of view I'm just hoping for a win but being televised and all- from a NZ league stand point a close and exciting game would be the best result and would be the best advertisement for the local game.
So with that in mind- Bulls 25-24 in extra time!
Join the stampede!

 

[Defence]

https://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/stingrays-romp-victory-one-sided-final/5/234691

Counties too good.
Congrats to the stingrays and all the guys who made the "merit team"- surely they couldve organized a game for these guys.

 

[ramraider78]

Yeah it was a stampede yesterday; wow what a score line from a bunch of kids and no name's from counties - full credit to the bulls captain for his acknowledgement that the best team won on the day, he was IMO one of the best bulls players out there apart from the halve who never gave up. NZRL FB page awfully quite yesterday.

It's a changing of the guard for counties , well deserved win and as the stingrays captain pointed out some of best players in the district sat the national rep season out this year.

Rapt for the counties coach for sticking to the new culture he wanted to bring into the stingrays outfit this year- best result yesterday.

Stadium was empty yesterday. At least the counties boys partied until late last night.

 

[kiwi's 13-6]

https://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/stingrays-romp-victory-one-sided-final/5/234691

Counties too good.
Congrats to the stingrays and all the guys who made the "merit team"- surely they couldve organized a game for these guys.

Yeah they deserve a game maybe the Warriors organisation could give NZ Premiership side game in the pre season against NSWarriors or NYC sides? Be a good way to promote the local game in NZ & some players could impress and get a contract out of a game like that.

Congratulations to Counties New Zealand Premiership Champions for 2015.

 

[mt.wellington]

Had to watch it delayed but was a great game. Stingrays played with a lot of pace and never stopped. I felt once the Rays defence took it to the Bulls big boys like Bam Bam, Paradise and Baxendale the Cantabs lost a lot of their attack and go forward.

Was impressed to see the young guys like the five-eight Mikaere Beattie not shying away from the contact. Sione Feao looked awesome with ball in hand. If he just puts his head down and puts in the hard yards he could easily be back in the fold with the Warriors.

Erwin Sauini had a game to forget but showed what he was capable of at stages. I liked the look of James Wihongi. Heard that name before but cant remember where or why?

Pretty pathetic attendance at the stadium. Surprised SKY even bothered broadcasting it. Must have a deal with the NZRL. Little wonder league does it tough. A lot of people talk the talk but dont even bother with their regional team let alone their local club...

Congrats to the stingrays and all the guys who made the "merit team"- surely they couldve organized a game for these guys.

Also pathetic they now name them the merit team instead of the NZ Residents like they should. Surely the Warriors could string a team of U20's together to play them? Maybe a team of the trialists from Auckland and Whanganui? I know the NZRL are broke and a joke but it doesnt seem right not to honour these guys in the traditional way...

 

[kiwi's 13-6]

Yeah i'll third that sentiment, I Hope the warriors can help the NZ Residents out with a trial game against under 20's or Nswarriors... NZRL did a better job of running the Premiership this year with no eligability fiasco!!! Draw for the comp released months in advance, weekly updates & results on website, so that was decent. Still a ton of room for improvement tho.

- Game needed for NZ residents if they can't tour overseas due to lack of $ invite NSW country, Australian affiliated states, Fiji or PNG residents sides to tour NZ!

- Need Prize $$$ money for the Comp Winners, currently dont think theres any? $10,000 prize money would be decent! $20,000 even better! difficult considering NZRL's current $ situation & profile of the comp, but $10,000 prize & NZ residents game gotta be doable if NZRL puts the work in.

- Have the final at Mount Smart No 2 ground or a smaller boutique stadium, Final needs another event to help promote it like jr kiwis or kiwi ferns double header although it gets complicated if finals in auckland and 2 provincial sides outside of Auckland make the final again.

- NZRL needs to use its broadcast partner sky tv better & launch next season with a modest ad campaign on nationwide print, radio and online media to promote comp & the final.

- $50,000+ extra per year required in NZRL's budget for a Residents game, Prize money for comp winners & a basic advertising campaign to promote the comp & final. NZRL needs to find sponsorship to cover that.

- trim fat no more free overseas trips for NZRL administrators families and fringe NZRL personal on overseas trips! When we cant field NZ residents team or afford to send under 18's side to Oz it's not a good look!

Anyway thats my suggestions to NZRL for next year and the future beyond that... the best thing about 2015 NZRL Premiership is an NZ based side won again!!!

 

[Defence]

There was a hemi wihongi mt.wellington who was a gun half/ fullback back in the day- I'd say he would've played for Canterbury OMG ?
Not sure if they're related but it would seem likely.
The other half tevin arona comes from a famous chch league family too.

Didn't see the game but heard the Bulls ball security cost them any chance- apparently their completion rate was the worst it's been all season.

Shame no one turned up. Did it get much promotion? wouldnt be surprised if half the people on here didn't even know it was on.
It's a shame this thread doesn't show up on the main page.
Or is it more of a case of people know but just don't care?

 

[kiwi's 13-6]

Was watching local kick boxing King of the Ring on Sky TV and a local promotion has $10,000 prize money for the winner! NZRL need to get serious about local league and start promoting the NZRL Premiership beyond there own web site! Need decent prize money for the comp winners & NZRL residents need a game. Some one at NZRL needs to make it there mission and do unpaid over time organising sponsors for travel, promotion & prize money. Adults who play rugby league in New Zealand need a reason to play for more than just chucking a ball around with your mates and getting fit

 

[mt.wellington]

Was watching local kick boxing King of the Ring on Sky TV and a local promotion has $10,000 prize money for the winner! NZRL need to get serious about local league and start promoting the NZRL Premiership beyond there own web site! Need decent prize money for the comp winners & NZRL residents need a game. Some one at NZRL needs to make it there mission and do unpaid over time organising sponsors for travel, promotion & prize money. Adults who play rugby league in New Zealand need a reason to play for more than just chucking a ball around with your mates and getting fit

Isnt King of the Ring pay per view???

 

[kiwi's 13-6]

Isnt King of the Ring pay per view???

Probly, I dont know watched the replay on ordinary sky sports channel. $10k prize money cheque presented to winner Adesanya. For an event thats not that big in the grand scheme of things in fight world and a local production well done. Now if only...

 

[kiwi's 13-6]

According to NZRL website there looking to restructure the premiership next year and giving zones & clubs a chance to have input. Article on the site says 2 tiered comps the model they are looking at with 2 Akld sides, Canterbury & Wellington in top grade. What about Waicoa made final last year narrowly missed out this year on points differencial, now not in plans?

My 2 cents worth would be for NZRL to set up a season long semi pro comp with top 4 Fox memorial clubs & top 4 provincial sides outside of Auckland in an 8 team comp.