Internationals Kiwi v England 2018 Denver, USA

[razzrillinger]

SA was all about politics- if you think Union is bad for stomping down league in NZ the saffas were worse.
Would be interesting to see how the Argies would go at league, they have some tough bastards same with the likes of Georgia and Romania etc

Targeting countries that have an existing rugby union presence is a good move in my mind.

The players and fans are already half way there in countries like South Africa, Argentina, France, Japan etc and just need to see the light aka a quality live game or two.

If it was me, I'd take some games to Japan. They have money, lots of people, facilities and it's not too far away.

 

[matiunz]

Targeting countries that have an existing rugby union presence is a good move in my mind.

The players and fans are already half way there in countries like South Africa, Argentina, France, Japan etc and just need to see the light aka a quality live game or two.

If it was me, I'd take some games to Japan. They have money, lots of people, facilities and it's not too far away.

Only problem with Japan is their teams tend to get stacked with expats that weren’t quite good enough in their homelands with a few token locals. Sure the money is great but I’m not sure how much growth player wise you’d get.

 

[razzrillinger]

Only problem with Japan is their teams tend to get stacked with expats that weren’t quite good enough in their homelands with a few token locals. Sure the money is great but I’m not sure how much growth player wise you’d get.

I'd be sending Shaun Johnson all over Asia promoting touch/tag/league if I were the NRL. If you get even a small amount of the population interested, that's a huge amount of people.

 

[¿N. ig-mah¿]

Yeah that was bad but he did try and snap Chase's (I think) ankle a few years back too so its not new to him that stuff.

I was just rewatching the Youtube clip of it this morning. He tried to break his whole leg with a big twist and bend. Wiki must take some credit for that, though. He called for Rangi Chase's blood to be spilt for betraying NZ to play for England. What made it all worse was that Rangi is Luke's cousin.

 

[mt.wellington]

Kapow and staff still stuck in Denver lol. Fuck the NZRL are a complete joke...

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[razzrillinger]

Wow...

 

[brightman]

Kapow and staff still stuck in Denver lol. Fuck the NZRL are a complete joke...

View attachment 25725​

Oh well guess Kearney won't be selecting him to play the Sharks then..

 

[mt.wellington]

Oh well guess Kearney won't be selecting him to play the Sharks then..

Plays for Manly and is coached by Trent Barrett. Follow the link for more info on this...

https://www.seaeagles.com.au/

 

[brightman]

Plays for Manly and is coached by Trent Barrett.

Well, there's the problem. First, he plays for Manly so who cares and second, he wouldn't have this problem if he played for the Warriors as SK wouldn't let him be selected..

 

[Rizzah]

Kapow and staff still stuck in Denver lol. Fuck the NZRL are a complete joke...

A joke maybe, but I'm not sure how the NZRL could have foreseen multiple plane delays?
They could have done more I suppose and investigated United's maintenance schedule.

 

[bruce]

I'm not sure how the NZRL could have foreseen multiple plane delays?

It is called contingency planning. Just like the NRL planned the Magic Weekend for Brisbane without checking if Suncorp was available. A lot of league administrators are muppets.

 

[Far North Forever]

New NZRL CEO been in job 2 weeks has just identified with this debacle
1. Sack travel agent
2. Sack NZRL staff who went to Denver
3. Schedule a test against Tonga at Eden Park
4. Employ an experienced Organiser
5. Employ a cleaner/singer

 

[Chief]

A joke maybe, but I'm not sure how the NZRL could have foreseen multiple plane delays?
They could have done more I suppose and investigated United's maintenance schedule.

The problem is that the English NRL guys were back here as soon as possible. On the plane after the game. That night by the sounds of it. And straight back here to recover. NZRL must have wanted the cheaper flights later the next day. Cant expect the unexpected but you can at least minimize the risks of staying in the US any longer than you have too.

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

Fingers crossed that the NZ players haven’t gone on a wacky baccy bus tour around Denver while they wait.

 

[gREVUS]

Fingers crossed that the NZ players haven’t gone on a wacky baccy bus tour around Denver while they wait.

at least not if they dont want to be stopped by every drug dog in every airport they visit

 

[AlexM]

Fingers crossed that the NZ players haven’t gone on a wacky baccy bus tour around Denver while they wait.

