Denver Test is dead after promoter misses payment deadline
Adrian Proszenko1 September 2018 — 5:22pm
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The Denver Test is officially dead after the promoter failed to meet a final deadline to fulfil his financial commitments.
There are also fresh fears about the 2025 Rugby League World Cup going ahead after promoter Moore Sports International, the firm behind the Colorado concept, left the New Zealand Rugby League and the Rugby Football League (the governing body for professional rugby league in England) out of pocket.
It is understood each organisation is owed a six-figure sum, although the amount is less than the $500,000 previously suggested.
Rocky mountain high: The Kiwis perform the haka during the Denver Test.
Photo: AP
Moore Sports International was given a revised timeline, August 31 (American time), to pay the money. However, NZRL chief executive Greg Peters confirmed the firm had not done so.
“We haven’t received anything to date,” Peters said. “The number is commercially sensitive, but it’s a significant hold for us. We have a contractual agreement that currently hasn’t been fulfilled.
“We have all the normal legal recourse you would have for a contract with someone who owes you money. We will be considering our options in the near future.”
The Denver Test between England and New Zealand, part of a three-year agreement for the fixture, was meant to be the first of a series of forays into the American market ahead of the 2025 World Cup.
Moore Sports International boss Jason Moore is also the promoter for that event, one that now appears to be in serious jeopardy following the non-payments and the collapse of his mooted snowboarding competition Air + Style.
No more: New Zealand's Martin Taupau tackles England's James Roby during the one, and it now seems, only Denver Test.
Photo: AP
The Denver Test, Peters said, will almost certainly be a one-off.
“It’s in serious jeopardy and unlikely to proceed,” Peters said. “Leaving aside the non-payment, the strategy was to take rugby league to a new market where it hadn’t been seen before. My personal view is that almost 20,000 [fans] in a brand new market where rugby league had never been played before is a pretty good result.
“The game itself, notwithstanding the fact the Kiwis lost, which is not what we set out to do, but the actual spectacle from a fan’s points of view showcased everything that is good about rugby league.
“All of those boxes are ticked. The unfortunate part is the NZRL and the RFL were a testing ground for a promoter who hasn’t been forthcoming with payments that were due.”
The players have been paid, but the outstanding funds have put further financial pressure on the cash-strapped NZRL. Kiwis players will be paid just $5000 for their season-ending Test against the Australians, who will pocket $20,000.
“We have some pretty big financial challenges ahead of us so we can’t afford to pay at the previous level,” Peters said.
“At the end of the day we’re trying to ensure we continue to have international football. We’re working towards a longer term model that will hopefully increase their payment over time. At the moment that’s all we’re able to pay and they’ve agreed to that.”
The Denver issues could prompt the NRL to reconsider the risk of staging an opening round game for 2019, dubbed "round zero", in America.
The Kiwis will play the Kangaroos on October 13, just a week before the proposed Australia-Tonga Test. NZRL officials were concerned the latter fixture could detract from the Kiwis game, but will likely be placated with the guarantee of more top flight Tests on home soil.
“We are close to coming out with a resolution,” Peters said.
“Our main objective is to give prominence to NZ versus Australia being played in Auckland. It’s the first time in six years, since 2012, that a trans-Tasman Test match is played in Auckland. We did play in 2014 in Wellington.
“That’s a pretty special occasion for us, the trans-Tasman rivalry is as big in rugby league as it is in anything else.
“We’re as excited about that as our players are and that’s what we want to give prominence to and continue to work on that.
“We have got a very good group of players who are excited about that Test match and the tour at the end of the year.
“They want to restore the public’s faith after the World Cup, which was obviously disappointing. Every player you ask will want to play for his county, first and foremost.”