I guess that would at least make visiting the US worthwhile

 

[razzrillinger]

Sounds like the reason the Kiwi players came back at different times was due to the agreement for all players to fly business class there and back.

That teamed with the weather restrictions meant that there was a real lack of options.

Can't believe Taupau only left last night.

 

[Juju]

A joke maybe, but I'm not sure how the NZRL could have foreseen multiple plane delays?
They could have done more I suppose and investigated United's maintenance schedule.

There is a direct flight on Air NZ via San Fran. But the Warrior kiwis flew back via Sydney.
Could of been handled better...

 

[mt.wellington]

Warriors seeking answers from New Zealand Rugby League after Denver test
1 Jul, 2018 3:00pm

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney was forced to ask Issac Luke and Peta Hiku to back-up from the Denver test against Cronulla.Photo / Photosport.

The Warriors are seeking a 'please explain' from New Zealand Rugby League after a lack of communication from the Kiwis camp in the wake of last week's Denver test.

The Warriors remain frustrated they received no direct feedback or updates from Kiwis coach Michael Maguire or the team's high performance staff about how their three test players – Issac Luke, Peta Hiku or Ken Maumalo – pulled up after last Sunday's defeat to England at Mile High Stadium.

After all of the talk about extensive planning around player welfare in the lead-up to the controversial mid-season fixture, the club are unhappy they didn't receive at least a courtesy call to inform them of the trio's health status after the match.

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney was less than impressed after he was forced to ask both Luke and Hiku to back-up and play in Friday's 18-15 NRL defeat to Cronulla, while he felt Maumalo needed to rest after making his Kiwis debut.

Kiwis team manager Nadene Conlon was prompt in notifying Warriors football operations manager Dan Floyd about the flight problems that delayed the players return to Auckland until Wednesday morning, but the club feel they were left hanging over the condition of their players.


The situation only added to the club's frustrations after the Kiwis opted to stay the night in Denver after the game, while arrangements were made for England's players to depart the US in the hours following the match.

England playmaker Gareth Widdop and St George Illawarra teammate James Graham were back in Sydney on Monday morning, but Dragons teammate and Kiwis debutant Leeson Ah Mau returned 48 hours later.

Along with Maumalo, both Ah Mau and Kiwis and Roosters front-rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were also held back from playing for their club sides after their late return to Australia, while Widdop and Graham were able to help the Dragons edge Parramatta 20-18 on Thursday night.

"I was pretty worried," said Maumalo. "The cancellations and delays were pretty terrible and I just wanted to come home and get back to training."

Maguire explained the Kiwis medical team believed they were doing the right thing by giving the players a chance to sleep and go through their recovery protocols before travelling home. However, the Warriors are upset they weren't given the option to expedite their players return, with the travel delays only compounding matters.

"The high performance guys and Greg Macleod the doctor felt that it was in the best interests of the players to get up and do recovery the following day and have medical assessments," said Maguire.

"They did all their medical screenings and recovery and set a really good protocol for obviously the return home with sleep, hydration and all of those sorts of things but unfortunately due to the circumstances that changed.

"But even though we ended up going to a hotel that night they were still doing recovery. They swam and did a bit of exercise there and things were still happening in the back ground to make sure the players were in the best of care."

Furthermore, Kiwi players were unimpressed by the quality and comfort of United Airlines and the Warriors trio were unhappy with their original travel itinerary booked by Denver test promoters Moore Sports, that saw them scheduled to make stopovers in San Francisco and Sydney, before catching a third flight to Auckland.

The flight changes eventually saw them leave Denver for Los Angeles, where they were relieved to be able to catch a more comfortable business class flight with Air New Zealand direct to Auckland.

The Warriors are expecting to catch up with NZRL chief executive Greg Peters this week and will voice their concerns, while it remains unlikely the club will be willing to support the fixture again next year.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=12081243

 

[Juju]

Interesting to read the promoter of this match has failed to pay the players and the match fees to the governing bodies.